Hiking to the top of Murchison Falls can be done after the 2 hour long amazing boat safari along the Nile before reaching the base of falls. The group which is set to hike to the top of the Falls will get off the boat to meet the waiting ranger guide at the set off point.
Hiking to the top of Murchison Falls is one of the most famous activities that everyone would love to encounter while in Murchison Falls National Park. The 45-minutes plus hike is one of the most energetic and challenging activity but very enjoyable in the long run, with a ranger who will guide you through the entire hike from the bottom to the top. A tour guide is always provided for the hike to explain certain features and answer all your questions.
The activity costs US$ 15 for foreign non-residents and UGX 10,000 for Ugandans.
The experience of hiking to the top of Murchison Falls
To hike to the top of the falls, you will disembark the boat after a pleasant ride with lots of wildlife on the sides of the river. As you hike up, you are cooled and refreshed on the hike by the misty spray from the Nile, pouring down over the 43-meter-long cleft, through what is called the “Devil’s Cauldron”. This is apparently not the hardest hike that you can take while in Uganda, but it is one of the most invigorating.
The hike starts right off at Baker’s Point. Here is where Sir Samuel Baker, the famous British explorer stood on a huge rock (which you will also stand on too), to declare the name of the falls in 1864 as Murchison Falls, a name they are famously known for until today.
As you take the trail upward, guided by rangers, you will go back in time to Sir Winston Churchill who in 1907 trekked down the same path. It was not as well-worn out in those days, however, the power of the Nile pouring down was the same.
There is a long stretch of steps that you will keep ascending and descending until you reach the top. You will feel like crawling at some point from exhaustion and yet with every step you ascend, the falls’ view gets even better and better. At this point even its sister fall called, “Uhuru falls” suddenly comes into clear view.
Uhuru Falls and more views while at the top of the falls.
Uhuru Falls was formed in 1962 when the Nile flooded, and it split at that point. So, it was named ‘Uhuru Falls’ because 1962 was the year Uganda got its independence from the British. Uhuru is a Kiswahili word that means grown or independent.
While hiking to the top of Murchison Falls, you will be brought to a clear close view of the two points. Here, you will be able to view and listen to the roaring sound of the mighty Nile as the water forces itself along the 7m stretch of rocks. This encounter provides a much closer experience than what you would have encountered during the boat cruise.
Finally, when you have made it to the top of the falls, you will forget all the pain and toiling through the endless steps, as the cool fresh air blows away the exhaustion. The beautiful music and sound of gushing water, quickly reaches your ears, from the falls as they join hands with huge rocks in a loud clap. You will also enjoy the soft splashes, almost like little drizzles from heaven, falling on your face. It’s so refreshing, so beautiful as you gaze at the topography and look back at how far you have come.
Beautiful rainbows await on your way. So, you will only be left with nothing but beautiful memories and photography moments at this point. You can stay here forever!