Safaris at Murchison Falls
Most game drives in the park take place north of the Nile, where open savanna gives long views. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, Uganda kob, hippos and crocodiles are the animals you can reasonably expect to find. Lions and leopards live in the area too, but no guide can promise a sighting. A good game drive depends on where the animals are that morning.
You can drive the park roads yourself, take a ranger on board or join a safari with a driver and guide. The fees below are the UWA charges. A safari package adds the vehicle, the driver, the guide and usually accommodation on top.
Our picks: Murchison Falls safaris
Three days give you time for several game drives, the Nile boat and the top of the falls. Check what each tour covers for park entry and accommodation before you compare them.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
3-day Murchison Falls safari with a Nile boat cruise
- Park entry
- Two nights with board
- Boat to the base of the falls
Game drives, the walk to the top of the falls and a boat trip of about two hours, with pickup and return from Kampala or Entebbe.
Check availability →
3-day Murchison Falls safari from Kampala
- Park fees
- Two nights in cottages with bath
- Three game drives
An English-speaking guide with breakfast, lunch and dinner as listed. The itinerary adds the Top of the Falls and a Nile boat on day two; ask whether the boat is included before you book.
Check availability →
3-day Murchison Falls and Ziwa rhino tour without accommodation
- Murchison entry fee
- Ziwa rhino tracking fee
- Pickup and drop-off
Accommodation is not part of the price, so book your own nights near the park.
Check availability →Murchison Falls safaris and game drives
Guided safaris and multi-day trips to the park, with live prices and availability.
Murchison Falls game drive: your options
Prices in 2026 under the UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026. Park entry is charged separately.
| Game drive | Foreign non-resident | Foreign resident | East African citizen | Charged per |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger or guide, daytime, own vehicle | $25 | $20 | UGX 25,000 | Guide |
| Night drive, own vehicle | $30 | $20 | UGX 30,000 | Person |
| Self game drive, no private guide or ranger | $10 | $10 | UGX 10,000 | Vehicle, day |
| UWA game drive vehicle, daytime | $30 | $25 | UGX 30,000 | Person |
| UWA game drive vehicle, night | $40 | $35 | UGX 40,000 | Person |
A UWA vehicle is only available when one is free, and the minimum charge counts 3 people for foreign visitors and 5 for East African citizens. Night drives are for guests who sleep inside the park, and a UWA guide is compulsory. A lodge outside the park boundary does not meet that condition. Check the current amount before you book.
For most visitors with a hired car and driver, a ranger on board is the simplest choice. A self game drive suits experienced travellers who know how to read park roads and animal signs.
Uganda safari packages: what to compare
A package price is not one fee. It is several, combined.
UWA charges entry per person for 24 hours at a time, a vehicle fee, and each game drive or activity. A Uganda safari package bundles these with transport, a guide and often a lodge. No single price fits every package. When you compare two offers, check four things: whether park entry and the vehicle fee are included, which activities are in the price, how many nights are in the park and what the road time is.
The tables on the park fees page show every charge, so you can add up an offer yourself. If you want the animals first, read the wildlife page for what lives here.
How many days to plan
A suggestion, not a fixed programme.
Two days
Day one is mostly road: 305 km from Kampala, 4 to 5 hours to the south gate and often 1 to 2 hours more to a lodge. Day two can hold a game drive and the boat trip, then the road back.
Three days
This is the first length that leaves real room for a morning game drive, an afternoon on the river and the road without rushing. It also lets you add a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the way.
Tours from Kampala →Four days or more
A longer stay lets you split the park into north and south of the Nile, add the Top of the Falls hike and spend a morning in the Budongo Forest.
Nile boat cruises →Plan the stay with a night inside the park if you want a night drive. See the lodges page for the two sides of the river.
Park rules on a game drive
The rules are short and strict.
- Stay on the tracks. Driving off the road is not allowed.
- The speed limit is 40 km/h.
- Do not hoot at animals, and do not bring pets or leave litter.
- Keep your receipts. You may need to show them at the gate.
- Motorbikes are generally not allowed in the park.
If you want a longer Uganda trip with chimpanzees and forests, the Kibale National Park has its own guide: chimpanzee trekking in Kibale.
Murchison Falls safari: frequently asked questions
Can I drive myself in Murchison Falls?
Yes. The tariff has a self game drive item at $10 per vehicle per day without a private guide or ranger. Park entry per person and the vehicle fee are charged on top.
Do I need a ranger?
No, but many visitors take one. A ranger or guide in your own vehicle costs $25 per guide for foreign non-residents. Arrange it in advance rather than hoping to find one at the gate.
Are night drives available?
Only for guests who sleep inside the park. A UWA guide is compulsory. Staying just outside the boundary does not qualify.
What animals will I see?
Good chances include elephants, buffalo, giraffes, Uganda kob, hippos and crocodiles. Lions and leopards live here, but sightings cannot be promised.
How do I pay the UWA fees?
At the reservations office or at the gate. Mobile money, card payment and bank transfer are possible. The park fees page explains the options.