The northern section of Murchison Falls National Park contains Uganda’s most established and intensively used safari tracks.
These include Buligi, Queens, Albert, Pakuba, and Tebito. Each functions as a strategic corridor through distinct ecological zones, ranging from open grassland to riparian woodland.
Their layout reflects decades of evolving wildlife patterns, oil surveying activity, and tourism logistics.
Buligi remains the flagship. It draws the highest traffic, in part due to its proximity to Paraa and the Victoria Nile crossing.
Queens and Albert operate as connecting routes, though each offers distinctive wildlife opportunities along the way.
Pakuba supports airstrip access and lion tracking on the former lodge grounds. Tebito, on the southern bank, is quieter but increasingly recommended, especially since giraffes were introduced there in 2016.
Most visitors underestimate the technical function of these tracks. They are not simply pathways; they are active monitoring zones, wildlife corridors, and visitor control routes.
Uganda Wildlife Authority and private operators use them to manage both access and animal pressure.
Knowing which track to choose, when, and in what sequence can significantly affect sightings, timing, and vehicle stress.
Overview of the Northern Bank Track System
The northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park, positioned between the Victoria and Albert Nile arms, hosts the park’s most developed game-viewing infrastructure.
This includes over 200 kilometres of vehicle-accessible tracks, designed primarily to support wildlife tourism, monitoring, and ranger mobility.
The layout evolved from colonial-era patrol paths into formalised tourism circuits following infrastructure upgrades in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Current routing reflects both ecological gradients and road engineering constraints. For instance, some tracks follow ridgelines to avoid flood-prone zones near the Albert Nile. Others trace animal migration corridors or link specific habitat patches, such as acacia woodland or dry thickets.
Track density is highest within 15 kilometres of Paraa. This is due to the location of the main ferry crossing, Paraa Safari Lodge, and the Victoria Nile boat jetty.
Visitor volumes decrease farther north and west, particularly near the Congo border and areas affected by exploratory oil surveys.
However, sightings of large carnivores remain consistent, especially along less-trafficked extensions of the Albert and Pakuba tracks.
Vehicular access is generally reliable during the dry seasons (December to February and June to August).
During heavy rains, some segments become waterlogged, particularly those near the delta or swampy tributaries.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) discourages off-track driving to preserve vegetation integrity and avoid disrupting animal behaviour.
Track intersections are not signposted beyond central nodes. Guides familiar with the grid often improvise routes based on real-time wildlife radio calls, road conditions, or client interest.
While tour operators increasingly use GPS mapping, offline navigation remains critical due to inconsistent signal coverage in more remote areas.
Northern Bank Safari Track System Summary Table
| Track Name | Approx. Length (km) | Main Habitat Type | Common Sightings | Operational Role |
| Buligi | 120 to 170 | Open savannah and bushland | Giraffes, elephants, lions | Core loop; high-density sightings; access to the delta |
| Queens | 10 to 13 | Acacia woodland | Kob, buffalo, giraffes, bee-eaters | Connector: a shortcut between the Albert and Victoria tracks |
| Albert | 11 to 14 | Riparian edge, open woodland | Leopards, Nile views, buffalo | Water-edge route; lesser-used vantage line |
| Pakuba | ~17 | Grass-thicket mosaic | Lions, oribi, hyenas | Links to Pakuba Airstrip and Tangi Gate |
| Tebito (Southern) | ~22 | Woodland with dry hills | Hartebeest, Uganda kob, giraffes | Quiet loop on the southern bank; low visitor volume |
Game Drives and Track Systems
Today, Murchison Falls National Park features a number of wildlife trails and they include the Albert, Victoria, Buligi game trails in the Northern area and Honeymoon trail that was re-opened in 2015 in the southern part of the park.
Buligi trail/track
The Buligi trail is found in the northern part of Murchison Falls National Park. It is that one most explore game trail in this pristine wilderness area. It features huge concentration of wildlife species that thrive in the park’s savanna grassland area. Visitors on game drive tour along Buligi track get a chance to spot out variety of wildlife including buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, antelopes, hyenas, birds and there are also some primates. Because of the huge concentration of wildlife, Buligi track is undoubtedly the most explored trail in Murchison Falls National Park by visitors on game viewing safari. Visitors who are interested in night game drives, Buligi track still has you covered. The special creatures to catch a glimpse at night along this trail include lions, leopards and hyenas to mention but a few.
Albert trail
The Albert track lies in Lake Albert delta and the Victoria Nile. It is an incredible game track with several wildlife species including among others crocodiles, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes to mention but a few. It is also a perfect spot for you to do sport fishing in Murchison Falls National Park.
Victoria trail/track
Victoria track lies north of River Nile and Lake Albert Delta. It is a perfect track for you to get the best of refreshing experiences and most importantly, opportunity to spot out variety of water bird species (including the great egrets, African fish eagles, goliath herons, shoebill stork and others) and animals. The Victoria track is perfect for photo taking, filming and many others.
Honeymoon track
The honeymoon trail derives its name from a couple who had a night together in the 1950s on top of Murchison falls. It is found in the southern side of Murchison Falls National Park. This game track is known for its exceptional wildlife including the cape buffaloes, antelopes (such as waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and others), elephants, warthogs, occasionally lions to mention but a few. Honeymoon trail was neglected for approximately 20 years but it was re-opened in 2015.
Practicalities & Recommendations
Best Time to Visit the Tracks
Dry seasons offer the most reliable access: June to August and December to February.
During these months, track surfaces remain firm, vegetation thins, and animals concentrate near water sources, especially along the Albert Nile and the delta.
Rains between March and May and September and November can render specific segments impassable, particularly outer loops of Albert and sections of Tebito.
Guides may adjust routes in real time based on drainage conditions and vehicle capacity.
Morning drives, ideally starting by 06:30, deliver better lighting and higher wildlife activity. Afternoon drives offer warmer colour tones but reduced predator movement. On Buligi, mid-morning hours can yield giraffe groupings and elephant crossings near delta edges.
Vehicle and Navigation Considerations
Only 4WD vehicles should be used across all tracks. Even in the dry season, dust ruts and loose sand pockets demand traction control.
The southern bank (Tebito) may appear smoother, but once rainfall begins, washouts form along hill contours.
Self-driving is permitted but not recommended unless the driver has prior field navigation experience.
Signage is limited to a few metal post markers at major junctions. Most intersecting tracks are unnamed and indistinct.
GPS systems are helpful in open zones but frequently lose signal near the river’s edge and deeper bush corridors. Guides often rely on local topography, historic visual cues, or radio network coordination.
Park Access Points and Ferry Operations
Northern sector access is possible via Tangi, Chobe, and Wankar gates. The Tangi Gate connects directly to Pakuba Track and is closest to most northern lodges.
Pakuba Airstrip handles both scheduled and chartered flights; it is located 3 kilometres from the main loop.
To reach Tebito Track or other southern loops, visitors must use the Paraa ferry, which operates on a fixed schedule (typically 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00).
Delays occur when water levels rise or mechanical checks are in progress. Drivers should confirm ferry times in advance with UWA personnel.