Murchison Falls Conservation Area
About Murchison Falls
Stretching across north-western Uganda, the Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) is Uganda's largest protected landscape and one of Africa's greatest conservation success stories.
Covering almost 5,300 km², the conservation area comprises Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma Wildlife Reserve, protecting an extraordinary diversity of savannah, woodland, riverine forest, wetlands and the iconic River Nile.
At its heart lies Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river is forced through a narrow seven-metre gorge before plunging more than 40 metres into the Devil's Cauldron below. This spectacular natural wonder gives the conservation area its identity and creates one of Africa's most unforgettable wildlife experiences.
The River Nile continues westwards through the park, supporting one of the continent's richest concentrations of wildlife and sustaining the ecosystems upon which both people and nature depend.
Stretching across north-western Uganda, the Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) is Uganda's largest protected landscape and one of Africa's greatest conservation success stories.
Covering almost 5,300 km², the conservation area comprises Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma Wildlife Reserve, protecting an extraordinary diversity of savannah, woodland, riverine forest, wetlands and the iconic River Nile.
At its heart lies Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river is forced through a narrow seven-metre gorge before plunging more than 40 metres into the Devil's Cauldron below. This spectacular natural wonder gives the conservation area its identity and creates one of Africa's most unforgettable wildlife experiences.
The River Nile continues westwards through the park, supporting one of the continent's richest concentrations of wildlife and sustaining the ecosystems upon which both people and nature depend.
Murchison Falls is home to over 450 bird species and more than 75 mammal species including one of Uganda's largest populations of elephants, the endangered Rothschild's giraffe, lion, leopard, buffalo, chimpanzee and thousands of hippos and Nile crocodiles. The park also supports internationally important populations of the iconic shoebill and countless waterbirds along its wetlands and delta.
The conservation area is also one of Uganda's greatest examples of ecological recovery. Following decades of civil unrest and widespread wildlife loss during the 1970s and 1980s, long-term investment by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) has helped restore protected area management, strengthen ranger capacity, rebuild infrastructure and recover many of the park's iconic wildlife populations.
Murchison Falls is home to more than 75 mammal species and over 450 bird species, including one of Uganda's largest populations of elephants, the endangered Rothschild's giraffe, lion, leopard, buffalo, chimpanzee and thousands of hippos and Nile crocodiles. The park also supports internationally important populations of the iconic shoebill and countless waterbirds along its wetlands and delta.
The conservation area is also one of Uganda's greatest examples of ecological recovery. Following decades of civil unrest and widespread wildlife loss during the 1970s and 1980s, long-term investment by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) has helped restore protected area management, strengthen ranger capacity, rebuild infrastructure and recover many of the park's iconic wildlife populations.
Since 1997, UCF has worked in partnership with UWA to strengthen every aspect of conservation across the landscape, including ranger training, protected area infrastructure, veterinary response, communications, law enforcement, conservation technology and biodiversity monitoring.
Through UWA's national Digital Strategy, led by UCF, EarthRanger now supports real-time operational management, wildlife monitoring, engineering, veterinary operations and intelligence-led law enforcement across the conservation area.
Today, MFCA stands as one of Africa's leading examples of collaborative conservation protecting Uganda's largest elephant population, supporting globally significant biodiversity and sustaining the waters of the River Nile.
It demonstrates how long-term partnerships, science, technology and effective management can restore wildlife while creating lasting benefits for surrounding communities and future generations.
Since 1997, UCF has worked in partnership with UWA to strengthen every aspect of conservation across the landscape, including ranger training, protected area infrastructure, veterinary response, communications, law enforcement, conservation technology and biodiversity monitoring.
Through UWA's national Digital Strategy, led by UCF, EarthRanger now supports real-time operational management, wildlife monitoring, engineering, veterinary operations and intelligence-led law enforcement across the conservation area.
Today, MFCA stands as one of Africa's leading examples of collaborative conservation protecting Uganda's largest elephant population, supporting globally significant biodiversity and sustaining the waters of the River Nile.
It demonstrates how long-term partnerships, science, technology and effective management can restore wildlife while creating lasting benefits for surrounding communities and future generations.
Highlights of the landscapes
Extraordinary Landscapes
From the iconic Borassus palm woodlands of the Tangi Valley and the vast wildlife-rich plains of Buligi, Mupina and Kiba, to the ancient Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests, papyrus wetlands and the mighty River Nile, MFCA protects one of Africa's most spectacular and diverse natural landscapes.
From the iconic Borassus palm woodlands of the Tangi Valley and the vast wildlife-rich plains of Buligi, Mupina and Kiba, to the ancient Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests, papyrus wetlands and the mighty River Nile, MFCA protects one of Africa's most spectacular and diverse natural landscapes.
The Power of the Nile
At the heart of the conservation area, the world's longest river is forced through a dramatic seven-metre-wide gorge before plunging over Murchison Falls. This extraordinary natural wonder defines Uganda's largest protected area and creates one of Africa's most unforgettable wildlife destinations.
At the heart of the conservation area, the world's longest river is forced through a dramatic seven-metre-wide gorge before plunging over Murchison Falls. This extraordinary natural wonder defines Uganda's largest protected area and creates one of Africa's most unforgettable wildlife destinations.
A Legendary Landscape
From the expeditions of Samuel and Florence Baker and the writings of Ernest Hemingway to the visits of Sir Winston Churchill, Murchison Falls has inspired explorers, adventurers and conservationists for generations. During the 1960s it was the most visited national park in Africa and supported the continent's highest recorded densities of mega-herbivores. It was also the last refuge of Uganda's northern white rhinoceros, making the landscape central to Africa's conservation history.
From the expeditions of Samuel and Florence Baker and the writings of Ernest Hemingway to the visits of Sir Winston Churchill, Murchison Falls has inspired explorers, adventurers and conservationists for generations. During the 1960s it was the most visited national park in Africa and supported the continent's highest recorded densities of mega-herbivores. It was also the last refuge of Uganda's northern white rhinoceros, making the landscape central to Africa's conservation history.
Uganda's Wildlife Stronghold
Today, MFCA supports Uganda's largest elephant population, internationally important populations of Rothschild's giraffe, lions, leopards, chimpanzees, buffalo, hippos and Nile crocodiles, together with more than 450 bird species. Ongoing conservation efforts continue to restore wildlife populations and safeguard one of East Africa's greatest natural ecosystems.
Today, MFCA supports Uganda's largest elephant population, internationally important populations of Rothschild's giraffe, lions, leopards, chimpanzees, buffalo, hippos and Nile crocodiles, together with more than 450 bird species. Ongoing conservation efforts continue to restore wildlife populations and safeguard one of East Africa's greatest natural ecosystems.
Innovation for Conservation
For almost 30 years, the UWA and UCF have worked together to restore and strengthen the management of Murchison Falls. Through ranger training, conservation technology, veterinary support, EarthRanger, intelligence-led law enforcement and evidence-based management, the landscape is once again becoming one of Africa's leading conservation success stories.
For almost 30 years, the UWA and UCF have worked together to restore and strengthen the management of Murchison Falls. Through ranger training, conservation technology, veterinary support, EarthRanger, intelligence-led law enforcement and evidence-based management, the landscape is once again becoming one of Africa's leading conservation success stories.
FAQ
Your Questions, Answered.
Some things you may need to know before visiting Murchison Falls National Park.