Karuma Falls
Karuma falls is one of the most gorgeous waterfalls on the River Nile with an elevation of about 1000 meters above sea level. Found in western Uganda on latitude 2.23416 and longitude 32.2463 along Kampala-Gulu high way on the grid in Kiryandongo District the mighty waterfalls are located at the exact point the road crosses the great river Nile.
You can see the falls a glance away while at the bridge road and most drivers drive slowly while at this point to allow passengers to view and embrace nature. The falls are 3-4 hour drive depending on the speed you driving from Kampala. The falls are 77 kilometers from Gulu city, the largest town that turned city recently in northern Uganda. Karuma falls also stretches 97 kilometers on the road east of Masindi town. The scenic beauty of the roaring of the water as it rides past the rocks makes Karuma one of the perfect tourist destinations in Uganda.
The name Karuma was derived from Luo meaning “the great spirit”. Locals speculate that it was the spirit that placed the hard rocks on which the waters hit nightly to form the karma falls. On his quest to find the source of River Nile, John Speke passed by it making it one of Uganda’s key landmarks. Passengers get to have a glimpse and the roar of the water as they drive by the Karuma Bridge, they also get to see at distance baboons and monkeys.
In 1963, the bridge was constructed to link cotton farmers from the northern part of the country to the country’s business capital. However, in the early 2000s, the bridge became a massacre spot as the Lord Resistance Army rebels led by Kony used to hide in the bushes, hijack and kill people using the bridge to cross from both sides. Fortunately, this was deciphered early by the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) pushing the rebels out of Uganda to the forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007. Currently, the government of Uganda constructed a new modern technology hydroelectricity power dam to enhance electricity in Uganda. This dam is the biggest in Uganda producing more than 600 megawatts of electricity. The government plans to construct a big city to encompass the dam.
A fun fact about the Karuma falls is that the waterfall lies on the eastern boundary of Murchison falls National Park, the biggest game reserve in Uganda, so as you drive by the falls you can actually have sight of some wildlife.
Murchison falls national park prides itself in the diversity of animals that include buffaloes, antelopes, monkeys, lions, baboons, elephants, leopards, Uganda kobs, and giraffes, birds and unbeatable flora. On top of just experiencing the falls, a tour to Karuma Falls can be coupled with a visit to Murchison falls National Park to fully have a wildlife experience.
The good-looking rock formations make the impressive Victoria Nile appear like stunning white foam when the water hits the rocks. You can catch these splendid waterfalls by booking a tour to Murchison falls national park where accommodation is sorted as well. Visiting the Karuma falls is open for the entire year but it’s advisable to visit during the dry season to avoid challenges that might occur in navigation.
At the Karuma Falls, you can engage in activities like nature walks, bird watching and sight-seeing. But at Murchison Falls National Park you to have activities like game drives, top of the falls experiences, boat rides and many more. So the best way to enjoy a Karuma Falls Safari is to couple it with a Murchison Falls safari
