Chobe Safari
Lodge
Chobe
Safari Lodge sits on the northern bank of the Victoria Nile, offering great
views of the river and the park's wilderness. The lodge has been renovated from
a 1950s building into a comfortable retreat, with 36 guest rooms, 21 luxury
tents, four suites, and a presidential cottage. You get large rooms with dark
wood furniture, private bathrooms, and balconies or terraces looking out over
the river or bush. The lodge has a three-tier swimming pool with river views, a
restaurant serving meals on a shaded veranda, and a bar area. Prices start at
about $330 per person per night. The location is good for game drives on the
north bank and boat cruises from Paraa, though you need to drive separately to
reach the falls themselves.
Nile Safari
Lodge
Nile Safari Lodge is a luxury
eco-lodge on the banks of the Victoria Nile with only eight exclusive
bandas. Each banda is built with natural materials and has en-suite facilities,
mosquito nets, and a private viewing deck with chairs. You get privacy and good
views of the river from your own deck. The lodge runs on solar energy and
follows sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact. The
restaurant uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients and serves both Ugandan and
international food. The location gives you direct access to game drives, boat
cruises to the falls, and bird watching. The small size of the lodge means
fewer guests around, so you get a quiet and private stay without large crowds.
Kulu Ora
Kulu Ora is a new luxury lodge that opened in early
2026, located in a remote 75,000-hectare low-impact zone within the park. The
lodge has 11 canvas-walled suites, each with a private plunge pool and views
over the Nile. There is also a two-bedroom suite for groups, a lap pool, a
library, and a spa overlooking the river. The lodge runs fully on solar power
and uses electric carts for moving guests around. The design is low-impact,
with all buildings removable if needed, and an on-site garden supplies fresh
produce. A $25 conservation levy per bed night goes to park protection and
community projects. This lodge is best for people who want solitude and
exclusive wildlife viewing in a less busy part of the park.
Murchison River
Lodge
Murchison River Lodge is a privately owned option on
the south bank of the Nile, about 20 kilometers downstream from the falls. The
lodge offers four types of accommodation: thatched cottages, thatched safari
tents, comfortable camping tents, and a campsite for those bringing their own
gear. The riverfront tents have the best positions right on the riverbank. The
lodge has an open-sided restaurant and bar with terrace views, a craft shop,
and two swimming pools. The location is family-friendly and has a rustic feel,
but game drives require crossing the ferry to the north bank. The lodge is
known for good value and friendly service, and it offers activities like boat
trips, chimpanzee treks, and community walks.
Sambiya River
Lodge
Sambiya
River Lodge is a simple, unhurried lodge located just 15 minutes from the
falls. The lodge has 20 stone cottages spaced far apart for privacy, each with
double beds, mosquito nets, and en-suite bathrooms with solar-heated showers.
The main building has a high-ceilinged thatch-and-stone lounge with comfortable
armchairs, a fireplace, a bar, and a swimming pool. The lodge has a welcoming,
family-run atmosphere and staff who know the area well. You can see baboons,
warthogs, and bushbucks walking through the grounds. From here, you can easily
go on game drives, boat cruises, walks to the top of the falls, and chimpanzee
treks in Budongo Forest. Prices are affordable, starting around $150 per person
per night.
Budget Options
and Camping
If you are on a tight budget, you have several
camping choices inside the park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) runs
campsites at the top of the falls and at other locations, with basic facilities
like pit latrines, cold showers, and ranger security. Red Chilli Rest Camp is a
popular choice near the Paraa ferry crossing, offering furnished safari tents,
bandas, and camping grounds with shared toilets and solar-heated showers.
Shoebill Campsite sits on the south bank of the Nile with views of hippos and
bird-rich floodplains. Boomu Women's Camp is run by local women and offers hut
accommodation plus cultural activities. Camping costs about $30 to $40 per
person per night. These budget options give you direct access to wildlife and
activities at lower cost, but you need to bring your own gear for some sites.
Paraa Safari
Lodge
Paraa Safari Lodge is a historic property built in
1954, sitting right on the northern bank of the Nile with direct views of the
falls in the distance. The lodge is large with 54 rooms spread over two levels,
all featuring floor-to-ceiling windows for river views. Facilities include a
bar, a restaurant called Captain's Table, and reportedly the biggest swimming
pool in Uganda with a swim-up bar for snacks. The location is hard to beat
because the boat jetty for the falls cruise is right on the doorstep, and the
northern sector for game drives is easily accessible. Meals are buffet-style
with a mix of African and international dishes. Rooms have a classic old-safari
feel with brass and teak fixtures, and upper-level rooms offer better balcony
views.
Pakuba Safari
Lodge
Pakuba Safari Lodge is a good mid-range option
located on the northern bank of the Nile, giving you quick access to the park's
best game drive areas. It offers comfortable accommodation with simple rooms
and safari tents at more affordable rates than the luxury lodges. The lodge has
a restaurant serving buffet-style meals and a bar with river views. Its main
advantage is that you can do game drives directly from the lodge without
needing to cross the ferry to the south bank. Wildlife frequently visits the
lodge grounds, including hippos grazing at night. The lodge also arranges boat
cruises to the falls and chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest. It is a
practical choice for travelers who want good value without sacrificing
location.
Red Chilli Rest
Camp
Red Chilli Rest Camp is a budget-friendly option
located near the Paraa ferry crossing on the northern side. It offers furnished
safari tents, bandas, and a campsite for those with their own gear. Shared
facilities include toilets and solar-heated showers. The camp has a bar and
restaurant serving simple meals, and there is a pool for cooling down after
game drives. Its location on the north bank saves you the ferry crossing for
game drives, which is a big convenience. The camp can arrange all the standard
activities like boat cruises, game drives, and chimpanzee trekking. This is a
solid choice for backpackers and travelers on a tight budget who still want a
comfortable base inside the park.
Boomu Women's
Group Camp
Boomu Women's Group Camp is a community-run site
located just outside the park on the Masindi
road. It is run by a local women's group, so your stay directly supports the
nearby community. The camp offers simple bandas (huts) with shared bathroom
facilities, as well as a campsite for tents. The main attraction here is the
cultural experience you can join the women for cooking demonstrations, village
walks, and craft-making activities. They also offer guided nature walks to the
nearby river and birdwatching trips. It is a very affordable option. You can
still arrange game drives and boat cruises through the camp, though you will
need transport to get to the park gates. This is best for travelers who want a
connection with local people.
Shoebill
Campsite
Shoebill Campsite sits on the south bank of the
Nile, right next to the ferry crossing point at Paraa. This is a basic campsite
with a good position overlooking the river, where you can see hippos and watch
birds from your tent. It offers simple camping spots with shared toilets and
cold showers. There is a bar and a small restaurant area. The main reason to
stay here is the low cost and the convenience of being right at the ferry,
which connects you to the north bank for game drives. You can easily join boat cruises
that depart from the jetty next door. This campsite is operated by the Uganda
Wildlife Authority, so it is a reliable, no-frills option for budget travelers
and self-drivers.
Fort Murchison
Fort Murchison is a tented camp located on the
eastern side of the park, away from the busier Paraa area. It offers a quieter
and more remote experience with safari tents that have private verandas
overlooking the savanna. The camp has a main dining tent, a bar, and a fire pit
for evening gatherings. Game drives from here take you to different areas of
the park, often with fewer vehicles around. The camp also arranges boat trips
on the Nile, but you need to drive a bit further to reach the launch point. It
is a good mid-range choice for travelers who prefer a more secluded bush
atmosphere. The camp is known for its friendly staff and good home-cooked
meals.
Kaniyo Pabidi
Eco Lodge
Kaniyo Pabidi Eco Lodge is not right at the falls
but sits inside Budongo Forest, about 30 kilometers south of the park's main
gate. This is the best base for chimpanzee trekking, as the lodge is right next
to the trailheads. The lodge offers simple bandas made from local materials,
with shared toilets and solar lighting. It is a community-run project, so your
stay supports local conservation efforts. The rooms are basic but clean, and
the main building has a restaurant and a viewing platform overlooking the
forest. Staying here saves you the drive from the main park area for your chimp
trek. It is a straightforward, affordable option for primate lovers.
Birdwatching is also excellent here with many forest species.
Uganda Wildlife
Authority (UWA) Bandas
The Uganda Wildlife Authority operates several basic
bandas and campsites inside the park at budget prices. The main site is at the
Top of the Falls, where you can find simple rooms with beds and shared bathroom
facilities. There are also campsites at various locations, including the delta
area and the south bank. These are the cheapest formal accommodation options
inside the park. Facilities are very basic: pit latrines, cold showers, and
sometimes a cooking shelter. You must bring your own bedding and food. The
advantage is the location—you stay right inside the park and wake up to the
sounds of wildlife. This is strictly for independent travelers who do not mind
roughing it.
How to get there
to Murchison falls National park
You have two main ways to reach Murchison Falls
National Park: by road or by air. By road is the most common choice, with the
drive from Kampala or Entebbe taking about 5 to 6 hours. The standard route
goes north through Luweero and Nakasongola to the town of Masindi, then
continues to the Kichumbanyobo Gate, the park's main southern entrance. The
road is paved up to Masindi, and you can break up the trip with a stop at the
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. If you're on a budget, public transport runs from Kampala
to Masindi, but you will need to arrange local transport from there to the park
gate. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended, especially during the rainy season when
dirt roads can get muddy. To save time, you can take a domestic flight from
Entebbe or Kajjansi, which takes about one hour to land at one of the park's
airstrips: Pakuba, Bugungu, or Chobe. From the airstrip, your lodge will
arrange a transfer to your accommodation.
Booking lodges
in Murchison Falls with Zoophilist adventures and safaris
Booking lodges in Murchison Falls National Park with
Zoophilist Adventures and Safaris
gives you access to carefully selected accommodations that match your budget and
safari style. We arrange stays ranging from luxury lodges like Paraa Safari
Lodge and Chobe Safari Lodge, which offer Nile views and full amenities, to
mid-range options such as Pakuba Safari Lodge and Murchison River Lodge, and
budget-friendly camps like Red Chilli Rest Camp. By booking through Zoophilist,
you avoid the hassle of coordinating availability and transfers, as they handle
all logistics while ensuring you stay close to activity hubs for easy access to
game drives and boat cruises. Our partnerships with lodges also emphasize
responsible tourism, so your stay supports conservation and local communities
while providing comfort and convenience
