On the Road to Murchison Falls
Masindi is where the roads meet: north to Gulu, west to Hoima and the Albertine oil region, south to Kampala, and twenty-one kilometres on to the main gate of Murchison Falls National Park. These are the distances our guests ask for most often, measured from our own gate.
Journey Times
Everything Is Closer From Masindi
Masindi has always been a road town — the last comfortable stop before Murchison Falls, and the point where the routes north to Gulu, west to Hoima and the Albertine oil region, and south to Kampala all meet. The main park gate is twenty-one kilometres from our own gate, under half an hour. Kinyara is fifteen. Whether you are here for the falls, for work in the region, or simply breaking a long drive, most of north-western Uganda is closer from this veranda than from anywhere else.
Murchison Falls National Park
- 21Kichumbanyobo, the main park gate
- 25Nyabyeya
- 29Kaniyo Pabidi
- 33Budongo Forest
- 40The Royal Mile, at Busingiro
- 55Sambiya River Lodge
- 67Murchison Falls
- 86Paraa via Kichumbanyobo
- 110Chobe Gate via Kigumba
- 130Paraa via Biiso
River, lake and wildlife
- 2Masindi Lagoon, for birding
- 48Masindi Port
- 50Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, via the Kampala–Gulu road
- 70Butiaba Port
- 96Karuma Falls
History on the road
- 1Kamurasi-Baker Monument, at Kijura
- 25Nyabyeya, the Polish church and cemetery
- 48Masindi Port, where The African Queen filmed
- 51Mparo Royal Tombs, Kabalega’s grave outside Hoima
- 70Butiaba, where Baker reached Lake Albert
- 190Fort Patiko, Baker’s fort beyond Gulu
Work and the region
- 15Kinyara
- 40Kigumba
- 41Kafu
- 55Hoima
Onward by road
- 116Pakwach via Paraa
- 160Gulu via Kigumba
- 210Kampala
- 236Arua via Paraa
- 250Fort Portal
- 255Kampala via Hoima
Road distances in kilometres, measured from the hotel gate.
Within a Walk of the Gate
Not everything worth seeing here needs a vehicle. Masindi district’s own tourism profile lists a dozen sites inside the town, and several of them are a short walk from this gate.
At Kijura, a kilometre off, stands the monument that carries Baker’s name, and beside it the old East African Railways staff quarters — put up by the same company, in the same years, that built this hotel. Kabalega Primary School at Kijura opened in 1914, and the district’s profile records that the Omukama’s weapons were once kept there.
In the town itself is the European cemetery, where the Scottish Margache family are buried. At Kihande the Omukama of Bunyoro keeps a residence, used when the King is in Masindi; it is not generally open to visitors, but ask at reception. Two kilometres out, Masindi Lagoon is worth an early morning for the birds.
Road distances in kilometres, measured from the hotel gate.
Breaking the Journey Here
Early starts
Breakfast is served from 07:00, and an early breakfast can be arranged with notice for game-drive departures. A packed breakfast or lunch is USD 10 or UGX 37,000 per person.
Safari vehicles
Secure parking on the grounds, and space for groups arriving together. Drivers and guides have their own rate, and one complimentary stay after ten accumulated nights in a year.
Arriving late
Reception is staffed from 07:00 to 22:00. If your drive runs long, tell us in advance and we will make arrangements. Check-in is from 12:00.
Order your food ahead
Choose your dishes on our order-ahead page, or send the order on WhatsApp, and it will be ready when you sit down. Worth doing if you are twelve or more, or on a tight turnaround for the park.
Planning a route and need a distance that is not listed? Ask us or send a message on WhatsApp to +256 772 420 130.