Pakuba Airstrip Guide

Pakuba Airstrip Guide

Pakuba Airstrip is where most fly-in safaris to Murchison Falls National Park touch down on the northern bank. While Bugungu serves the south and Chobe handles guests at the eastern lodges, Pakuba puts you within minutes of Buligi’s lion country, Nubian giraffe plains and the Albert Delta — without the five-hour drive from Entebbe or Kampala. If your lodge sits north of the Nile, this is almost certainly where you land.

This guide covers runway specs, Aerolink schedules, baggage limits, lodge transfers and how Pakuba compares with the park’s other strips. Pair it with our domestic flights guide and the Murchison Falls National Park overview for wider routing context.

Where Pakuba Airstrip Sits

Pakuba Airfield (IATA: PAF, ICAO: HUPA) lies inside Murchison Falls National Park in Nwoya District, in the park’s northern tourism zone. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) operates it as a public Category 2 upcountry airfield.

The runway runs 07/25 on murram, roughly 1,760 metres long, at about 721 metres elevation. By air, Pakuba sits approximately 275 kilometres north-west of Entebbe International Airport. On the ground, it is about 19 kilometres from Paraa and roughly 15 kilometres north-west of Bugungu Airstrip on the opposite bank. Tangi Gate on the Kampala–Pakwach road is the nearest formal park entry — typically 14 to 17 kilometres by vehicle.

Search for PAF or Pakuba Airfield — not the obsolete “Kabalega Falls Airport” label still found on some maps.

Aerolink Flights and Charters

Aerolink Uganda runs the main scheduled service. On the current timetable, flight A8 121 departs Entebbe at 13:00 and reaches Pakuba, Chobe or Bugungu — depending on load — at about 14:00. The return, A8 122, leaves the park at 14:20 and reaches Entebbe around 17:15. That midday pattern is fixed unless you book a charter.

Scheduled services run daily except March, April, May and November, when Aerolink shifts capacity elsewhere. Every Murchison leg requires a minimum of four passengers; quiet days can delay departures, so build buffer time if you are connecting from an international arrival. Charters operate year-round through Aerolink, Bar Aviation and other operators from Entebbe or Kajjansi Airfield south of Kampala.

Onward connections to Kasese and Kihihi run on the same afternoon network. Indicative one-way fares: US$250–300 per person.

Flight Time Versus the Road

The scheduled hop from Entebbe takes about 60 to 75 minutes in a Cessna Grand Caravan. By road, the same journey to the northern gates runs 305 to 360 kilometres and typically five to six hours, longer with traffic or murram delays near the park boundary.

Flying trades road scenery for recovered hours. On a clear afternoon you may see the Nile bend, Lake Albert’s shore and the escarpment from low altitude. The trade-off is cost, strict baggage rules and the need for a pre-arranged lodge vehicle — there is no terminal, taxi rank or fuel bowser at the strip. See our fly-in vs road safari guide for a fuller comparison.

Which Lodges Pakuba Serves

Pakuba is the natural landing point for the northern bank. That includes Pakuba Safari Lodge and Fort Murchison near the Buligi tracks, Paraa Safari Lodge on the north side of the Nile crossing, and properties near Tangi such as Heritage Safari Lodge, Tilenga Safari Lodge, Tangi Safari Lodge and Hornbill Bush Lodge. Transfers from the strip to most north-bank lodges take 10 to 40 minutes — often with wildlife en route.

The Buligi, Queen’s and Victoria game circuits sit north of the Nile. A Pakuba arrival lets you reach open savannah at first light without waiting on the Paraa ferry — though you still cross south for launch cruises and the falls hike.

Flying into Pakuba while booked at a south-bank lodge — Murchison River Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge — adds an unnecessary ferry crossing. Guests at Chobe Safari Lodge should land at Chobe Airstrip, not Pakuba. Match the strip to your accommodation before tickets are issued.

Operations, Baggage and Park Entry

Pakuba has no runway lighting; all arrivals and departures are daylight-only. Expect an apron, a windsock and your pre-arranged lodge vehicle — confirm the transfer when you book the flight, not on the morning of travel.

Aerolink allows a maximum of 15 kilograms per person in soft-sided bags, including hand luggage. Hard-shell suitcases do not fit Cessna Caravan holds; crews enforce the limit for weight-and-balance reasons. Excess weight may be carried at around US$3 per kilo on a space-available basis.

Park entry still applies. Foreign non-residents pay US$45 per adult per 24 hours under the current UWA tariff (July 2024–June 2026). Gates operate 07:00 to 19:00; speed inside the park is capped at 40 km/h.

Pakuba Versus Bugungu and Chobe

Murchison has three in-park airstrips, and the choice is geographic.

Pakuba — northern sector, Buligi game drives, Tangi gate access, most north-bank lodges. The busiest strip for general safari traffic.

Bugungu — southern bank, roughly 13 kilometres south of Paraa. Best for south-bank lodges, the falls hike and Budongo chimps via Kaniyo Pabidi.

Chobe — eastern northern sector, about 72 kilometres east of Pakuba by air. Primarily serves Chobe Safari Lodge near Chobe Gate.

Aerolink’s A8 121/122 may land at any of the three depending on loads. Tell your operator your lodge name explicitly so the airline drops you at the correct strip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the flight from Entebbe to Pakuba?

About 60 to 75 minutes on Aerolink’s scheduled service. The road alternative from Entebbe to the northern gates takes five to six hours in normal conditions.

Which airlines fly to Pakuba Airstrip?

Aerolink Uganda operates the daily scheduled service (except March, April, May and November). Bar Aviation and other operators run private charters from Entebbe and Kajjansi year-round.

How far is Pakuba from Paraa?

About 19 kilometres by internal park track. Both sit on the northern bank, so no ferry crossing is required between them — though transfer time varies with lodge location and road conditions.

Should I fly into Pakuba or Bugungu?

Choose the strip on the same bank as your lodge. Pakuba for north-bank properties and Buligi game drives; Bugungu for south-bank lodges, the falls hike and Budongo chimps.

Can flights land at Pakuba after dark?

No. The strip lacks runway lighting; all operations are daylight-only. Plan around the midday scheduled window or book a charter within daylight hours.

Plan Your Safari

Pakuba is the fastest route into Murchison’s northern wildlife country — provided your lodge, gate entry and return flight align before you leave home. Browse our Murchison Falls safari packages and the planning guide, and ask us to wire Pakuba into a longer northern circuit if Kidepo or Gulu sits on your map.