Buligi forms the backbone of the northern Murchison Falls network. It stretches approximately 120 to 170 kilometres between the Victoria Nile in the south and the Albert Nile in the west. The route starts about seven kilometres north of Paraa and extends toward the delta, where the two river systems meet.
Its ecological value lies in its diverse vegetation and microhabitats.
The track passes through open grassland, whistling thorn-bushland, and riparian belts along the Nile. Each habitat supports a different concentration of wildlife, creating a continuous sequence of viewing zones.
For instance, Rothschild’s giraffes are common in the central section, while elephants dominate areas close to the delta.
Lion sightings are frequent. UWA monitoring records from 2023 noted higher densities along the mid‑Buligi stretch, particularly near the junctions with Queens and Albert tracks.
Buffalo herds, oribi, Uganda kob, and Jackson’s hartebeest are regular sightings. Occasionally, leopard movements are reported along drainage lines near the delta margins.
Buligi is also an operationally critical monitoring route. It allows rangers to assess animal dispersal, fire scar recovery, and seasonal water access. Tour operators often consider it a complete circuit because it captures Murchison’s ecological gradient in a single drive.
Road quality varies. Sections near Paraa are regularly graded due to heavy vehicle use. Farther west, maintenance is irregular, and deep ruts persist after rains.
Four-wheel‑drive vehicles are mandatory in the wet months. Morning drives are generally more productive; late afternoon light, though softer, tends to coincide with stronger winds and reduced animal activity near open plains.
The track’s management has faced emerging pressures. Oil exploration within the northern block, though regulated, occasionally influences animal distribution. UWA collaborates with field ecologists to mitigate disturbance through noise-restricted operating hours and defined access corridors.
Visitors usually complete the Buligi circuit in about three to four hours under optimal conditions.
The route can also be extended to include Albert or Pakuba tracks, forming an extensive full-day itinerary.
One could call Buligi a summary of Murchison itself, where almost every habitat type, except forest, meets within a single drive. It remains the reference point against which all other tracks are compared, even if no such comparison was ever intended.