Murchison Falls: The World’s Most Powerful Waterfall.
Murchison Falls (Kabalega Waterfalls) is amazingly one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Located at the apex of Lake Albert on the Victoria Nile in Uganda, the Murchison Falls is Uganda’s iconic attraction. At the top of Murchison waterfalls, the Nile River is observed forcing itself into a narrow rock measuring up to 7-8 meters.
The strong force flows at 300 cubic meters per second, creating a powerful roar and a permanent rainbow. Murchison Falls forms one of the series of waterfalls that are found on the Victoria Nile. After forcefully squeezing itself into a narrow rock, this natural wonder falls at a height of 43m before it begins flowing towards the Albert Nile.
The first Europeans to sight the Murchison Falls include Samuel Baker and Florence Baker. During their visit, the falls were named after Roderick Murchison, the President of the Royal Geographical Society. In the 1970s, Murchison Falls was renamed Kabalega Waterfalls by the then-president, H.E. Idi Amin Dada. This is in remembrance of the Kabalega of Bunyoro. After the downfall of Idi Amin, the Kabalega Falls regained its name as Murchison Falls.
Location
The scenic Murchison Falls lies within the extensive Murchison Falls National Park in Northwestern Uganda. This waterfall lies at the apex of Lake Albert on the Victoria Nile. Two parallel waterfalls exist at the site, and before the walls, the Victoria Nile splits, forming 2 branches: the Southern branch, which forms the powerful Murchison Falls, and along the Northern branch, there are the Uhuru Waterfalls with slightly lower water levels.
Things to do
Boat cruise
A launch or boat cruise is interestingly the best way to explore the powerful Murchison Falls. The boat cruise excursions begin from the Paraa jetty to the base of the falls, and this is a 2-3 round-trip. What is remarkable is that there is a chance to view plenty of aquatic life, especially hundreds of hippopotamuses as they swim, Nile crocodiles while they bask along the river banks, plus countless aquatic bird species.
On a single day, visitors can engage in 2 sessions of boat cruise, and that is in the morning and afternoon. Both boat cruise sessions lead to the upstream side of the falls, and accompanying you will be experienced experts.
Hiking
Upon getting to the base of the Murchison Falls, there is a chance for tourists to continue with guided treks to the top. It is a 45-minute walk, and you can only enjoy this starting from the base if the water levels are low.
Photography & viewing the falls
At the top of Murchison Falls, expect to engage in a rewarding photography moment as you capture the best shots of this natural wonder. It is at this point that you can closely observe this falls forcefully squeezing itself into a narrow rock which measures 7-8 meters.
Other attractions and activities
Game drives
Murchison Falls excursions can be combined with other numerous experiences in the National Park and include guided game drives. The game drives in Murchison Falls National Park provide an incredible opportunity for you to look out for the diversity of savanna species. To truly meet this wilderness, you need a 4×4 car with high clearance for dusty tracks, grip for sudden rains, and freedom to chase sunrise game drives. If you do have a 4×4 car and you need one, hire from any Uganda car rental company for the best exploration of the park.
Some of the wildlife species that you may come across on a guided game drive in Murchison Falls Park include the Rothschild giraffes, bushbucks, elephants, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, lions, leopards, warthogs, Uganda kobs, and others.
Birding
There are many birding opportunities to enjoy while on a Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park. The birding walks can be best enjoyed at the Kaniyo-Pabidi Forest, the Royal Mile on the Southern side of Budongo Forest. These sites are ideal for birders interested in forest species of birds.
If you are interested in aquatic species, then consider taking a boat ride/cruise along the Nile delta or towards the base of Murchison Falls. Some of the birds to identify on a birding tour in Murchison Falls National Park include the shoebill stork, long-toed plovers, African darter, rock pratincole, Denham’s bustard, veracious dove, speckled fronted weaver bird, blue-headed coucal, martial eagle, osprey, black billed barbet, squacco heron, cassin’s hawk eagle, black eared ground thrush, lemon bellied crombec, chocolate backed kingfishers, little green sunbird, yellow footed flycatchers and others.
Best time to visit
Murchison Falls is open to visitors year-round, but the best months for a vacation are the dry months. This is from December to February, June to September –these are best for game viewing. In case of visitors who are interested in birding excursions, the preferred months of the year are April to May or August to October.
Where to stay
The ideal places to stay overnight in Murchison Falls National Park include Murchison River Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Fort Murchison Falls Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, Red Chili Rest Camp, and others.
How to get there
Murchison Falls is accessible by road or air. By road, expect to spend 5-6 hours driving from Kampala through Luweero to Masindi via Kichumbanyobo gate, and by air, set off on a flight from Entebbe airport to Pakuba airstrip or Chobe, then proceed to explore the falls.
