Background Information

The meandering Victoria Nile and the dramatic Murchison Falls make this National Park, the biggest in the country, a stunning habitat for wildlife. Murchison Falls was discovered by Samuel Baker in 1864. The 50 meter wide Nile is forced through a narrow cleft in the rocks, dropping down with a thundering roar and a beautiful rainbow. The launch trip to the bottom of the Falls is unforgettable, both to experience this mighty river and to see the huge crocodiles, hippos and birds that bask on its banks.

The terrain is dominated by rolling savannah and tall grassland. Buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe, Uganda kob, hartebeest and waterbuck are commonly seen. You may also spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, sitatunga, bush duiker, warthog and bushpig. Among the large carnivores, lion, leopard and spotted hyena are seen. The park boasts over 450 bird species including the Goliath heron, Egyptian goose, pelican, bee-eater, kingfisher, hornbill, cormorant, and the rare shoebill stork

Climate

Murchison Falls NP's weather in general.The climate in Murchison Falls is tropical and hot. Being close to the equator, temperatures are quite uniform throughout the year. Daytime temperatures of around 31°C/88°F are common, with it cooling down at night to around 18°C/64°F. The altitude ranges from 500-1,292m (1,650-4,240ft), so climatic variations occur within the park as temperatures drop by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1,000ft). The Wet season runs from March to November, with a period of less rain from June to July. There is little rain during the Dry season, which occurs from December to February. It doesn't rain that much in the Wet season either, but heavy storms can be expected.