Murchison falls park entrance fees

Murchison Falls National Park also locally known as Kabalega National Park. The park got its name from the   Murchison Falls which are found in the center of the park, they are one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in the world. It is also Uganda’s oldest, biggest national park and was the first to be gazetted in the country currently managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority. It is situated at the end of the Albertine Rift Valley in north-western Uganda. Spreading inland from the shores of Lake Albert, around the Victoria Nile, up to the Karuma Falls, the districts of Kiryandongo, Masindi, Nwoya and Buliisa. Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) comprises of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves. Murchison Falls National Park is a home to incredible wildlife, this is the ultimate destination for traditional African safaris. It is the park in Uganda that is a habitat to the big five animals. There are also 76 species of mammals as well as Uganda’s largest population of Nile crocodiles. 450 bird species are present ranging from easy variety of water birds, including the rare shoe-billed stork, dwarf kingfisher, Goliath heron, white-thighed hornbill and great blue turaco.

The park entrance fees are levied by the governing authority (THE UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY) for all the national parks. It is divided into 3 categorizes such as; Foreign residents, Foreign No-residents and East African Community residents for each the payment expires after 24hours depending on the time you entered the park. All the park’s entrance fee doesn’t include activities fee like chimpanzee trekking, boat cruise, game drive….

Foreign residents (East African)

Adults                                                     30 US dollars per person

Children                                                 10 US dollars per child

East African citizens

Adult 6 Us dollars per person                              15000 UGx

Children 2 Us dollars per child                            5000 UGx

Foreign non residents

Adults                                               40 Us dollars per person

Children                                          20 Us dollars per person

Vehicles

Tour company vehicles.

Foreign                                      100 USD

Uganda                                     30,000 Shs

Buses and lorries

Foreign                                150 USD

Uganda                                150,000 Shs

Private mini and Omni buses

Foreign                                100 USD

Uganda                               30,000ush

 

Pick ups and four wheel drive private cars

Foreign                                        150 USD

Uganda                                          30,000 Shs

Motor cycles

Foreign                                          30 USD

Uganda                                         10,000 Shs

Saloon cars

Foreign                                       50 USD

Uganda                                      20,000 Shs

Vehicle, aircraft and boat landing and entrance fee

The park entrance fee is excluded from the fee charged for vehicle entry.

Motor cycles                          

Ugandan.                                      10,0000

East African.                                 US$5

Foreign.                                         US$30

 

Saloon cars

Ugandan.                                       20,000

East African.                                  US$10

Foreign.                                          USD40

Minibuses/ Omnibuses

Ugandan.                                         30,000

East African.                                    US$15

Foreign.                                            US$50

Launches over 15 seater

Ugandan                                    150,000ush

East African.                                    US$75

Foreign.                                         US$100

Aircraft landing fee

Pilots staying in the park for less than a period of two hours will not be able to pay entry fee to the park and landing fee excludes entry fee to be paid by passengers

Gliders, micro lights  

Ugandan.                                   20,000

East African.                             US$10

Foreign.                                     US$10

 

Up to 3 seater

Ugandan.                                   40,000

East African                              US$ 20

Foreign.                                     US$20

Special permits to all conservation areas per year to foreign residents and Uganda only

Individual

Foreign                                     350,000 USD

Uganda                                     150,000 Shs

Couple

Foreign                                        500 USD

Uganda                                       200,000shs

Family

Maximum of four children below 15 years of age.

Foreign                                        700 USD

Uganda                                      300,000Shs

Co-operate groups

10 cards annually

Foreign                                      1,500 USD

Uganda                                        1000 USD

Tour operator

Foreign                                              50 USD

Uganda                                             50 USD

 

 

7-14 seater

Foreign                                                         40 USD

Uganda                                                        80,000 Shs

15-20 seater

Foreign                                                         50 USD

Uganda                                                        100,000Shs

21 seats and above

Foreign                                                          60 USD

Uganda                                                          120,000 Shs

Helicopter

Foreign                                                           100 USD

Uganda                                                           250,000 Shs

Parking fee is                                                 5000 Ugx per day

Boats

Private launches 15 and above seater

Foreign                                                          150 USD

Uganda                                                           150,000 Shs

Private boats up to 15 seater

Foreign                                                            50 USD

Uganda                                                             50,000 Shs

Ferry crossing at Murchison falls

Passengers and driver’s                      5000 UGx

Very heavy vehicles 10-20 tonnes             150,000 UGx

Heavy vehicles 5-10 tonnes                          80,000 UGx

Medium vehicles 2-5 tonnes                           40,000 UGx

Small vehicles of 2 and less tonnes                20,000 UGx

The prices scheduled for ferry crossing are for one day for visitors staying at the park and one way for cars on transit.

Pickups and 4WD vehicles

Ugandan.                                                   30,000 ush

East African.                                               US$15

Foreign.                                                        US$50

Tour company vehicles

Ugandan.                                                     30,000

East African                                                  US$15

Foreign.                                                         US$120

Buses and Lorries

Ugandan.                                                      150,000

East African.                                                  US$75

Foreign                                                            US$150

School buses

Ugandan.                                                   50,000

East African.                                              US$25

Delivery vehicles per entry

Ugandan.                                                     20,000

East African.                                                 US$10

Boats up to 15 seater

Ugandan.                                                      50,000

East African.                                                US$25

Foreign.                                                          US$50

4-6 seater

Ugandan.                                                      60,000

East African                                                  US$30

Foreign.                                                         US$30

7-14 seater

Ugandan                                                        80,000

East African.                                                 US$40

Foreign.                                                         US$40

14-21 seater

Ugandan.                                                        100,000

East African.                                                  US$50

Foreign.                                                           US$50

21 seater and above

Ugandan                                                       120,0000

Eats African.                                                US$60

Foreign.                                                          US$60

Helicopter

Ugandan.                                                     250,000

East African.                                                  US$125

Foreign.                                                            US$100.

Parking fee per day is                                    5000

Foreign residents.                                           500US$

 

 

Family (Max of 4)

Residents.                                                             300,000

Foreign residents.                                                 700US$

Tour operator

Resident.                                                                  125,000

Foreign resident.                                                     50US$

Tour company driver.                                       Free

Taxi driver.                                                        100,000

Annual corporate pass.

Foreign residents                            1,500US$

Residents.                                           2,500,000UGX

Safari guide                                            100,000UGX

Foreign residents require a working permit valid for one year to qualify for annual pass.

The park can be accessed by means of road, using 5 entry points known as gates. Namely: Wankwar, Kichumbanyobo, Mubaku, Tangi, Chobe

It will take you around 5hours from Kampala with about 305 km. Paraa covers a distance of about 85km from Masindi town by the shortest route. You will enter through Kichumbanyobo gate, this is the shortest and commonly used route.

A direct or longer route will cover an area of about 135km.Alternatively one may decide to take on the Budongo forest route that will provide magnificent views overlooking Lake Albert from the direct position of the rift valley escarpment over Butiaba.  You will enter through Mubaku Gate.

You can also access Paraa from the north through Chobe Gate, Karuma Falls along with Tangi. The Gate that is close to Pakwach covers an area of about 25km2 to paraa in addition to Wankwar Gate close to Purongo

People with Vehicles or public means will definitely go through the Nile at paraa using the ferry. Its operating ours are fixed from 07.00 and 19.00.

Besides road, Murchison can be accessed by air. The park has 2 airstrips: Pakuba and Bugungu airstrip for the charter flights which fly from Kajansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport.

Main Activities carried out in this park are: Game drive(day and night), boat cruise on the Nile, hiking to the top of the falls, birding, chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest, birding, sport fishing, white water rafting, hot air balloon safaris.

The park has also got quite a number of accommodation facilities ranging from Luxury, Mid-range and Budget that offer comfort and delicious international and local meals.

For all the accommodations, prior booking is advised to avoid last minute disappointment since they are highly booked throughout the year.

In the Southern bank there is: Baker Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Murchison River lodge, red chili, just to mention but a few

Northern bank: Paraa Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge.