Paraa Lodge occupies a very good position on a hill above the Victoria Nile. Unfortunately the lodge is very large, old-fashioned, without charm and we rarely use it.

The lodge was built in 1954 and has since hosted some illustrious guests, among others Ernest Hemingway and Queen Mum. The lounge and reception areas are huge, as is the swimming pool with pool bar and the two-story main house where the 54 rooms are located (42 standard, 10 deluxe with air-conditioning, 2 suites, 1 x queen's cottage). All rooms have a private bathroom and a balcony or terrace.

Murchison Falls National Park covers an area of 3,893 km² and is located in northwestern Uganda. The park is bisected by the Nile River and includes savanna (grassland) in the north and more forested areas in the south. Wildlife sightings are easier and game drives usually more rewarding in the savannas.

The Victoria Nile (which belongs to the White Nile) forces its way through a gap in the rocks, only 7 m wide, and tumbles 43 m to the base of Murchison Falls. The waterfalls can be easily visited from the lodge by boat or vehicle.

Paraa (home of the hippo) is the central area of the park. The areas on both sides of the river are connected by a ferry that must be used when visiting the park. In 2019, a bridge was built which will facilitate access to the park.

Paraa Lodge was built on the northern side of the river in the heart of the park and not far from the waterfalls. Travel time from Entebbe about 5,5 hours. Flights take about 1 hour to Pakuba or Bugungu Airstrip, from there it is a 45 minutes road transfer to the lodge.

The Nile is home to countless hippos and crocodiles, as well as numerous species of birds, including the rare Shoebill. Murchison Falls National Park is considered one of the top destinations for bird watching.

Murchison Falls is Uganda's only National Park where visitors can spot the Big 5. Buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard are often to be seen especially north of the Nile. Rhinos were extinct in Uganda, but they were recently reintroduced in the south of the park. Murchison Falls NP is also home of the very rare Rothschild's giraffe.

Paraa Lodge offers game drives in the park, boat trips to Murchison Falls, bird watching and fishing.

The boat to the Murchison Falls stops about 500m before the falls, from where a pleasant hiking trail leads along the river and then with a steep climb up to the top of the falls, providing fantastic views of the falls all along the way. Our guide will await you on top of the falls with a well deserved picnic and will then drive you back to camp.

Bodongo Forest Reserve in the southeast of the park is home to typical rainforest inhabitants and especially several groups of chimpanzees. Advance booking necessary.

SwissAfrican Travel Service
Dammstrasse 27
8702 Zollikon
Zurich, Switzerland


Telephone: +41 (0)44 451 40 51