Getting to Murchison Falls National Park
Getting to Murchison falls national park is something so easy and weather one uses Air or Road Transport they will get to the park with ease. Murchison Fall National Park is situated in the northwestern part of Uganda which estimates 283 square kilometres in northwest Uganda’s capital city ‘’Kampala’’ and in driving hours it takes 4 to 5 hours by road. The park’s boundaries are surrounded by several district such as Masindi, Buyisa, Kiryandongo, Nwoya district. It is inland area forming the shores of Lake Albert and over the Bunyoro escarpments as well as karuma falls wildlife reserve. However, Murchison falls national park is a protected area managed by the body that governs all the Uganda’s national parks known as “UWA” Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Murchison falls national park is the oldest and largest national park among the ten Uganda’s national park, with a total area of about 3893 square kilometres, followed by Queen Elizabeth national park in the south-western part of Uganda covering with over 1978 square kilometres. The park is large enough in a way that it adjoins to other wildlife reserves that is the bugungu wildlife reserve which measures 748 square kilometres wide of its land, Karuma falls wildlife reserve raises 720square kilometres, which all together make up the magnificent Murchison falls conservation area. The park sits on the average latitude of 2.187499 and longitude 31,781400 from the major latitude at the equator.
Getting to Murchison Falls
Murchison falls national park can be accessed either by road or Air, the possibility of driving to park is very easy despite the fact that there are different routes of road direction which can lead you to whatever gate you consider is the shorter to your tour itinerary, note that Murchison falls national park has over six gates with enough security. You can as well reach the park by Air from Entebbe international airport.
By Road: Getting to Murchison falls National park can be accessed by car, bus from Kampala or by private means, perhaps by use of self-driven or pick up from Entebbe International Airport by the help of tour company which will arrange your trip safely. It is a 4 or 5-hour drive from north-west ‘’Kampala City’’ in a driving distance of about 305 to Masindi town. The route passing through Masindi leads you to the main Kachumbanyobo gate, which is about 85kilometers from Masindi and goes through Kaniyo pabidi forest to paraa in the southern side of Murchison falls national park.
You can as well use Bugungu gate which leads you to the southern part of Murchison falls national park, it takes 135kilometers and is longer than Kichumbanyobo route. The rout to Bugungu gate provides rewardable spectacular views of budongo forest and the rift valley escarpment.
There are other gates which can access you to Murchison falls national park through the northern gates of wankwar, Chobe, mumbako and Tangi gate which are all located in the northern part across the River Nile. You can decide to reach the park through using the northern gates via the Kampala–Pakwach route which crosses the Nile at Karuma falls bridge, which is just 260kilometers from Kampala Capital city and the drive takes over 4 hours. The northern gates are more likely to visitors from Gulu or from Kidepo Valley national park.
The Tangi gate which is also from the northern route and is just 110 kilometres from Karuma falls bridge along pakwach road. To many travellers who like to access the park while using the northern gate Tangi gate can be the easiest route for the visitors. Note that, Tangi gate can be reached through a marram road with a rule at 16:00 hours and you cannot leave out of Tangi gate beyond 13:00 hours. Around the Tangi gate camping is not allowed, it takes 3hours drive from Karuma falls bridge to tangi gate.
By Air: Reaching to Murchison falls national park it is very possible to fly inside the park by means by chartered or scheduled aircraft service from Entebbe International Airport ‘’EBB’’ or kajjansi Airfield which is only 46km away from the ‘’Kampala which can land through Bungugu Airfield, Chobe Airfield and Pakuba Airfield the most convenient point of arrival for the main duster of camps and lodges which sits around the headquarters at paraa, more so Chobe and Bugungu Air filed. To the southern part, Bugungu Airfield is the most convenient for safari tourists to paraa lodge in Murchison falls national park. It is also convenient for the tourists who prefer to spend their nights at Red chilli safari Camp, Nile Camp and Simba Safari camp. Travellers can also reach the park’s premises while using Chobe Airfield which is located adjacent to Chobe Safari lodge in the northern side of the Murchison falls national park.
Travellers to do their bookings, are recommended to acquire their booking for chartered aircraft through a local tour operator, the major busiest aircraft that usually fly to Uganda’s national park include; Aero link, Eagle airlines among others. The aircraft can be booked at Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airport which is near to Entebbe Airport. The booking procedures which can be made by the help of the tour operator to do for you all the tour arrangement of pick up at the airport and also to take care of all the further transportation as part of your tour package.
Although, Air transport is the quickest, convenient means of transport, yet road transport takes long driving hours but is the best enjoyable transport which offers a great chance to sightsee spectacular view of rolling trees, savannah grassland, learn about the habits of the local street vendors. The choice of selecting means of transport to use in order to reach the main destination is for travellers.
