From Wikitravel

Murchison Falls National Park [1] is in the north west of Uganda. The park covers approximately 3840 sq km, and the River Nile passes through. Rabonga Forest in the south east has large populations of chimps and the Nile has a lot of hippos and crocs.

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

[edit] Landscape

Part of the Albertine Rift. the White Nile flows through this park from east to west, before turning north when it contacts Lake Albert. Point of note is the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the Nile squeezes much of its water through a 7-meter wide cleft. Less know is the Uhuru Falls, adjacent to Murchison Falls. "Uhuru" means "freedom" in Swahili - these falls broke through the rock in the year of Uganda's independence.

[edit] Flora and fauna

Elephants, Rothschild's giraffe, cape buffalo, hartebeest, oribi, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthog, lion, leopard, hippo, nile crocodile, olive baboons, mongoose, honey badger, monitor lizards, BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS (inluding the rare shoebill stork).

[edit] Climate

January and February are blisteringly hot in the park.

[edit] Get in

Take an early bus to Masindi and then try to arrange for transport to bring you to the park. With some luck you could get a free ride with the rangers. Low-budget safaris are offered by the Red Chili. Book in Kampala.

You can stay with Boomu Women's Group who are located just outside Kichumbanyobo gate, the main gate to the park. You can get transport to there from Masindi. After your stay you can go to the park gate, just metres up the road and try to get a lift to your destination in the park. Either that or you can ask the staff to arrange for a taxi to take you to your destination. If your destination is chimp trekking in Pabidi, staff at Boomu Women's Group can help arrange transport to this site.

[edit] Fees/Permits

For non-residents, a one day permit costs US$20, for East African residents, US$10.

[edit] Get around

Your best bet is to either hire a car or go on an organized safari. Don't even bother hitching or taking a bus. It is VERY difficult to get around in the park without your own transportation. You might get lucky and have a safari opportunity with someone, but you might not.

[edit][add listing] See

• Take a boat ride and get surrounded by crocodiles and hippos. From 15000 USh.
• Safaris can be done, but the wildlife can be sparse at times.

[edit][add listing] Do

Game drives, chimp walks, birding, boat trips

Community tours that offer a chance to see the local community, understand issues faced by rural Ugandans and learn about local food are offered at Boomu Women's Group [2]. This group also offers a chance to see how local handcrafts are made.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Local crafts, drinks, snacks and simple meals can be purchased from Boomu Womens Group [3]. As this is a community tourism project all sales directly help the surrounding community.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Lodging

The Nile Safari Camp accessible through a very bumpy road is a luxury tent-style accommodation with spectacular service and wooden cabins overlooking the Nile River. Very quaint and rustic, but with 5-star service.

Paraa Lodge located on the "animal-side" of the Nile River is a hotel boasting a colonial style and a very good food buffet.

Simple and cheap'banda style' accommodation as well as camping can be found at Boomu Women's Group. [4].

[edit] Camping

• Red Chili Guest House is the cheapest option at Murchison Falls. Pitch your own tent for 5000+ shilling or hire one of theirs for 5000 more. The nearby village allows for local atmosphere and cheap local food.

The best camping in Uganda (or just about anywhere else) can be had on the Nile Delta. Make arrangements at park headquarters and a guide will come watch over you while you spend a night on the savannah. Shine your flashlight out of your tent to see hundreds of buffalo eyes shining back at you, hear the lions roar and see the shadows of elephants passing by 20 meters from your tent. Unforgettable!

[edit] Backcountry

[edit] Stay safe

In November 2005, a British national was killed in Murchison Falls National Park. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advise against travel to the park. They say "If you travel to the Park against our advice you should exercise extreme caution and take local advice."

[edit] Get out

• Masindi approx 90km.

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