Population: 15,000
Economy:Tourism, Trade, Fishing
Distance from Kampala: 215Km
Nearby Towns:Nakaseke, Amuru, Buliisa, Apac
Nearby Airport:Masindi Airstrip
Top Attractions:Murchison Falls N.P, L. Albert, Mangungo Fort, Budongo Forest Reserve
Useful Contacts: Yebo Tours – +256 (0) 701637493 | yebotours2002@yahoo.com
Masindi Town
Masindi district is located in the Western Part of Uganda but with a population estimation of about 17,000 people. It is located 215kms from Kampala and bordered by Buliisa in the west, Apac in the east , Amuru in the north, Kiboga and Nakeseke in the South. It is the gate way to Budongo forest and Murchison Falls.
There is a lot to do in this small town including fishing (from the banks of the Nile), caving, gorilla tracking, guide walks, hiking and trekking, wildlife watching, White water rafting & Kayaking among others. However the town is in one of the slowly upcoming towns in Uganda with a low volume of economic activities.
Top Attractions:
Murchison Falls National Park: It’s popular not only because of its extra-ordinary scenic beauty but also due to the unique wildlife. The national Park is well stocked with elephants, buffalos, giraffes, chimpanzees, a variety of antelope, lions, leopards and the Nile itself hosts one of Africa’s densest hippo and crocodile populations, and a dazzling variety of water birds including the world’s most accessible wild population of the rare shoebill stork.Contact: +256 (0) 465 420 428 (Murchison Falls Conservation Area tourist office)
Lake Albert:
This is another center of attraction as there is more to view than just the lake. It is very good for picnics as you watch the water and other residents making use of the lake.
- Budongo Central Forest Reserve (Bird watching, Chimp visits and Tour drives)
- Bugungu Forest Reserve
- Busingiro Eco tourism Site
- Karuma Wild life Reserve
- Karuma Falls
- Mangungo Fort
- Golf Course with two Lawn Tennis Courts
Banking:
Prominent can be seen around the small town plus ATMs for banks like Stanbic Bank, Barclays Bank.
Shopping:
Central Market
This is the shopping centre lined up with different kinds of local foods and other necessary house hold materials.
Accommodation and Eating:
- Travellers’ Conner Restaurant (Masindi Port Rd)
- Alinda Guesthouse: Highly Recommended for those seeking a more central Location | Tel: +256 (0) 772 550 710
- Masindi Hotel: 1 Km northwest of the town centre – serves meals of kinds | Contact: masindihotel@gmail.com
- Karibuni Guesthouse
- Court View Hotel: Basic meals range from Ush5,000 – Ush1,000 | Contact: courtveiw@utlonline.co.ug| Tel: +256 (0) 772 693 458
- Naju Guesthouse
- Hotel Aribas: +256 (0) 772 645 709 | hotelaribas@yahoo.com
Getting there and away:
This small town, located 215kms north of Kampala, gives you a chance to travel on smooth and well fixed roads that has recently been fixed. The journey follows the Lira- Gulu road which has also been thoroughly fixed for 175Km before turning off at a junction just beyond Kafu Bridge with some billboards (this helps you to know your on the right truck).
It is about a 3 hours journey in a private vehicle and longer when using public means. Some people who travel to Masindi form the west use the route through Fort Portal which is relatively dusty in the dry seasons and muddy in the wet seasons.
The post bus heads to Masindi daily at 08 00 hours except Sundays and the other leaves Masindi at 07 00 hours charging around Ush10,000.