Murchison Falls National Park

Located in northwestern Uganda, Murchison Falls is the largest national park in Uganda and the first wildlife protected area. It is named after the famous falls where the Victoria Nile rushes with tremendous force through a narrow, 20-foot-wide (6-m) rock gorge to crash onto the rocks 150 feet (45 m) below. Fish, including Nile perch are dazed by their plummet over the falls and become easy prey for one of the largest concentrations of crocodile on the continent. The altitude ranges from 500 meters to 1292 meters above sea level, the park covers an area of 3893 square kilometers. Vegetation here ranges from grass plains which is predominant, with savannah woodlands and riverine forests mostly filled with giant tamarind trees.
The highlight is the 11 kilometer boat ride from Paraa jetty to the base of the falls. Over 450 bird species has been recorded. Other animals found here include; Rothschild’s giraffe, Defassa waterbuck, oribi, hartebeest, Uganda kob and Patas monkey. Elephant, lion and leopard.
The nearby Kaniyo Pabidi Forest within the Budongo Forest Reserve offers the opportunity to visit the habituated, resident chimpanzee family.