Things to do in Masindi

Murchison Falls National Park

Part of Murchison Falls National Park lies within Masindi district although, it also stretches across other districts that include Buliisa, Nwoya and Kiryandongo. It brags of over 75 species of mammals including antelopes (Uganda kobs, Oribis, waterbucks, bushbucks, bohor reedbucks, topis and elands), four of the big five animals (lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes), Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys in addition to Uganda’s largest population of Nile Crocodiles. More than 450 species of birds call the Park home, and the common ones include the great-blue turaco, Goliath herons, white-thighed hornbills and kingfishers among others.

Within Murchison Falls National Park lies the lush Budongo Forest Reserve with Kaniyo-Pabidi and Busingiro Ecotourism sites that are famous for chimpanzee tracking as well as the popular “Royal mile (constructed by one of the Kings of Bunyoro-Omukama Kabalega) that offers opportunities of sighting several primates and bird species.

Nyabyeya Polish Catholic Church

Nyabyeya Polish Catholic Church used to be a former Camp constructed in 1942 for the Polish refugees during the World War II and is said to have hosted more than 3635 polish. This Church was built from 1943 to 1945 and the Omukama Sir Tito Gafabusa Winyi IV of Bunyoro Kingdom occasionally paid visits to the site.

There are currently over 60 gravesites of Polish Nationals who passed away from between 1945 and 1948. After the Second World War ended, majority of the Refugees were resettled within Australia, England and Canada and until today, the graveyard as well as the Church are well maintained by the Catholic Community in Nyabyeya.

Boomu Women’s Group Village

Boomu Women’s Group Village is an inspiring, community-run tourism project located just outside the Kichumbanyobo Gate at the southern entrance of Murchison Falls National Park. Formed in 1999 by roughly 40 local subsistence farmers from the Kihaguzi and Kigaragara villages, the cooperative fights poverty and malnutrition while funding school fees for local children. The word Boomu translates to “togetherness” in the local language, reflecting the spirit of this participatory cultural encounter

Engage in cultural tours, craft workshops, and traditional meals with a local community near the park entrance.

Buliisa Escarpment and Hot springs

The Buliisa Escarpment and Hot Springs are prominent geographical landmarks situated within the Lake Albert basin along the western arm of the East African Rift System in Western Uganda. This region offers travelers a unique opportunity to view the direct structural impacts of tectonic faulting, showcasing dramatic panoramic landscapes where the highland interior drops sharply toward the rift valley floor. The escarpment—commonly referred to as the Butiaba Escarpment, serves as a steep, fault-generated slope marking the eastern margin of the Albertine Rift.

Historically, it acted as a vital trade link connecting Uganda’s interior highlands to the colonial-era shipping hub at Butiaba Port. Today, it functions as a booming corridor for national infrah bvvcccccstructure, oil exploration in the Albertine graben, and safari tourism

Kibiro Hot Springs are a natural geothermal and cultural site located in the Kibiro fishing village along the southeastern shores of Lake Albert in Kigorobya Sub-county, about 35 kilometers north of Hoima Town in western Uganda.

Omukama’s Palace

The Omukama’s Palace in Masindi is an official royal residence of the King (Omukama) of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom located in the Kihande area. While the main seat and primary palace of the Kingdom is located in Hoima City, the Masindi Palace serves as a vital historical and cultural landmark for the northern part of the kingdom. A visit to the palace grounds allows you to learn about the lineage of the past Kings of Bunyoro, the kingdom’s history, and the preservation of its cultural heritage

Unlike public museums, the palace in Masindi is highly private and can sometimes be difficult to access. Visitors are strictly required to obtain permission in advance from the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom administration before scheduling a tour

Rhino Tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place you can see wild rhinos in Uganda. Located in the Nakasongola District along the Kampala–Gulu highway, this 70-square-kilometre sanctuary serves as a vital breeding and conservation project to reintroduce southern white rhinos to Uganda’s national parks after they were wiped out by poaching in 1982. Unlike standard safaris, this experience is done entirely on foot, allowing you to walk within 6 to 10 metres of these massive animals alongside an armed Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ranger.

Masindi Lagoon

Masindi Lagoon is a local water source, bird-watching spot, and fish farming center located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Masindi Town in western Uganda. Serving as the primary municipal water source for the town, it doubles as an active community fish farming center and a prominent local hotspot for ecotourism