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
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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.