Top Things to Do in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls gives you more variety than almost any park in East Africa. In a few days you can watch lions on the savanna, cruise past hundreds of hippos, feel the spray from the most powerful waterfall on the Nile and track chimpanzees in a mahogany forest. Here’s what’s worth doing, and how we fit it all in.

1. Game drives on the northern bank

Cross the Nile on the Paraa ferry and head for the Buligi tracks, which run out to the delta where the river meets Lake Albert. Early morning is best, when lions are still active and the light is soft. Look for elephants, buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest and the park’s huge herds of Uganda kob. A UWA ranger guide costs US$25 per vehicle under the 2024–2026 tariff, and knows where the prides have been seen. Night drives with a UWA guide are also possible.

2. The launch trip to the base of the falls

This is the classic Murchison experience. Boats leave Paraa and head upstream on a trip of about three hours there and back, past pods of hippos, big Nile crocodiles, elephants drinking at the water’s edge and plenty of birds. The boat stops at a safe distance below the falls, where the whole river crashes out of the gorge. UWA’s 2024–2026 tariff lists the launch at US$30 per person. Private operators also run boats, and we’ll book the one that suits your timing.

3. Hike to the Top of the Falls

Seeing the falls from above is a completely different feeling. The Nile squeezes through a gap about seven metres wide and drops around 43 metres, and the ground shakes. You can drive to the top, or combine it with the launch: some trips drop you at a landing below the falls, and you walk up a steep but short trail. The guided hike is listed at US$15 per person under the current tariff.

4. A delta cruise for the shoebill

Downstream from Paraa, the Nile spreads into papyrus channels before it reaches Lake Albert. A morning boat trip into the delta is one of Uganda’s best chances of seeing the shoebill, the prehistoric-looking stork that birders cross the world for. UWA notes that the dry seasons, December to February and June to September, are best for sightings. Nothing is guaranteed, but the delta is rewarding even without one.

5. Chimpanzees in Budongo Forest

On the southern approach, Budongo Forest Reserve has habituated chimps that you can track from Kaniyo Pabidi. It’s managed by the National Forestry Authority, so its fees are set separately from UWA’s, and we’ll confirm the current price. Our guide to where to track chimps in Uganda compares Budongo with Kibale.

6. Rhinos on foot at Ziwa, on the way

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary sits just off the Kampala–Gulu highway, so it breaks the drive to Murchison perfectly. You walk with rangers to find southern white rhinos grazing in the bush. The UWA tariff lists rhino tracking at US$30 per person. Add Ziwa and Murchison together and you can see all of Uganda’s Big Five in one short trip.

7. Sport fishing on the Nile

Below the falls is one of Africa’s great spots for Nile perch and tiger fish. UWA records a rod-and-line Nile perch of 108 kg landed here. You need a UWA sport fishing permit, which is US$50 for one day or US$150 for four days under the current tariff, and you fish with a licensed guide.

Also worth doing

• Birding: the park has recorded more than 550 bird species, from savanna birds to forest specials at Kaniyo Pabidi.
• Nature walks: guided walks with UWA rangers, including in the quieter Rabongo Forest.
• Sunset on the Nile: from almost any riverside lodge.

A sample three-day plan

• Day 1: Kampala to Ziwa for rhino tracking, then on to Murchison.
• Day 2: dawn game drive on the northern bank, afternoon launch to the falls, and the hike to the top.
• Day 3: delta cruise for the shoebill, or chimps in Budongo on the way out.

Good to know

• The fees above are from UWA’s 2024–2026 tariff. New tariffs apply from January 2027, and we always confirm them before you pay.
• Bring insect repellent. Tsetse flies can bite in wooded areas.
• Choosing a lodge? Our guide to Murchison’s sectors explains which bank suits you.

Tell us how many days you have and what matters most to you, whether that’s cats, birds, chimps or the falls, and we’ll plan a Murchison trip around it.