Category: Uganda

Before going on a safari to Akagera National Park there are a number of factors a lot of people overlook when planning the trip to the park.

Akagera National Park is just two and half hours’ drive away from Kigali, in the eastern province of Rwanda. This makes it an easy destination to visit, and so a lot of travelers may not put so much effort in planning their trip beyond knowing how to get to the park. However with better planning you will enjoy better the safari in Akagera National Park that can sometimes disappoint due to the small volume of a number of big game.

As you plan your trip, consider the following

What is the best time to start the trip to Akagera National Park?

Akagera National Park is only two and half hours drive from Kigali which gives people such laxity in deciding when to depart from Kigali. And perhaps, this nearness gives such flexibility for one to start their trip at the more convenient or flexible time of the day.

However, depending on how much time or number of days you plan to spend in Akagera, the time you depart from Kigali is important.

Starting time for 1-day safari

If you are planning a one-day safari to Akagera National Park and return to Kigali on the same day, you should depart from Kigali as early as 5am or even earlier so that you can start the game drive not later than 7.30am to give you enough time for the 5+ hours complete game drive through the park allowing you properly explore Akagera without rush.

If you want to do the boat cruise safari on Lake Ihema which is difficult to include in a day trip then you will have to depart from Kigali as early as 4.30am to be able to find the first boat cruise schedule of 7.30am – 8.30am, so that you game drive would start by around 8.30am.

Starting time for 2+ days

If you are going to have at least 2 days for your trip to Akagera then you can depart from Kigali at 7.30am or later.

What time does Akagera National Park open and close?

The park opens at 6am and closes at 6pm.

No entry or exit is allowed beyond this time.

Also all day game drives should have ended before 6pm. If found in the park beyond 6pm you are penalized.

Only persons that will have booked the night game drive operated by the park are in the park beyond 6pm. The night game drives start at 5.30pm and end at around 8.30pm.

Accessing Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park has two gates.

The first gate is in the south of the park in Kayonza District and is the only ENTRY gate into the park. It can also be used to exit the park.

The drive time from Kigali to the Kayonza gate is 2.30 hours.

The second gate is in the north of the park in Nyagatare District and is an EXIT ONLY gate. Entry is not allowed through the Nyagatare gate.

Game drives start from the south of the park and normally end in the north, and continuing to exit through the Nyagatare gate if end of the trip. The drive from the exit gate back to Kigali is about 4 hours long.

Deciding on where to stay: Inside the park vs affordable hotels outside the park

Deciding where to stay is one of the key factors to consider carefully, especially if you are looking for an affordable lodging or hotel. Also, certain activities may require you to stay at particular accommodations or close to certain areas. Follow below:

Inside the park vs affordable hotels outside the park

The most convenient place to stay on your safari in Akagera is inside the park, at Akagera Game Lodge or Ruzizi Tented Lodge. Staying inside makes it convenient for you start the tour, and also gives you a great bush experience as you are within nature and enjoy great views from the lodges.

There are also hotels that are just outside park that are more affordable than those in the park.

But, but, it is important to note that, staying inside the park has an incentive, park entrance fees are paid per night, and after the first night the second night is 50% less. For example, park entrance for international visitors is $100 for the first night and $50 for the second night. On the other hand, when you stay outside you are charged $100 at every entry, even if you entered for a couple of hours the day before and exited to sleep outside.

Therefore, lodges near but outside the park may seem way more affordable but you will pay more in entrance fees

Activities that need you at specific accommodations

Balloon safari

The balloon safari in Akagera National Park starts quite early. By 5am you should at the starting point in the south of the park. This is before opening time of 6am. It is therefore more convenient to stay within the park at Ruzizi Tented Lodge or Akagera Game Lodge

Rhino tracking

The rhino tracking in Akagera National Park takes place only in the north of the park which is more than 4 hours drive away from the south of the park. And, the rhino tracking takes place only in the morning. So, you cannot sleep in the south and plan to include this activity in your itinerary.

You have to stay at Karenge Bush Camp that is located in the north of the park overlooking the Kilala plains and surroundings where the rhino tracking takes place.

The game drive: southern area of the park vs the northern area

Entrance into the park is through the southern gate of Kayonza, hence all game drive start from the south.

The south is mostly dominated by acacia woodland, thickets and forest habitats, in addition to wetlands and a nice lake shore. So not a lot of game viewing driving here. The prized sighting in the south are the black rhinos that in this part of the park, but of course not so easy to see. Common sightings in the south include monkeys, zebras, antelopes, elephants, hippos and crocodiles.

The game drive continues northward till arriving at the Kilala plains the climax of the safari in Akagera National Park. The Kilala plains and surroundings is where you will find a lot of animals in the same area such as zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, antelopes. This makes the Kilala the best place to find the lions too. The white rhinos are also found in the north of the park.

How about you book a customized trip with a trusted tour operator?

2 day trip to Akagera National Park

3 days Akagera National Park tour

 

The Kazinga Channel boat cruise safari is a must do activity in the Queen Elizabeth National Park – one of Uganda’s prime safari destinations that is home to a variety of big game. The boat cruise safari supplements the wildlife tour to Queen Elizabeth National Park with plenty of animals and birds along the channel as well as lovely views all around. In fact, you can miss the game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park but the boat cruise cannot be missed as it offers such up-close views of a number of wildlife that you may not get when on a game drive. The huge concentration of wildlife along the Kazinga Channel also makes this one of the best boat safaris in Africa.

The boat cruise tour is two hours long, enough time to watch as much wildlife as possible and enjoy relaxation

But what is the Kazinga Channel?

The Kazinga Channel is a large stream of water that joins two lakes George and Edward. The channel is 32 km (20 miles) and the waters flows east to west, from George to Edward.

The channel is an important eco system in the park as it harbors and attracts a plethora of wildlife. It is also a source of livelihood for the communities providing fish and water.

Animals to see during the Kazinga channel boat cruise

The channel provides great views of a number of animals and some of the animals commonly seen in and along the channel include:

• Buffaloes
• Elephants
• Hippos
• Crocodiles
• Warthogs
• Waterbucks
• Uganda kob
• Gian forest hog
• Warthogs

Common birds to see during the Kazinga Channel boat cruise

The Kazinga Channel is a birding paradise. The banks of the channel attract lots of water birds. Birdlife on the channel is at its best during the migration season from October to May/June when many Palearctic migrating birds make the channel their home.

The channel is one of the best places to see the African Skimmer.

Some of the birds at the Kazinga Channel include:

• African Skimmer
• Yellow-billed Stork
• Spoonbill
• Knob-billed Duck
• Egyptian Goose
• African Jacana
• Spur-winged Lapwing
• Water Thick-knee
• Pied Kingfisher
• Grey Heron
• Black Crake
• Cattle Egrets
• Goliath Heron
• Pelicans
• Gulls
• Terns
• Cormorants
• Fish eagles
• etc…

Where to take a boat cruise from?

The Kazinga Channel boat cruises are available at two places. At the Katunguru bridge where locals run wooden motorized boats on the channel. These are more affordable.

Another place is at Mweya peninsula adjacent to Mweya Safari Lodge. At Mweya the boat trips are provided by Mweya Safari Lodge and the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The boats here are more upmarket and slightly more expensive. If you would like a big executive boat then proceed to Mweya. Boats start at 2pm prompt.

What is the best time for the Kazinga Channel boat cruise?

Boat cruises are arranged at different schedules throughout the day. The afternoon cruise that starts at 2pm provides best big game sightings as elephants, antelopes and other animals move to the channel to drink water and cool off the heat.

Meanwhile the morning is the nature time for birdwatching.

The fishing villages on the Kazinga Channel

The Kazinga Channel accommodates both man and animal and it is such a phenomenon to witness, man and beast side by side. A woman fetching water from the channel while an elephant drinks from the same in few meters. You will see the Katunguru fishing village and watch as local people utilize the channel unbothered by the hippos and crocodiles a few meters away.

For the travelers that wish to do the safari tour to Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda’s biggest park & most popular safaris destination, proper planning and preparing is essential for one to get the most out of the safari, more so if one is traveling on limited time (and budget). A lot of travelers think that they just need to get to Murchison Falls National Park and will work out everything from there, and in the end instead have a frustrated safari or will be unsatisfied with the experience.

Murchison Falls National Park is located along the Nile River which divides the park into two halves, the northern half and the southern half. The northern part of the park has the savannah and is where the game drives to see big game such as lions, elephants, giraffes etc… take place, while the southern part which cuts through the Budongo forest is where the chimpanzee trekking and other forest activities in Murchison Falls Park takes place. It is important to know this position of the park for better planning, especially concerning where to stay and how to enter the park.

Below are important areas/factors to look at when preparing your tour to Murchison Falls National Park

Departure time

If you ask, what is the most appropriate time to start the trip to Murchison Falls Park? Well, first of all where will you depart from?

Most trips depart either from Kampala or Entebbe. If you are departing from Kampala, the best departure time is between 6am and 7am depending on which part of Kampala you reside. For Kampala suburbs that are farther away from the Kampala – Gulu highway (road heading north) that starts at Kalwere, departure time should be 6am to allow ample tile to go through the menacing Kampala jam without losing on valuable safari time. The aim is to be out of Kampala City by 7.30am, 8am latest.

The better place to start your Murchison Falls trip from is perhaps Entebbe (as compared to Kampala) as you just have to get onto the Express Way in Entebbe and you would be at Kalwere within 20mins to join the Kampala – Gulu highway. Departing from Entebbe can be at 7am.

Some people start from as far as Jinja city and from here you will need to leave by 5am – 5.30am. Otherwise it would be better to spend the night before your trip in Entebbe.

Arrival time at the park

The drive time from Kampala or Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park is about 5 – 7 hours, depending on which side of the park you will arrive at or sleep.

Important to note is that park entrance fees are valid for 24 hours. Meaning, if you enter the park 11am today, your entry for one day/night expire at 11am the following day. A minute past 11am and you are charged for an extra day. So this means your entry into the park should be well planned and timed depending on the number of days you plan to be in the park.

Accessing the Murchison Falls National Park

Entrance gates to Murchison Falls National Park

There are three main entrances into Murchison Falls National Park as follows;

Kichubanyobo Gate: this is located in the south of the park and is accessed via Masindi town. This is the main entrance into the park. The drive time to Kichubanyobo gate can take between 5 – 6 hours depending on the traffic situation. Kichubanyo gate accesses the park through the south of the park via Budongo forest. You are ushered into park by baboons and monkeys.

Tangi gate: this is located in the north of the park near Packawach twon, and can be accessed via the Kamdin – Packwach direction (if one does not go through the park via Kichubanyobo). The drive time via this route is roughly 6 – 7 hours drive.

Tangi gate is mostly used for travelers that are residents in accommodations on the northern boundary of the park and there need to re-enter the park for the game drives.

So, the most convenient gate to enter into the park even for travelers who will be staying north of the park is Kichubanyobo, and then drive through the park for a chance to see some wildlife the waterfalls, then exit through Tangi and report to the lodge/hotel.

Wankwar Gate: this gate is located on the eastern boundary (but northern half of the park) of the park near Kamdin town. You will only need to use this gate if you are going to or coming from the luxurious Chobe Safari Lodge that is situated on the northern bank of the Nile. The drive time to Wankwar gate is about 5 hours.

You can also go through Wankwar gate to access the main safari area of the park in the north and to go to Paraa and Pakuba areas but it is such a long bumpy drive through the park in an area rarely accessed.

Deciding on where to stay in the Murchison Falls National Park

You will stay either on the northern side or southern side of Murchison Falls National Park. There is a wide range of accommodations to choose from depending on your budget. But in terms of best location, definitely the closer you are to the wildlife viewing area on the northern side the better, or the closer you are to the park the better. On the other hand, though, the road network in the park is fairly good and it includes a paved road running through the park from southern gate all to the north, so even when you stay in the south or just outside the park in the north it will not take you long to get to the wildlife areas.

Planning for the activities in Murchison Falls National Park

Top of the Murchison Falls tour

The spectacular Murchison Falls are not to be missed when visiting Murchison Falls National Park. The falls are easily reachable, upon arriving into the park through the southern Kichubanyobo it is a smooth ride on a paved road to the top of the Murchison Falls which takes you about 20 minutes of drive from the gate.

So, the visit to the top of the Murchison Falls can be visited on the day of entry into the park through the southern gate. You can spend 30 mins, an hour or even have a picnic meal from there.

Game drives

Game drive is the main activity to see animals. Once in the park you are free to explore the trails at any time between 7am and 7pm.

Game drives are done on the northern side of the park after cross the Nile River.

Game drives are best done in the early morning for better chances of see cats such as lions, hyenas, and leopards. In the morning these cats are still hunting or are still actively moving. Once the day gets hotter they find shade under thickets to sleep the rest of the day and they will be difficult to find or see.

So best time is to be in the wildlife viewing area by 7am, meaning you should be on your as early as 6am.

Boat cruises on the Nile River

There are two types of boat cruise safaris on the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park.

Bottom of the falls boat cruise

The most popular is the boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison Falls. It sets off from the jetty at Paraa and goes upstream to the bottom of the falls and back to Paraa. It is a 3 hours boat cruise. This boat cruise is best done in the afternoon and boat schedules by the two provides; Wild Frontiers and Uganda Wildlife Authority set off at 2pm.

Morning schedules are also available

You can plan to do this boat cruise on the day of arrival in the park so that upon entering the park through the Kichubanyobo get you would transfer to the jetty at Paraa (may have a quick stopover at the top of the falls). However you would have to be really punctual so that are at the park by midday.

The best option though is to do the afternoon boat cruise after the morning game drive in the park. This means you transfer to the park at least a day earlier.

Delta boat cruise

The delta boat cruise goes the opposite from the jetty at Paraa downstream to the delta point where the Nile River joins Lake Albert. This is a longer cruiser than the above taking about 4 – 5 hours. This boat cruise is popular with birdwatchers who go to visit the delta that is rich in birdlife including the Shoebill, the most sought after for many birders.

The delta boat cruise is best done in the morning and schedules by Wild Frontiers set off at 7am.

Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest

The chimpanzee trekking is done in the part of Budongo forest called Kaniyo pabidi. This is near the park gate of Kichubanyobo. There are two sessions, the morning chimpanzee tracking starting at 7am and the afternoon chimpanzee tracking starting at 2pm.

If you plan on doing the morning chimpanzee tracking you will have to spend the night in the south of the park, and the most ideal would be Budongo Eco Lodge which is where the trek starts from.

If you are sleeping in the north of the park, especially near Packwach then you can only be make it for the afternoon session.

What to wear and pack for trip to Murchison Falls National Park

The following are essential items to carry

• Insect repellent – must have as you’ll encounter tse tse flies as you travel through Budongo forest and while at the top of the falls. This is also to keep away mosquitoes in the evening
• Shades
• Cap/hat
• Light clothing as this is a warm area of the country.

What stopovers can you have on the way to/from Murchison Falls National Park

Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is located in Luwero, after four hours from Kampala along the Kampala – Gulu highway. The sanctuary is the only place to see rhinos in the wild in Uganda (only other place with rhinos is the zoo), so it is a must stopover so that you can tick off this number of the Big Five as other members are present in the park, namely; Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Elephant. The rhino walking tour is roughly one hour long after which you would return to the road and continue to Murchison Falls National Park.

The rhino trek can also be done on the way back from the park.

Lunch or coffee stop along the way (Luwero)

On your way to and from the park you will need to make a stopover for lunch. The best place is halfway at the Kabarega Diner in Luwero.

Use a reliable tour operator and book a tour to Murchison Falls National Park

2 days Murchison Falls

3 days Murchison Falls tour with rhino tracking

4 days Murchison Falls safari and chimpanzee trekking

4 days Murchison falls park and ziwa rhino sanctuary tour