Murchison falls, also known as Kabalega falls is a picturesque waterfall in Uganda. Sir Samuel Baker and his wife discovered the falls in 1864 and named them the falls, after the president of the Royal Geographical Society, Roderick Murchison. Iddi Amin, Uganda’s former president then renamed the falls to Kabalega, in the 1970’s. Kabalega was the king of Bunyoro of the late 19th Century.
The Nile ruptures through a narrow rocky gap and tumbles 140feet into a pool known as ‘The Devil’s Cauldron’. Before flowing into the serene Lake Albert. Murchison falls is the crown of the surrounding area, known as the Murchison falls National Park. It is the largest and oldest game reserve in Uganda, established in 1926 and located in the Albertine Rift valley’s northern end. Besides the park, the Murchison falls is also comprised of Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma falls wildlife reserve, harboring 45obird species and over 70 mammal species.
The striking scenery of the falls indeed is why it has attracted notable visitors. Such as the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway and the former United States President, Theodore Roosevelt. The area also makes an appearance in the 1951 film, The African Queen.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The falls is accessible by car and planes. There are various activities that can be carried out at the falls. Namely, birdwatching, boat cruising, nature walks, chimpanzee trekking, hiking ad hot air balloons. The park is open all year round. However it is advisable to visit in the more dry seasons like January to March and June to late September. There are several options available to prospective visitors to make their safari indelible.
