How to get to Murchison Falls National Park By Air

Wondering how best you can get to Murchison Falls National Park by air? Air transport is undoubtedly the fasted way for nature lovers on Uganda safaris to connect to Murchison Falls National Park for a holiday. There are three airstrips located in Murchison National Park, Uganda’s biggest national park and home to over 76 mammal species as well as the world’s most powerful waterfalls –Murchison Falls.

Getting to Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP-Uganda) by air

Through your trusted tour operator –Maranatha Tours and Travel (info@adventureugandasafaris.com, info@silverbackgorillatour.com), a flight can be arranged early before your actual date of visiting the park. Air travel to Murchison Falls National Park –MFNP in Masindi District like most destinations such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Kabale or Kidepo Valley National Park (KVN) in Kaboong start from Entebbe International Airport (EBB). You depart from Entebbe airport and land at the following airstrips at Murchison National Park;

Pakuba Airstrip

Pakuba Airstrip is found in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda. This airstrip is found in Murchison Falls National Park and plays a significant part in the Albertine Graben Area. It serves as entry and exit point, making it a perfect point for tourists visiting Murchison Falls NP and don’t want to spend long hours on road.

Bugungu

Bugungu airstrip is found in the Southern side of Murchison Falls National Park, 26km away from Masindi town. This airstrip receives scheduled/chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and Kajjansi airfield, run by Aero Link Uganda and Air Uganda.

Chobe Airstrip

Chobe Airstrip is a privately owned airstrip and is set around Chobe Safari Lodge. It the perfect place to land in and start your excursions in Murchison Park and considering its strategic location, visitors can book Chobe Safari Lodge for their overnight stay.

Besides air transport, guests can also reach the park by road. Road travel involves spending over 5-6 hours driving along Kampala-Gulu highway. The advantage of traveling by road is that you have plenty to explore en route to the park including visiting rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, watch people as they carry on with their daily duties and so on.

Things to do in Murchison Falls National Park Uganda

Nature walks/hiking

Visit Murchison Falls National Park for the most unforgettable guided nature walks –short and long. There are several nature walking/hiking opportunities offered in this park including Kaniyo-Pabidi forest, Rabongo Forest, Sambiya River Lodge and along the Northern bank of the Nile River.

Game drive

Murchison Falls NP is blessed with over 76 mammal species, and a game drive in a 4×4 safari vehicle is a great chance to encounter the park’s diverse animals in the savanna grassland. The game drives are done in the morning and afternoon/evening, and day sightings include animals such as elephants, lions, antelopes, leopards, giraffes, and birds.

Boat cruise

The boat cruise in Murchison Falls N. Park is best done along the Victoria Nile and at the Delta. The launch cruise excursions offer clear views of aquatic species, especially the large schools of hippos, basking crocodiles, and countless water birds.

Chimpanzee tracking

You can combine game viewing and chimpanzee tracking in Kaniyo-Pabidi (Budongo Forest). This allows you to enjoy a close encounter with habituated chimpanzees in the wild and about 800 chimpanzees all reside in the Budongo Forest.

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park, a great opportunity for you to identify a variety of birds in their natural habitat. Over 451 species of birds reside in the various habitats of Murchison  and include the giant kingfishers, Abyssinian ground hornbill, black-bellied bustards, gray crowned cranes, giant herons, giant kingfishers, shoebill storks, palm nut vultures, white-browed sparrow weavers, red winged grey warblers, sandpipers, long-tailed nightjars, long-toed plovers, black billed barbet, Senegal thick-knee, malachite kingfishers, veracious doves;

At Budongo Forest, birds to identify include the grey-headed sunbirds, yellow footed flycatchers, African dwarf kingfishers, Puvel’s illadopsis, Ituri batis, Olive breasted greenbul, Cassin’s hawk eagle, Chestnut capped flycatchers, Black eared ground thrush, Chocolate backed kingfishers, Cassin’s spine tails,

Along Lake Albert delta, the birds to look for include the woodpeckers, grey herons, shoebill storks, malachites, warblers and more. These can be perfectly spotted on a guided boat cruise excursion.