Pakuba Safari Lodge

Pakuba Safari Lodge is a mid-range safari lodge in northern Murchison Falls National Park, positioned on the eastern bank of the Albert Nile. It sits just 10 km from the Tangi gate and 13 km from Pakuba Airfield, making it one of the best-placed lodges for both road and fly-in travellers heading to the park’s northern game circuits.

The lodge was rebuilt from the ruins of an old hotel into 36 thatched rooms, with strong views over the Nile and the surrounding savannah plains. Wildlife including Rothschild’s giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants is regularly seen on the nearby game tracks.

Best for: Mid-range travellers, families, and small groups wanting good-value, well-located accommodation for game drives in northern Murchison Falls. Particularly suited to fly-in travellers using Pakuba Airfield.

Accommodation at Pakuba Safari Lodge

The lodge has 36 rooms across two configurations, all with en-suite bathrooms.

Standard Rooms (×32) Spacious, grass-thatched rooms decorated with local furniture and decor. Bookable as single or double/twin occupancy.

Family Suites (×4) Two-bedroom suites with a shared living space — ideal for families travelling with children.

Meals are served in the main lodge or on the lawn in front of it, with views over the Nile and the chance of giraffes or elephants grazing in the distance.

Amenities at a glance:

• En-suite bathrooms
• Restaurant and bar
• Swimming pool
• Wellness spa
• Free Wi-Fi
• Laundry service
• Power charging points
• Mosquito nets
• Meeting room

Families and Children

The four Family Suites are designed around two separate bedrooms with a shared living space, sleeping two adults and two children comfortably. Family Suite rates start from $215 per night on Bed & Breakfast and include children aged 4–12.

Activities at Pakuba Safari Lodge

Pakuba’s location gives strong access to the full range of Murchison Falls activities — game drives, river safaris, chimpanzee trekking, and rhino tracking.

Game Drive Safaris The northern game tracks — Pakuba, Queen’s, Te’bito, Chobe, Victoria, and Albert — are reached directly from the lodge, with the richest wildlife concentrated in the Buligi area between the Victoria Nile and Lake Albert. Expect Rothschild’s giraffe, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard.

Motorboat Safari to the Base of the Falls A 3-hour return boat trip up the Victoria Nile to the foot of Murchison Falls, with hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, giraffe, and elephant along the banks.

Motorboat Safari to the Nile Delta A 3-hour boat trip downstream towards the Lake Albert delta — the best chance to spot the elusive shoebill stork and papyrus-endemic birdlife. Available as an early morning ride with breakfast onboard or as a sunset cruise.

Chimpanzee Tracking The nearby Kaniyo Pabidi Forest is home to over 800 chimpanzees, with around 90 across six habituated troops. Available for chimpanzee trekking alongside other primates and forest birdlife.

Hike to the Top of the Falls A 45–60 minute trail to the top of Murchison Falls, often combined with a game drive or boat safari for a longer day out.

Hot Air Balloon Safari Dream Balloons operates from a take-off site 18 km from the lodge. Flights last 45–60 minutes and end with a bush breakfast.

Bird Watching Murchison Falls has over 450 recorded bird species, including ground hornbills, secretary birds, shoebill storks, and African fish eagles.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary On the route to the park, Ziwa offers guided walks to track Uganda’s only wild white rhinos.

How to Get There

Pakuba is reached by road or air from Kampala or Entebbe.

• By road from Kampala — around 6 hours (305 km / 189 mi) via Karuma. From Tangi gate, it’s a short 10 km / 15-minute drive to the lodge.
• From the south — accessible via the Paraa vehicle ferry across the Victoria Nile.
• By air — Pakuba Airfield is just 13 km (around 25 minutes) from the lodge, with fly-in connections to Entebbe and other inland airfields. Convenient for travellers combining gorilla trekking in Bwindi with northern Murchison Falls in a single trip.

How to Book Pakuba Safari Lodge

Nkuringo Safaris partners with Pakuba and can usually secure better rates as part of a wider Uganda safari itinerary.

We can help you:

• Bundle Pakuba into a tailored Uganda safari
• Combine the lodge with other Murchison Falls properties or onward stops in Bwindi, Kibale, or Queen Elizabeth
• Arrange road transfers, the Paraa ferry crossing, or fly-in transfers via Pakuba Airfield

Email hello@nkuringosafaris.com or use our online enquiry form and a local expert will reply quickly.

Price Information

Price From: USD 175 pp per night (Single, Bed & Breakfast) Price Range: 2 (Mid-range)

Sample rack rates (per person, per night):

• Single — $175 B&B / $185 Half Board / $195 Full Board
• Double / Twin — $210 B&B / $230 Half Board / $250 Full Board
• Family (2 adults + 2 children 4–12) — $215 B&B / $345 Half Board / $375 Full Board