There are a variety of game tracks within the National Park to explore and search for wildlife. Our knowledgeable guides and secure, custom-built safari vehicles will ensure you have a spectacular safari drive experience.
The natural beauty in this park never fades for ages, and fanatics for beautiful Murchison Falls and wildlife must add this park to the list of places to tour in Uganda. Wonderful scenery is the only thing to find here and fresh winds that change the entire mind set. The savanna plains that is dominating the park attracts Elephants, lions, buffaloes, antelopes, topis, warthogs among others. And it is only in this park, travelers enjoy the most incredible boat ride on the Nile from the top to the bottom of the falls watching the battle between water and rocks.
One of the chance you have to observe plenty of wildlife is the early morning game drive on the Buligi, Albert and queen’s tracks northern section of the park. And this makes Murchison falls park a great park to visit.
Highlights of a Murchison Falls Safari
The highlights of Murchison Falls wildlife safari is the hike to the top of the falls. It is the most impressive point for viewing the falls. It is comprised of short hike from the bottom of the falls to the top and once you reach the top make sure to take cool photos for future reference.
The Budongo forest reserve in Murchison Falls Park is truly beautiful and bird and primate enthusiasts can fully explore the forest. The reserve rangers are knowledgeable and ready to feed you with every kind of information during the forest adventure.
The forest gives different choices to travelers either to track the chimps in the evening or morning. However even those that love to spend more hours with the chimps can experience chimpanzee habituation experience in this forest. This park has very many primates you can see apart from chimps hence making the experience the most amazing in Africa.
Game Drives and Track Systems
a. Buligi Circuit (Northern Sector)
This is the primary game-viewing area in Murchison Falls. It spans approximately 170 square kilometres between the Victoria Nile and Lake Albert. The circuit includes open savannah, riverine woodland, and sections of Borassus palm forest.
The Buligi tracks offer high visibility due to sparse tree cover. Common species include Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, Uganda kob, Defassa waterbuck, and patas monkey.
Lions often roam the Nyamsika Flats section, while Rothschild’s giraffes concentrate near the Albert Track.
Most drives start from Paraa and use the Tangi or Wankwar gates. Rangers recommend early departures before 7:00 AM or late evening entries after 4:30 PM. Heat-induced inactivity reduces sightings between midday and 3:00 PM.
Seasonal access issues may arise during April and November due to flooding on low-lying tracks near the Nile escarpment.
b. Victoria Track System (East of the River)
Located on the southern side of the Victoria Nile, this area was historically less visited. However, new tracks and upgraded access from Mubako and Kichumbanyobo have increased activity here.
The Victoria tracks offer a slightly different species profile. Herds of buffalo and elephants are common, particularly near wetland depressions and shallow drainage lines. Leopard sightings are occasionally recorded along the shaded fig groves near the Rabongo junction.
Unlike the northern sector, this area supports denser woodland patches, reducing visibility but offering shaded refuge for midday drives.
Note: This sector is more productive during the dry seasons (December to February, and June to August). It is advisable to pair this drive with either the top-of-the-falls hike or a Kaniyo Pabidi forest walk.
c. Albert Track System (Western Side, Lakefront Reach)
The Albert tracks run parallel to the Lake Albert shoreline, west of the Buligi sector. They are less frequently used but provide access to species in more isolated grazing zones.
This region supports hartebeest, warthog, and solitary buffalo bulls. Elephants occasionally cross the grasslands toward the water’s edge. Birdlife along this corridor is rich, particularly in the early morning hours.
The terrain here can be inconsistent after heavy rains. Vehicles with poor clearance may have difficulty, particularly in the murram depressions near the lake edge.
Most visitors pair this section with a morning game drive before returning to Paraa for the mid-day ferry.
d. Southern Sector (Former Aswa-Lolim Corridor)
This section lies between the Masindi–Paraa road and the park’s southern boundary near Bugungu. It was previously known as a migration corridor for elephants and antelopes. The area is now accessible for structured game drives.
The sector has been gradually rewilded after years of degradation. Giraffes were translocated here from the northern sector in 2016. Recent census data suggests population stability for buffalo and Uganda kob. Predators are occasionally sighted, but the density is lower than in the north.
The southern tracks are best explored with a ranger guide. They are less clearly marked and require local familiarity.
Road access is through the Kichumbanyobo gate. Visitors approaching from Masindi may use this section as a stand-alone half-day route, especially when accommodation is booked in the southern lodges.
Conclusion
Murchison falls national park is without doubt the top tourist destination in Uganda. And every traveler that wishes to discover a number of wildlife in the wilderness of the pearl of Africa should visit this park.