Park Entry Fees for Murchison Falls National Park
Park Entry Fees for Murchison Falls National Park: Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s oldest and largest protected area, covering approximately 3,840 square kilometers of savannah, woodland, and riverine habitat in the country’s northwest. The park is home to the Victoria Nile, which forces its entire volume through a seven-meter gap in the rock and drops 43 meters into the pool below at Murchison Falls, one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. The wildlife is exceptional — elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda Kob, hippos, Nile crocodiles, and over 450 bird species across the park’s varied habitats. The Buligi game tracks in the north and the Nile boat cruise from Paraa are among the best wildlife experiences available anywhere in East Africa.
If you are planning a visit to Murchison Falls National Park, whether on a self-drive safari, a guided tour, or a fly-in package, understanding the park entry fees before you arrive matters. The fee structure covers individual park entry, vehicle entry, annual passes, activity permits, ferry crossings, aircraft landing, boat landing, and community tourism levies. It looks complicated at first, but once you understand the categories it becomes straightforward.
Daily Park Entry Fees Per Person
Park entry fees are charged per person, per day, and cover a 24-hour period from the time of your entry. If you stay beyond 24 hours without paying a second day’s fee, the overstay is charged at double the standard daily rate. Entry permits are issued at the park gates and are stamped with your entry time. You are required to carry your permit throughout your visit.
Children aged between 5 and 15 years pay a reduced rate at Murchison Falls National Park. Children under 5 years of age are not charged a park entry fee.
Visitor Category | Foreign Non-Residents (USD) | Foreign Residents (USD) | EAC Citizens (UGX) |
Adult (15 years and above) | USD 45 | USD 35 | UGX 25,000 |
Child (5 to 14 years) | USD 20 | USD 10 | UGX 5,000 |
Child (under 5 years) | Free | Free | Free |
Ugandan School Children | Free / Nominal | — | UGX 3,000 |
Foreign residents must present a valid work permit or resident visa at the gate to qualify for the resident rate. Ugandan national identity cards or passports are required for East African Community citizens to confirm their status. If you arrive without valid identification, you will be charged at a foreign non-resident rate.
Annual Park Entry Passes
For visitors who plan to enter Murchison Falls National Park multiple times in a year, annual passes offer better value than daily fees. Annual passes are available to foreign residents with valid work permits of at least one year, and to East African Community citizens. They are not available to foreign non-resident tourists on short-stay visas.
Pass Category | Foreign Residents (USD) | EAC Citizens (UGX) |
Individual Annual Pass | USD 350 | UGX 150,000 |
Couple Annual Pass | USD 600 | UGX 200,000 |
Family Annual Pass (max 4 children) | USD 800 | UGX 300,000 |
Corporate Group Annual Pass | USD 1,500 | UGX 2,500,000 |
Safari Guide Annual Pass | — | UGX 200,000 |
Driver Annual Pass | — | UGX 100,000 |
Tour company drivers holding valid employment credentials from a licensed Ugandan safari operator are exempted from paying the driver annual pass and may enter the park without charge. Tour operators who are foreign residents of Uganda pay USD 50 annually and UGX 125,000 for East African community members. Annual passes must be validated at the UWA offices before use at the gate.
Vehicle Entry Fees
In addition to the per-person park entry fee, all vehicles entering Murchison Falls National Park pay a separate vehicle entry fee. The charge is based on vehicle type and registration country. Foreign-registered vehicles pay significantly more than Uganda-registered vehicles. These fees are paid per entry into the park, not per day.
Vehicle Type | Foreign Registered (USD) | Uganda Registered (UGX) |
Motorcycle | USD 30 | UGX 10,000 |
Saloon Car | USD 40 | UGX 20,000 |
Pick-up / 4WD Safari Vehicle | USD 50 | UGX 30,000 |
Tour Company Vehicle / Safari 4WD | USD 150 | UGX 30,000 |
Minibus / Omnibus | USD 50 | UGX 30,000 |
Overlander Vehicle | USD 150 | UGX 100,000 |
Bus / Lorry | USD 150 | UGX 150,000 |
School Bus (Uganda registered) | — | UGX 50,000 |
Visitors travelling in a vehicle registered to a licensed Ugandan tour operator pay the Uganda-registered rate even if the passengers are foreign tourists. This is an important point for self-drive visitors using a rental vehicle: confirm with your car hire company whether the vehicle is registered in Uganda or abroad before budgeting for your park entry costs.
Ferry Crossing Fees
The Victoria Nile divides Murchison Falls National Park into its northern and southern sectors. The Paraa ferry, which crosses the river between the two sectors, is the main connection point for visitors moving between the game tracks on the north bank and the lodges and boat cruise departure point at Paraa on the south bank. The ferry crossing carries a separate charge for vehicles, payable on boarding, based on vehicle weight.
Vehicle Weight | Crossing Fee (UGX) |
Vehicles weighing 2 tonnes and below | UGX 20,000 |
Vehicles weighing between 2 and 5 tonnes | UGX 40,000 |
Vehicles weighing 5 tonnes and above | UGX 60,000 |
The ferry operates on a schedule and queues can form during busy periods, particularly in peak season from June to September and in December. Arrive at the ferry point with extra time if you have a tight morning game drive or boat cruise departure. Most lodges on the northern bank can advise on current ferry operating hours and queue conditions.
Boat Landing Fees
Privately operated boats and safari vessels entering the park’s waters pay a separate boat landing fee based on their size and registration. These fees are charged in addition to the standard park entry fees for passengers.
Boat Type | Foreign Registered (USD) | Uganda Registered (UGX) |
Boat up to 15 seats | USD 50 | UGX 50,000 |
Launch / Speed Boat (15 seats) | USD 100 | UGX 150,000 |
Boat parking fee (per day) | — | UGX 10,000 |
Aircraft Landing and Parking Fees
Several airstrips serve Murchison Falls National Park, including Pakuba Airstrip and Chobe Airstrip, both used by domestic light aircraft connecting Entebbe with the park. Aircraft using these airstrips pay a landing fee based on how long they are in the park.
Aircraft Fee | Foreign (USD) | Uganda Registered (UGX) |
Aircraft parking (per day) | USD 8 | UGX 5,000 |
En-route pilots (under 2 hours) | No charge | No charge |
Passenger park entry fees apply separately to all arrivals by aircraft. Pilots on short transit stops of under two hours are not charged the parking fee.
Activity Fees Inside Murchison Falls National Park
Activity | Foreign Non-Residents | Foreign Residents | EAC Citizens |
Day Game Drive (guided) | USD 20 | USD 15 | UGX 20,000 |
Night Game Drive | USD 30 | USD 20 | UGX 30,000 |
Nile Boat Cruise (falls or delta) | USD 30 | USD 30 | UGX 30,000 |
Nature Walk (guided) | USD 15 | USD 15 | UGX 20,000 |
Chimpanzee Trekking | USD 120 | USD 100 | UGX 85,000 |
Chimp Habituation Experience | USD 200 | USD 200 | UGX 150,000 |
Sport Fishing (per rod/day) | USD 50 | USD 50 | UGX 100,000 |
Hot Air Balloon Safari | USD 160–190 | USD 160–190 | USD 160–190 |
The park entry fee covers access to the park but does not include the cost of any organised activities. Game drives, boat cruises, hiking, nature walks, and chimpanzee trekking in the Budongo Forest section all carry separate fees payable at the activity booking point inside the park. Below are the main activity fees currently applicable.
Game Drives
Day game drives are the primary activity on the Buligi tracks in the north and on the southern sector tracks. If you are in a private vehicle and want an armed UWA ranger guide to accompany you, a guided day game drive costs USD 20 for foreign non-residents and USD 15 for foreign residents, with East African citizens paying UGX 20,000. Night game drives are permitted on specific routes inside the park and cost USD 30 for foreign non-residents, USD 20 for foreign residents, and UGX 30,000 for East African citizens. Night game drives are available only to visitors who are sleeping inside the park at a lodge or campsite.
Nile Boat Cruise
The Nile boat cruise from Paraa upstream to the base of Murchison Falls, covering 17 kilometres of the Victoria Nile, is widely considered the single best activity in the park. The cruise costs USD 30 per person for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents, and UGX 30,000 for East African citizens. Boats depart from the Paraa jetty on the south bank twice daily, at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The Albert Delta downstream cruise, which gives access to the shoebill stork habitat in the papyrus swamps near Lake Albert, runs at the same rate. The boat cruise fee is paid at the Paraa jetty and does not include your park entry fee.
Hike to the Top of Murchison Falls
The guided hike from Baker’s Point on the south bank to the Fajao viewpoint at the top of the falls is typically included in the boat cruise package. Visitors who arrive at Baker’s Point by boat after the upstream cruise can hike to the top with the guide before the vehicle collects them from the top road. There is no separate charge for this hike when combined with the boat cruise. Visitors who drive to the top of the falls on the north bank Te’bito track pay only the park entry fee and vehicle fee already covered on entry.
Nature Walks
Guided nature walks are available on designated routes inside the park on both the north and south banks. A standard guided nature walk costs USD 15 per person for foreign non-residents and USD 15 for foreign residents, and UGX 20,000 for East African citizens.
Chimpanzee Trekking — Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi
The Budongo Forest Reserve on the park’s southern boundary and the Kaniyo Pabidi ecotourism site within the park offer chimpanzee trekking. A standard chimpanzee trekking permit costs USD 120 for foreign non-residents and USD 100 for foreign residents. East African citizens pay UGX 85,000 per person. The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience, which gives four hours with a semi-habituated group and is available at selected sites, costs USD 200 per person. Chimpanzee permits should be booked in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a licensed tour operator.
Sport Fishing
The Victoria Nile within the park is a productive fishing area, particularly for Nile perch and tilapia. A sport fishing permit costs USD 50 per rod per day for foreign non-residents and UGX 100,000 for East African citizens. Fishing is conducted from a boat with a licensed guide and is subject to catch-and-release guidelines for larger Nile perch.
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Hot air balloon safaris over the Buligi savannah depart at dawn from a site near Paraa. The balloon flight lasts approximately one hour and is followed by a bush breakfast in the field. The cost ranges from USD 160 to USD 190 per person depending on the operator, and this fee is paid directly to the balloon safari operator rather than to UWA. Advance booking is essential, particularly during peak season.
Camping and Accommodation Fees
Visitors who wish to camp inside Murchison Falls National Park can use the Uganda Wildlife Authority-managed public campsites. These sites have basic facilities including pit latrines, water, firewood, and a night warden on duty. UWA public campsite fees are UGX 40,000 per person per night for East African citizens. Wilderness camping, where permitted in specific remote areas of the park, costs USD 40 per person per night for foreign visitors and includes a night warden and firewood. These camping fees are separate from the daily park entry fee, which is still charged in addition.
How to Pay Park Entry Fees at Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda Wildlife Authority has progressively moved toward cashless payment at park gates across all Uganda national parks, including Murchison Falls. The preferred payment methods at the Kichumbanyobo, Bugungu, Tangi, and Wankwar gates are credit and debit cards (Visa and MasterCard) and mobile money through the MTN Momo and Airtel Money networks.
Cash in Uganda Shillings is accepted as a backup at some gates, but UWA’s stated direction is cashless-only. USD cash is not accepted directly at the gates. Always carry a mix of payment methods when visiting Murchison Falls, since internet connectivity at some remote entry points can be unreliable and card machines may temporarily be unavailable. If connectivity is down at the gate when you arrive, the rangers will typically ask you to wait or to proceed and settle payment at the next staffed point inside the park.
If you are booking through a registered Uganda tour operator, your operator handles all park entry fees and activity permits as part of your safari package and pays on your behalf before or on arrival. This is the most straightforward approach for international visitors, as it removes the need to manage multiple payments at the gate and ensures that any fee changes between booking and travel are handled by the operator rather than falling on you at the barrier.
A receipt should always be issued when park entry fees are paid, whether directly at the gate or through a tour operator. Keep this receipt with you throughout your park stay, as rangers may ask to check it at internal checkpoints, particularly on the game drive tracks.
Thirty percent of all park entry fees collected at Murchison Falls National Park are distributed to the communities living around the park boundary. This revenue-sharing program is part of UWA’s broader strategy to reduce human-wildlife conflict by giving local communities a financial reason to support the park’s conservation rather than viewing it as a barrier to farmland or livestock grazing.
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[…] Victoria Nile boat cruise at Murchison Falls National Park is one of the most consistently excellent wildlife experiences on any Uganda safari. The cruise […]