Activities

Nearby Attractions and Things to Do while staying at Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park Safari Tour from Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

As Murchison Falls is the main attraction of the national park, there are several ways to travel to, and to view the falls:

Launch trips on the Nile

A highlight of any visit to Murchison Falls Conservation Area is the launch trip to view the magnificent Murchison Falls.

Trips normally depart at 9.00am and 2.00pm. Hippos and crocodiles are abundant and you will see plenty of game and bird life.

The voyage takes about three hours.

Hike to the top of the Falls

Guests who enjoy rigorous exercise may disembark from the launch in the Fajao gorge for the 45-60 minute climb to the Top of the Falls.

One can then walk back to the boat (by prior arrangement) or be collected by a vehicle at the top. A UW A ranger guide is required for this activity.

Drive to the Falls

The most rewarding times for game drives are the early morning and late afternoon/early evening.

A drive through the scenic Buligi area west of Paraa to the Delta Point (where the Victoria Nile passes through the northern tip of Lake Albert to become the Albert Nile) takes around three hours. Expect to see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest and oribi.

With luck, lion and perhaps even a leopard may be sighted.

Morning game drives start at 7am.

Breakfast can be taken beforehand at 6.30am or afterwards at around 10am.

Evening game drives start at 4pm.

With prior notice, Responsible Tourism Company will book the lodge and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ranger guide to accompany you and help spot game.

Murchison Falls National Park offers exhilarating tour experience. A boat trip to the bottom of Murchison falls National park will let you encounter diverse species of wildlife such as buffalos, Hippos, elephants, water-bucks, crocodiles, and a lot of water birds are commonplace.

Murchison Falls National Park Safari Highlights

• Sofa Safari at the viewing deck
• Sports Fishing
• Game Drive Safari
• Karuma Falls
• Nature Walks in Murchison Falls National Park.
• Bird Watching

Murchison Falls National Park Game Drive Safari

On a game drive, lions, giraffes, oribi, hart beasts, patus monkeys can also be seen.

Murchison falls National park Bird Watching

Murchison falls National park has around 450 bird species, making Uganda the World’s bird watching destination that is captivating even to non-birders.

Guests will be enthralled by the beauty of the birdlife at the Lodge and at Murchison Falls National Park. Popular bird species here includes ground hornbill, secretary birds, black bellied busted, open billed storks and weavers.

Sofa Safari at the viewing deck

Nearer to the river, you can see even more incredible bird spacious such as shallow tailed bee-eater, red throated bee-eater, woodland kingfisher, grey heron, and hornbills.

Closer to the water you will find swallow tailed bee-eater, red throated bee-eater, woodland king fisher, francolins, grey heron, hornbills and at the water’s edge ducks, geese, stilts and plovers.

The shoebill stork remains a favorite within the papyrus swamp area around the Delta.

At the edges of the river, you can see ducks, geese, stilts and plovers. The favorite species which is enjoyable to watch here is the shoebill stork within the papyrus swamp area around the delta.

As the largest protected area in Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park attracts thousands of tourists every year for wildlife safaris in Uganda.

Nearby Attractions

• Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
• Murchison Falls National Park
• Ajai Wildlife Reserve
• Karuma Game Reserve
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Gulu Main Market

Things to Do

Top of the falls Tour Murchison Falls National Park 

This historic site can only be reached from the South Bank and is a 15-20 minute drive from Sambiya River Lodge. Lion, Cape buffalo, elephant, Uganda kob, wart hogs, hyena, and waterbuck have all been seen on this road as well as numerous birds. The dramatic waterfalls plunge 45 metres through a narrow 6 metre canyon of boulders.

Visitors can understand why the Falls were traditionally called “PAJOO! meaning home of the spirits. Once there, they will understand why in 1907 Winston Churchill walked from Masindi town to view the Falls, completing the last three days of his hike in a beekeeper’s veil & gloves to protect him from tsetse flies.

It is one of the views that led him to declare Uganda as “the Pearl of Africa? From the top of the Falls there are fantastic vantage points that the Falls can be viewed from and photographed. Rock pranticoles, go away birds, African harriers, white headed turacos, and palm nut vultures have all been sighted at the top of Murchison Falls.

Nature Walk Tour Murchison Falls National Park 

Murchison River Lodge has a resident UWA ranger guide who is happy to take guests out on walking safaris. Guides are knowledgeable concerning flora and fauna of the area. It is best to make arrangements 24 hours in advance to avoid disappointment.

Early morning and later afternoon walks are cooler and more comfortable. Guests can experience, feel and see the vastness of Africa as the early explorers did Lion, buffalo, kob, waterbuck, wart hogs, colobus monkeys, baboons and numerous bird species are just some of the wildlife that have been seen in the past.

Boat cruise To The Bottom Of The Falls Tour, Murchison Falls National Park 

A number of boats provide cruises up and down the River Nile. One trip offered is from the landing at Parra (approximately 25 minute drive from the Lodge depending on good road/weather conditions) traveling up the River Nile to the base of the renowned Falls.

The Uganda Wildlife (UWA) boats usually start their trips at 9am and 2pm. There is an abundance of hippos, crocodile, Cape buffalo, elephant and numerous species of birds to be seen, including the rare shoebill stork if one is lucky

Visitors can get off the boat and hike up to the top of the Falls for a $15 fee payable to the Park authorities.

Other Activities to do while in Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

• Ziplining at Sambiya River Lodge
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Top of the falls breakfast
• Boomu Women's Group
• Murchison Falls National Park (Kabalega Park)
• Kabwoya Wild Life Conservation Game Reserve
• Salt lick watering hole
• Sundowner cocktails at the top of the falls
• Canopy Walk
• Swimming
• Game Drives
• High swing overlooking the river
• Budongo Forest
• Bugoma Forest
• The Great Lift Valley Escarpment
• Lake Mwitanzige(L.Albert)
• Kibiro Hot Springs
• Kibiro Traditional Salt Mines
• Baligota Isansa(Point of meeting btn Kabalega and Sir Samuel Baker)
• Karuziika Royal Palace
• Kihande Royal Palace
• Mparo Royal Tombs
• Kinogozi Royal Tombs
• Kabalega Royal Caves
• Semwema Cultural rock
• Musaija Mukuru memorial War Zone Hill
• Buhimba liberation Heroes site
• Nyabyeya Polish Burial grounds
• Kinyara Sugar Works Factory and Plantations
• Bugambe Tea Estates
• Ebigere bya Wamara magical foot prints
• Gamugole site (Bride en bride groom who turned into stones)
• Nyanyama Island
• Cultural Hills Magoma ga Mukanga, Musaija Mukuru Wairanga, Kamahenu, Kaduku, Ngobye and corresponding cultural hills -Karandaranda,Isebitwe, Isolero Rwababito and Magita and Ruhunga Rw'Okwiri and Corresponding Cultural hills-Kasongoire and Nyabiguhyo etc Omukicaica where Kabalega walked on water by orukanga rwa akaraca while heading to Bugangaizi
• The Kitonya "Kabalega Battle Grounds" with Kabigumire the brothers. The war that helped Omukama
• Kabalega ascend to the throne
• The Kapyemi Bisaka Headquarters
• The Oil wells scattered across Bunyoro
• Kabalega Hydro Power dam
• Rivers Wambabya, Kafo kababembe, Nguse,Muzizi, Karuma etc
• Bwendero Factory
• Omukama Kitehimbwa burial grounds Kakumiro
• Omukama Kabalega Fresh wells
• Hoima International Airport "Project"
• Karuma Hydro Power Dam "Project"
• The Kabalega Royal Trail
• The Sir Samuel Baker Trail
• Wanseko Ferry and the defunct Kalindoni Ferry and many more

Institutions Near by Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

• Uganda College of Commerce, Pakwach
• Muni University
• Gulu University

Landmarks Nearby Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

• Kidepo Valleys National Park ·
• Mount Morungole

Museums Near by Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

• Bugungu Heritage and Information Centre
• Kimosh painting services
• Bamboo Gallery
• The Fair Museum in Masindi

Children Park and Shopping Mall

• Pakwach Bridge

Shopping areas Nearby Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

• Oddia Plaza
• Friday's Spare Shop
• Market Street

Airports Near by Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

• Masindi airfield, Masindi
• Kabalega International Airport-Hoima
• Pakuba Airfield, Pakuba (Murchison Falls National Park)

Railway stations

• Pakwach Bridge
• Kampala Railway Station

Most popular cities Nearby Igwara Lodge Karuma, Uganda

• Nebbi
• Hoima Town/ City
• Pakwach Town