Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area at 3,840 square kilometers, sprawls across the northwest, where the Victoria Nile divides palm-studded savanna and forest. Renowned for its thundering falls, this park offers exceptional game drives, showcasing its 144 mammal species and vast landscapes. Here’s what to expect on this wildlife adventure.
Prime Game Drive Areas
Game drives focus north of the Nile, in the Buligi Peninsula and Nile Delta circuits, reachable via the Paraa ferry. The Buligi area, dubbed the “wildlife corridor,” stretches between the Victoria and Albert Niles, offering open plains dotted with borassus palms. Morning drives (6:30–10:00 AM) catch lions, leopards, and Jackson’s hartebeest at peak activity, while evening drives (4:00–7:00 PM) spotlight elephants (over 1,330), buffalo, and Rothschild’s giraffes. The Delta, near Lake Albert, adds waterbuck and hippos grazing riverside.
What to Expect
Guided by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers in open-roof 4x4s, drives last 2–4 hours. Four of the “Big Five” roam here lions, elephants, buffalo, and leopards while rhinos reside at nearby Ziwa Sanctuary. With 556 bird species, like the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, the savanna doubles as a birding haven. Wildlife roams freely, so sightings vary, but dry seasons concentrate animals near water.
Seasonal Highlights
Dry seasons (June to August, December to February) are ideal, with sparse vegetation and firm tracks enhancing visibility, lions bask in the open, and giraffes tower over grasslands. Rainy seasons (March to May, September to November) bring lush scenery but muddier paths, scattering game slightly.