Embarking on Self-driving in Murchison Falls National Park is a special opportunity for you to explore Uganda’s biggest National Park by yourself. Located in the Northwestern part of Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is an ideal self-drive tour destination with abundant wildlife and birdlife. The park expands up to 3840 sq. km and is, without doubt, the most explored by visitors on Uganda safaris.
Self-driving tours to Murchison Falls National Park are best done using self-drive rental cars which you can get through the local tour operator/company. There are well-maintained routes all offering visitors on self-drive tour access to Murchison Falls National Park.
Access to Murchison Falls National Park on a self-drive tour in Uganda
There are best routes to take to reach Murchison Falls Park and each route provides access to the park through the different gates. They include the Northern and Southern gates.
The Southern entrance gates
Visitors on a self-drive tour to Murchison Falls National Park can drive from the heart of Kampala or begin their journey from Entebbe city to Masindi and reach the park via the Kichumbanyobo gate. The Kichumbanyobo gate leads you through the Kaniyo-Pabidi in the lush Budongo Forest. Between Masindi town to Kichumbanyobo gate is about 85 km. Overall, driving from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park through this gate takes about 6-7 hours’ drive.
There is also an option of driving from the heart of Kampala through Masindi and then you can access Murchison Falls National Park via Bugungu gate, about 135 km from Masindi. Taking this route on a self-drive tour allows you to enjoy the stunning views of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Albert, etc.
Northern Park Entrance Gates
Self-driving to Murchison through the Northern entrance gates involves navigating via the Tangi gate 110 km off from the Karuma Bridge. Access to this gate requires you to drive from Kampala through the Gulu route. There is also the Chobe gate which is 2 km from the Karuma Bridge and it is also accessible via Paraa. The Wankwar gate is about 6 hours’ drive from Kampala or Entebbe city. All these park gates provide access to Murchison Falls National Park for visitors on self-drive tour.
The Best time to go for self-driving
Murchison Falls National Game Park is an all-year-round self-drive tour destination. But the dry season is the best season or time of the year to enjoy a smooth wildlife self-drive adventure in this park. The dry season takes place twice a year with the longest phase occurring from June to September then December to February which marks the short dry spell.