Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park – one of Uganda’s best safari areas – takes its name from Murchison Falls. Here, the Nile River squeezes through a 8m-wide gap and tumbles 40m into Fajao Gorge before gradually returning to being a calmer, unhurried swathe of water.
In complete contrast to the impressive violence of the falls, a trip to the nearby Victoria Nile Delta during your Uganda safari invites you to cut the boat engine. This papyrus wetland is formed as the river slows upon entering Lake Albert.
A cruise on the Nile River can encompass both of these experiences, giving you the chance to feel the power of the falls from the water – and if you like, hike up the side of the falls to view them from land – or to look for shoebill among the reeds as you gently float along the delta.
The Nile River is rich in history, and richer still in wildlife. Crocodile bask on sand bars and place names like Paraa – the place of hippo – allude to the profusion of aquatic and amphibious life.
A hydropower plant at Karuma Falls harnesses the energy of the river, while boats provide the ideal platforms from which to fish for Nile perch, keep a look out for waterbirds or enjoy cocktails as the equatorial sun slips beneath the water.
Back on dry land, the Buligi area offers excellent savannah game-drive experiences and views towards the Great Rift Valley, while a walk among the mahogany trees of the Rabongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests can yield sightings of elephant, as well as chimpanzee and other primates. Tracking our closest relatives through the forest provides a noisy and sometimes frenetic counterpoint to the slowly sliding Nile.
