Self Drive Murchison Falls National Park- Self Drive Uganda Itinerary

Enjoy a Self-drive to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest and oldest conservation park in Uganda. The park is in northwestern Uganda, spreading inland from the shore of Lake Albert around the Victoria Nile. Together with the adjacent 748 square kilometers (289 sq. mi) Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the 720 square kilometers (280 sq. mi) Karuma Wildlife Reserve, the park forms the Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA). The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls.

At Murchison falls, the Nile squeezes through an 8m wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the “Devil’s  Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles and aquatic birds are permanent residents.

Location of the park; the park is in Buliisa District in western Uganda and in Nwoya District in northern Uganda. The park is approximately 300 kilometers (190 mi), by road, northwest of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city.

Accessibility of the park

By Road

A number of routes can be used to reach the Nile at Paraa at the heart of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area. The river is crossed here using a vehicle ferry which runs at roughly hourly intervals throughout the day.

Southern Entrance Gates

You can self- drive through the southern entrance gates according to the side of the park you like to entre from. Two southerly approaches to Paraa lead out of Masindi town, which is a 4 hour drive (305km) from Kampala. Along the way to Masindi is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary home to the only wild rhinos in Uganda. The main route from Masindi enters the Conservation Area through Kicumbanyobo Gate to pass through Kaniyo Pabidi Forest to Paraa (85km). A longer but more scenic alternative runs for 135km from Masindi to the park’s Bugungu gate, the route includes a passage through Budongo Forest and a memorable descent of the rift valley escarpment with views across Lake Albert towards the mountains of the Congo.

Northern Entrance Gates

You can also self- drive through the southern entrance gates in case you are coming from the north side of the park. Murchison Falls National Park can also be entered via the Chobe, Wankwar, Mubako and Tangi gates north of the Nile. These are reached from the Kampala-Pakwach Road which crosses the Nile at Karuma Falls Bridge in the northeastern corner of the park, 260km from Kampala. These gates are convenient for visitor travelling to/from Gulu town and Kidepo Valley National Park.

By Air

Pakuba Airfield, 19km from North Paraa, can be reached using chartered aircraft from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield near Kampala. Other airfields in the park include: Chobe to the east and Bugungu near Murchison Falls to the south.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is on your way to Murchison falls

On your way to Murchison falls national park, make a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary you can track them on foot and support this important initiative to reintroduce rhinos to protected areas. You will have the opportunity to observe the rhinos at a very close and safe distance. While at the sanctuary you will also encounter a range of other wildlife species including Uganda kobs, reed bucks, oribis, rich bucks, hippos and crocodiles.

Things to see and on your way to Murchison falls park

Game drives in Murchison falls

As you self- drive around the Buligi tracks on the northern bank with a trained ranger guide you will come across majestic herds of Giraffes, families of elephants, herds of Buffaloes, warthogs, along with bushbucks, reedbuck, duikers, kobs, Oribi and the unusual-looking hartebeest lions, and even you may even spot a leopard at dusk.

Bird watching in Murchison falls

Both the game drives and the launch trips offer an opportunity for one to come across distinct birdlife, including savannah forest birds, water birds and Albertine Rift endemics. The commonest species found in the plains include the Marabou Stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Secretary Birds, Black-bellied Bustards, Open-billed Storks and Widow Bird. The main birding attraction is the shoebill, best sighted in the dry season from January- March.

Launch trips in Murchison falls

The launch trip upstream from Paraa presents an astonishing display of wildlife and culminates with the memorable frontal view of the Falls. The launch departs at 9am and 2pm daily and takes three hours.Recommended for birders is a morning cruise downstream to the Nile-Lake Albert Delta, providing the best chance in Africa of sighting the elusive Shoebill. This four- to five-hour return voyage also takes in a variety of other wildlife, including hippos, elephants and many birds.

Top of the falls in Murchison

Trails around the top of the falls go right up to the water’s edge. You have the opportunity to hike the top of the falls from the boat landing and get close to the narrow gorge through which the river plunges.

Cultural encounters in Murchison falls

Transfer you safari jeep to go watch the energetic dancers from Mubako performance around lodge campfire, making for a magical African experience at dusk. Boomu Women’s Group offers accommodation, a craft shop and village tours, revealing the realities of life in this rural community.

Hiking and Nature walks

The vast landscapes and varied scenery of Murchison Falls National Park and the surrounding Conservation Area can be explored on foot. Trails through Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo Forests provide sightings of many primates and birds, while around the Nile-Lake Albert Delta, two- to four-hour guided swamp walks offer possible sightings of the Shoebill when the water level is low. After an afternoon boating upriver, you can also hike 45 minutes through woodland to the top of Murchison Falls for a completely different experience of this magnificent waterfall.It’s this experience that brings all the senses into play: watch waves of white water tumble hypnotically through this six-meter chasm, listen to the roar, taste the spray on your face and feel the rock shake beneath your feet.

Sport fishing

The banks of the Nile below Murchison Falls provide exciting challenges to anglers. Living within strong currents and highly oxygenated water is the Nile perch. There is the chance to land a massive catch – the record is 108kg.

Kaniyo Pabidi 

Kaniyo Pabidiforest is among the most ideal places in Uganda to have a guided bird watching tour. The area of natural forest within Budongo Forest Reserve, where you can walk beneath mature Mahogany and ironwood trees. Chimpanzee tracking is the most famous activity. You certainly see many forest birds, including the Chocolate backed Kingfisher, the White-thighed Hornbill, and Puvel’s Illadopsis found nowhere else in East Africa! Kaniyo Pabidi is on the Masindi – Paraa road, 8 kms from Kicumbanyobo gate. There is a campsite where water and firewood are available. Do bring everything else you may need. Kaniyo Pabidi is privately managed by the Forestry Department.

RABONGO FOREST

Rabongo Forest Ecotourism Centre nestles in an island of tropical riverine forest in the southeast of the conservation area. The forest is surrounded by savanna grassland and is one and a half hour drive from Paraa. Guide will help you explore the forest on foot, spotting primates; Black & White Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Baboons, and occasionally Chimpanzees identifying animals, birds, medicinal plants and trees. You can picnic and camp by the Wairingo River or stay in the well-equipped forest cottages