Distance from Kampala to Murchison falls national park
The distance from Kampala to Murchison falls national park is 341km by road transport and it’s 252km by air transport. Within 4-6 hours travelers are able to access the park by road transport while for air transport it’s just 1 hour and 15 minutes. This mighty park is one of the easiest national parks to access as the roads leading to this protected area are well constructed.
Distance from Kampala to Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park is situated northwest of Kampala city in the districts of Masindi, Kiryandongo, Buliisa, and Nwoya. It’s the country’s largest protected area covering over 3893 sq. km. The national park was gazetted in 1951 by the government of Uganda to protect over 76 mammal species, 13 primate species, and over 451 bird species.
The park is one f the most loved national parks by tourists especially those that want game drive activities and Murchison falls. Travelers visit the park for different park activities by the most done are game drives and boat cruises where tourists want to see the strongest waterfalls in the world.
Accessing Murchison falls national park from Kampala
While accessing Murchison falls national park, tourists can either reach it by road or air transport:
By road transport: The mighty park can be accessed from Kampala within half a day if one uses road transport. The national park is 341 km by road from the capital of Kampala which takes a driver 4-6hours to get into the park. The time taken to access the park depends on the nature of the roads and the number of stopovers.
Road transport journey to this national park is very interesting and rewarding as travelers get to have stopovers at places such as Ziwa rhino sanctuary for white rhino tracking, and Karuma falls. With road transport to Murchison falls, tourists get to have beautiful views of the scenery along the way, rivers, lakes, mountains, and plantations.
To get to this park using road transport from Kampala, you will use any of the two routes to access the park using the southern gate or the northern gate. The first route to the park is from Kampala via Luwero, Nakasongola, Masindi to this national park using Kichumbanyabo or Bugugu gate in the south.
The second route to Murchison falls is from Kampala via Luwero, Nakasongola, Kiryandongo, Pakwach to Murchison using any of the gates on the northern side of the park. Gates on the northern side of the park are Tangi, Wankar, and Chobe. Both routes to the park take 4-6 hours and the total time taken depends on the nature of the roads and the number of stopovers.
By air transport: One of the national parks that can be accessed by air transport in Uganda is Murchison falls national park. The protected area has the highest number of airstrips which total to three and these are Chobe, Bugugu, and Pakuba. The three airstrips are located right inside the national park in different sections.
Luxury travelers or those that hate traveling for long distances should always talk with your tour operator so that they book for them flights with any of the airline companies to access the park. To use flights to the park, you need to book your seat in advance its always the role of the tour operator to do so.
Accessing Murchison falls national park by flights takes 1 hour and15 minutes from Kajjansi airstrip in Kampala or Entebbe international airport to Chobe, Pakuba or Bugugu airstrip. Flights to the park are conducted by Aerolink Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Fly Uganda at an affordable fee.
What to do in Murchison falls national park from Kampala
From Kampala to this park you can do a number of activities. The national park being home to different wildlife species and the Murchison falls has a lot of activities that you can be part of. Each of the activities in this national park has its own price you are required to pay except for day game drives which are fee.
Activities to do in this park from Kampala include game drives where you get to see animals such as lions, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, antelopes, waterbucks, warthogs, elephants, and much more. You can be part of the team to hike to the top of the falls, boat cruise, white water rafting, birding, sport fishing, nature walks, and hot air balloon among others.
The Best time to visit Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park can be accessed at any time of the year however there are times that are better than the rest. The dry season which occurs from June to September and December to February are the best to visit Murchison falls national park because they are characterized by little or no rainfall which keeps the roads to the park passable, the vegetation in the park is very short, and scattered giving good views of the animals and the game trucks are dry and passable.
The park is also open in the rainy season from March to May and October to November therefore tourists can still visit Murchison falls park. The rainy season favors budget travelers because lodges are at a discount. The rainy season attracts few tourists to the park and this is because it has heavy rainfall which makes the roads leading to the park muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thick inside the park with unclear views of the animals and the game trucks are muddy and slippery.
