Pakuba Safari Lodge stands on a rise in the open northern savanna of Murchison Falls, on the site of a state lodge built in the 1970s and used by Idi Amin – the shell of the old building is still visible nearby. The current lodge is a comfortable three-star property with 55 en-suite rooms, a pool and a big view over the plains toward the Albert Nile. Its position is the selling point: you are already inside the richest game-drive area, so morning drives start at the door and elephant, giraffe and antelope regularly wander across the grounds.
Where it is
In the northern sector near Tangi Gate and the Pakuba airstrip, right among the Buligi, Victoria and Albert game-drive tracks. This means an early drive begins immediately, with no ferry to catch – a real advantage for seeing cats at first light. The launch-cruise jetty at Paraa is a 30-to-40-minute drive south; the top of the falls is a ferry crossing beyond that. Fly-in guests land at Pakuba, a few minutes away.
The setting
The lodge sits high and open, with grassland running to the horizon and the Albert Nile in the distance. There are no fences, so wildlife uses the grounds – it is common to watch elephant or giraffe from the terrace or the pool. The buildings are functional rather than boutique, but the setting is pure northern-sector savanna and the sunsets are enormous.
Rooms
55 en-suite rooms in single-storey blocks, each with a mosquito net, a fan, hot water, mains power with generator backup and a small private porch. Some rooms face the plains. They are clean, comfortable and simply furnished – a solid three-star standard rather than luxury. Family and interconnecting rooms are available.
Facilities and food
An outdoor swimming pool with the plains view, a restaurant serving buffet breakfast and dinner with dietary options, a bar, a lounge and slow Wi-Fi in the public areas. Breakfast and lunch boxes are packed for early drives. The lodge arranges game drives, the launch cruise, the falls hike, birding and fishing.
Who it suits
Pakuba suits travellers whose main aim is game viewing on a mid-range budget, fly-in guests using the Pakuba airstrip, and anyone who wants to be inside the northern sector rather than across the river from it. Families do well here. Guests wanting a riverside room or an intimate camp atmosphere should look at the south-bank lodges.
What it costs, as a guide
Mid-range lodges here typically run from around US$110 to US$210 per person per night sharing a double, full board – the riverfront cottages and the better-known names toward the top of that band, the simpler cottage lodges toward the bottom. Park entry fees, your vehicle and guide, and the activities are all separate – a full safari quote from us wraps everything into one figure. Rates move with the season and the room type and change from year to year, so the prices here are indicative and for planning only; we always confirm the exact current rate for your dates directly with the property before you commit to anything.
How it fits your safari
Pakuba Safari Lodge is inside the northern sector near Tangi Gate and the Pakuba airstrip, which makes it one of the best-placed mid-range lodges for game drives – the Buligi tracks start close by and you are on them at first light without a ferry crossing. It is also the natural choice if you are flying in to Pakuba. We use it whenever the priority is wildlife time on a mid-range budget.
Good to know
Rates, room types and exact facilities change from season to season, so we confirm the current price and availability for your dates directly with the property before you commit to anything – there is no charge for this and no obligation. Power at most Murchison lodges is a mix of mains, solar and generator and may switch off overnight, so a head torch and a power bank are worth carrying; Wi-Fi, where it exists, is slow and best treated as a way to send a message home. Meals are usually full board, and any lodge will pack a breakfast or lunch box for an early game drive if we let the kitchen know. A yellow-fever certificate is required to enter Uganda and malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the whole country.
Check availability at Pakuba Safari Lodge
Send us your travel dates and the style of safari you have in mind and we will come back within 24 hours with current rates and availability at Pakuba Safari Lodge, along with a full day-by-day itinerary and a clear quote – no deposit to enquire. Browse our Murchison Falls safaris, read the park guide, see the rest of our Murchison Falls accommodation, or get in touch now.
