Murchison National Park - Uganda’s largest - protects a chunk of completely untamed savannah, bisected by the mighty River Nile. It is named for the Murchison Falls, where the world’s longest river explodes violently through a cleft in the Rift Valley Escarpment to plunge frothing 43m below into a deep green series of whirl-pools as the river reagins its composure & heads unceasingly onward on its journey. Wildlife populations have largely recovered from the rampant poaching of the 1980’s & in the lush borassus grasslands to the north of the Nile, herds of elephant, buffalo, giraffe & a variety of antelope are regularly encountered on game drives as are prides of lion to be found flowing their quarry.

In the southeast, Rabongo Forest is home to chimpanzees & a myriad of rainforest creatures, while in & around the Nile itself, the grey bulky masses are sure giveaways of hippo partially submerged in the pools. Crocodile are becoming increasingly bold & these reptilian monsters of a prehistoric time, have the patience of Jobe awaiting any mistake made by animals who come to drink or dare to venture too far into the water. A dazzling display of waterfowl, waders & rare swamp birds such as the shoebill stork are to be found here & the Murchison National Park is gaining in renown as a result.