Fort Murchison Lodge is located on the southern banks of the River Nile, where it flows toward Lake Albert. The lodge sits at the former Aswa Lolim Game Reserve, just outside the northern part of Murchison Falls National Park. This historic site once served as an Arab outpost and was also used by early European explorers searching for the source of the Nile.
The lodge is built in ancient Swahili style, inspired by its history, and is one of the oldest in the country. Room prices range between $90 and $200, depending on meal plan and occupancy.
Accommodation is offered in 12 spacious en suite cottages with comfortable beds, hot running water, and private balconies overlooking the Albert Nile. The lodge also has non–self-contained tents, beautifully set on raised decks with grass-thatched roofs.
Each tent has a single bed, mosquito net, bedding, towels, bedside table, and a power outlet for charging. Guests staying in tents share bathrooms and flush toilets with hot water.
Activities near the Lodge
- Game Viewing: Murchison Falls National Park is home to many species of mammals and primates. Visitors can explore the park through game drives or hot air balloon safaris. Animals often seen include elephants, giraffes, lions, bushbucks, warthogs, waterbucks, zebras, Ugandan kob, oribis, and many more.
- Boat Cruise: A boat cruise on the River Nile is a highlight of any visit to Murchison. The three-hour round trip takes you to the base of the falls, where the river forces itself through a narrow gorge on the rift escarpment to form the powerful Murchison Falls. Along the way, you can see land animals on the riverbanks, as well as hippos and crocodiles in the water. At the end of the cruise, you can take a 45-minute hike to the top of the falls.
- Birding: The park is also a birding haven, with 450 recorded species. Common birds include the giant kingfisher, goliath heron, shoebill stork, black-billed bustard, grey crowned crane, African darter, black-headed lapwing, vinaceous dove, and rock pratincole.
How to Get There
Murchison Falls National Park is one of the best national parks in Uganda. It was established in 1952 and covers 3,893 square kilometres, making it the largest park in the country. It is also one of the top tourist destinations, home to wildlife that cannot be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park is about 305 kilometres from Kampala, which takes roughly 5 hours by road. Visitors can also fly to Chobe or Pakuba airstrips from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield.
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