Gates of Murchison Falls National Park

Gates of Murchison Falls National Park are the entrance and exit points of the park from which the travellers can be able to access and depart from the park premises. Murchison falls national park has got a number of routes or gates that can be used to enter the Nile at paraa to the heart of the Murchison falls conservation Area. However, to reach to the promises of the Murchison falls national park traveller have to first cross the Victoria Nile which bisects the park into two the north and the south part while using a vehicle ferry which runs at roughly hour interval all day long.

However, Murchison falls national park is the pioneer of the national park found in Uganda in a way that is the country’s oldest and largest park located in the north-western region of Uganda. The park is not only being the largest but rich in biodiversity of species with over 76 mammal species, over 500 bird species, tree species which are an inhabitant of savannah grassland, woodland, tropical rain forest, rivers among other stunning species which can be encountered by the tourists on their visit to the African wilderness. Murchison falls national park is approximately 300 kilometers from northwest of Uganda’s capital city ‘’Kampala’’ and in driving hours it take 4 to 5 hours by car from the city ,it is a home to big five but Rhinos can be encountered on your way to Murchison through having a stopover at the Ziwa rhino sanctuary to enjoy the trek and then proceed to Murchison falls national park where you can see the other big four such as lions, cape buffaloes, elephants, leopards and since the park boost with over 76 mammals species expect also to explore other mammals including waterbucks, hartebeest, warthogs, hyenas, Uganda kobs, hippos, crocodiles, 13 primates like endangered chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white monkeys, blue monkeys many more.

The gates of Murchison fall national park are splinted into two the southern entrance gates and the Northern Entrance gates and there are over six gates each one positioned in different location of the park. These include;

The Southern Entrance Gates of Murchison Falls National Park

Kichumbanyobo Gate: Kichumbanyobo gate is the main gate of Murchison falls, and this the route use to pass from Masindi to access the conservation area to reach there you pass through kaniyo pabidi forest to paraa which estimates about 85kilomters.
Bugungu Gate: To be able to access this gate, from Kampala it requires you to be patient enough because it can take longer driving hours but the road is more scenic which runs for over 135kilomters from Masindi town up to the park’s Bugungu gate. The route that takes you to Bugungu gate gives you a magnificent view of great rift valley, view across lake Albert towards the mountain of the Congo, passing through Budongo forest a home to chimpanzees and lasts only 135km to enter the park.

Northern Entrance Gates of Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison falls national park can also be entered via the Wankwar, Mubako, Tangi gate, Chobe to the north of the Nile. But the gates are convenient for travellers travelling to or from Gulu town and Kidepo valley national park. To the northern side of the park, there are 4 gates which can help you to access the park and these include; Wankar gate, Chobe, Tangi, and Mubako gate.

Wankar gate: The wankar gate is also on the northern side of the Murchison falls close to Purongo which is just 10 kilometers off the main road.
Chobe gate: The Chobe gate is positioned in the northern route of the park and can be accessed from paraa and karuma falls which is near pakwach and it takes only 2 kilometers north of the Karuma bridge.
Tangi gate: This gate is located in those ancient region of Murchison falls national park and travellers to be able access this gate will first go through paraa then cross the Nile with a vehicle ferry working all day along. To reach to tangi gate takes about 110 kilometres from Kara bridge.
Mubako gate: This gate can be reached by crossing the Nile River from the karuma falls bridge along Kampala pakwach road.

The park can be visited all year round but the best season is dry season from the month of December to Mid-march and June to September.

Travellers visiting Murchison falls national park can sleep in comfortable accommodation facilities with good amenities ranging between luxury, mid-range, and budget such lodges include Paraa safari lodge, parkside safari lodge Chobe safari lodge, Red chill camp, Budongo eco lodge, Sambiya river lodge, Shoebill campsite among others.

Tourists can travel to Murchison falls national park with WD safari vehicle through booking with a tour company who will use their vehicle as means of transport accompanied by a tour guide or travellers can use their owner vehicles to reach there.

By Air: Murchison falls national park has got its main airstrips within where tourists do lands on from for their park’s activities such as Pakuba Airfield which sits in the northern side, Bugungu airstrip in the south and Chobe airstrip on the Eastern side of the park but all can be accessed while using chartered aircraft from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield near Kampala.