Murchison Falls National Park Map (Download)
A paper map or a saved PDF on your phone will not find lions for you — but it will stop you from wasting a dawn game drive on the wrong side of the Nile, or driving three hours to a gate that does not match your lodge. Murchison Falls National Park covers roughly 3,840 square kilometres of savannah, river corridor and forest, bisected by the Victoria Nile for about 115 kilometres from Karuma Falls in the east to the Albert Delta in the west. Without a clear map, the scale is easy to underestimate.
This guide explains what a useful Murchison Falls map should show, where to download official versions before you travel, and how to read park zones, gates, game tracks and the Paraa crossing so your daily timings make sense on the ground. Pair a downloaded map with our offline maps for Murchison Falls guide for live navigation; for wider context, see the Murchison Falls National Park overview.
Park Zones Every Map Should Label
The Victoria Nile splits the park into two sectors. The northern sector holds open Borassus palm savannah on the Buligi Peninsula — where most lion, buffalo, elephant and Rothschild’s giraffe sightings concentrate — plus Chobe grasslands and Albert Delta papyrus. The southern sector is denser woodland with Rabongo Forest, the Heart of Murchison loops, Budongo at Kaniyo Pabidi and the Top of the Falls trailhead. Paraa sits where internal roads converge on the southern bank.
A good map also marks the wider Murchison Falls Conservation Area (about 5,072 square kilometres including Karuma and Bugungu reserves) and the three airstrips: Pakuba (19 kilometres from North Paraa), Bugungu (13 kilometres south of Paraa) and Chobe near Karuma Bridge.
Official UWA Downloads
The most authoritative starting point is the Uganda Wildlife Authority park page at ugandawildlife.org — a downloadable brochure (PDF) with a simplified map, gate locations and activity summaries. The direct southern approach through Kichumbanyobo Gate (16 kilometres north of Masindi) then roughly 86 kilometres to Paraa contrasts with the western route via Buliisa at about 136 kilometres through Budongo Forest. Save the brochure and Conservation Tariff sheet to your phone; foreign non-resident entry is US$45 per adult per 24 hours through June 2026.
Reading Gates on the Map
From Kampala, Paraa lies about 305 kilometres north-west — typically four to five hours. The standard southern entry is Kichumbanyobo, passing Kaniyo Pabidi before reaching the Nile; western entries at Bugungu and Mubako suit Albert Delta birders. Northern gates at Tangi, Wankwar and Chobe open from the Kampala–Pakwach road at Karuma Falls Bridge — about 260 kilometres from Kampala — and drop you into the northern game zone without a Paraa crossing. Mark each gate with your entry and exit days. See our Kichumbanyobo Gate guide for route detail.
Game Tracks on the Map
On the northern bank, the graded murram network spans roughly 120 to 170 kilometres centred on the Buligi loop: the Buligi Track, Queen’s Track (about 10 to 13 kilometres), Victoria Track (around 17 kilometres), Albert Track (about 11 to 14 kilometres along the Albert Nile), plus Pakuba and Chobe tracks. The southern bank carries quieter woodland circuits — the Tebito Track and Honeymoon Track — plus roads to Paraa Jetty and the falls trailhead. Carry our Buligi game drive guide alongside the map.
Paraa Crossing: Bridge and Ferry
Mark Paraa twice — as the road junction and as the Nile crossing. Since February 2021, the Paraa Bridge (roughly 520 metres long) has handled routine crossings. UWA may reactivate the vehicle ferry during bridge maintenance; confirm at the Paraa tourism desk on arrival.
When the pontoon runs, sailings commonly depart at 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 19:00. Circle the 07:00 slot if Buligi dawn drives are planned from a southern lodge. Light vehicles pay UGX 20,000 per one-way crossing when the ferry is active. See our Paraa crossing guide.
How to Use a Map for Safari Planning
Pin these waypoints before you drive: Paraa Jetty for launch cruises (shared boats typically at 09:00 and 14:00), the Top of the Falls trail separate from the boat landing, and fuel stops — there is no fuel inside the park. Park gates open 07:00 to 19:00; speed limit 40 km/h; off-road driving prohibited.
Draw planned days onto the map before booking lodges. A classic loop enters at Kichumbanyobo, crosses early for Buligi, returns for a 14:00 launch cruise, and hikes the falls next morning. Northern-bank itineraries from Tangi or Wankwar skip the Paraa crossing entirely. Print the UWA brochure, annotate lodge name and crossing times, and pair it with a UWA ranger guide (around US$25 per half-day) on Buligi — the map shows where you should be; the ranger shows where the lions were at dawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I download an official Murchison Falls National Park map?
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The Uganda Wildlife Authority park brochure at ugandawildlife.org includes a simplified map and is the best official download. Save the PDF to your phone and print a copy before travel.
- Is the UWA map detailed enough for self-driving Buligi?
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It shows major gates, Paraa, the Nile and principal routes well enough for planning, but Buligi junctions are easier with an OpenStreetMap-based offline app. Use the UWA map for gate and crossing decisions; digital tools for on-track navigation.
- Which gate should I mark for a standard safari from Kampala?
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Kichumbanyobo from Masindi — 16 kilometres north of town, then about 86 kilometres to Paraa. Choose Tangi, Wankwar or Chobe from Gulu or Kidepo for northern-bank lodges. Bugungu or Mubako suit western approaches.
- Do I still need to plan around the Paraa ferry?
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The Paraa Bridge handles routine crossings since 2021, but UWA may reactivate the pontoon during maintenance. If the ferry runs, plan around sailings from 07:00 to 19:00 — especially the 07:00 slot for Buligi dawn drives.
- Do I need a map on a guided safari?
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Your guide carries route knowledge, but a map helps you understand why the day starts at 06:30 for a northern crossing or why an afternoon targets the delta rather than Buligi.
Plan Your Safari
A downloaded map turns Murchison’s size into a workable daily schedule — gate, crossing, lodge side and game tracks aligned before you arrive. Browse our Murchison Falls safaris, read the planning guide, or tell us your dates and we will mark the right gates, ranger bookings and crossing times on an itinerary built around the wildlife you most want to see.