Murchison Falls National Park became one of Uganda’s earliest national parks in 1952.

Here, the Nile River forces its way through a narrow 8-meter-wide gorge and crashes down into the “Devil’s Cauldron,” producing a dramatic waterfall and a signature rainbow.

The park’s northern region features savanna dotted with Borassus palms, acacia trees, and riverine woodland, while the southern area is characterized by woodlands and patches of forest.

The 1951 film “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart, was shot on Lake Albert and the Nile River within Murchison Falls National Park.

Located at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, Murchison Falls National Park is where the expansive Bunyoro escarpment descends into extensive, palm-studded savanna. Initially designated as a game reserve in 1926, it is Uganda’s largest and oldest protected area.

The Victoria Nile River runs through the park, cascading 45 meters over the rift valley wall to form the spectacular Murchison Falls. This dramatic waterfall marks the end of an 80-kilometer stretch of rapids, as the river transitions into a wide, tranquil stream that flows across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. This section of the river is renowned for its exceptional wildlife sightings, with frequent visitors like elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes, and permanent residents including hippos, Nile crocodiles, and various aquatic birds.

Murchison Falls is home to an impressive diversity of wildlife, including over 144 mammal species, 556 bird species, 51 reptiles, and 51 amphibians. The park boasts a substantial population of African elephants, with aerial surveys indicating more than 900 individuals, and a growing number of giraffes, which are predominantly found in the northern sector. Buffalo populations have surged to over 10,000, and Uganda kobs have increased to over 35,000.

Birdwatchers will find a diverse array of species, with the shoebill being a notable highlight along the river near the Albert delta, and various prolific species occupying the park, including the white-crested turaco and red-winged grey warbler, particularly in the southern woodlands.

Noteworthy visitors to Murchison Falls have included Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, and several members of the British royal family.