At 3840 square kilometres, this is the largest protected area in Uganda. The Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) comprises of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves. This is where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid river whose banks are thronged with Hippos and Crocodiles, Waterbucks and Buffaloes. The vegetation is characterised by savannah, riverine forest and woodland. Wildlife includes Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffes, Hartebeests, Oribis, Uganda Kobs, Chimpanzees, and many bird species.

North of the river (where the game drives take place) the vegetation broadly consists of tall, green grassland interspersed with isolated stands of borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland. On your morning or evening game drive you have a good chance to see Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Buffalo and many different species of antelope, as well as an outside chance of Lion. Due to the size of the park the game viewing is very peaceful with very few other vehicles around to intrude on your observation of the abundant wildlife.

South of the river the park is characterised by denser woodland, giving way in the southeast to closed canopy forest. This canopy linked Murchison to the Bugungu forest reserve and within that reserve, Kanyiyo Pabidi. This small forest reserve offers the visitor a chance to see habituated wild chimps, although the success rate here is substantially lower than in Kibale. However it is conveniently located en route to Murchison Falls and therefore may be worth a visit for clients not intending to travel on to Kibale.

One of the highlights of a visit to the Conservation Area is the launch trip from Paraa to the foot of Murchison Falls. Hippos and crocodiles are abundant, and you will see elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks and birds, including herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, fish eagles, kingfishers, and the rare Shoebill. The trip from Paraa to the Falls and back takes about three hours.

Another highlight is to drive or walk to the top of the falls to view the tremendous force of the waterfall at close quarters. The scenery has a real primeval quality and you almost feel like a dinosaur could walk out of one of the forested islands hundreds of feet below. There are some fantastic views of the falls to be had as you walk around the horseshoe walk high above the Nile.