Located in the Masindi district of Uganda, Murchison Backpackers Hostel offers basic accommodation in a restored house that dates back to the early 20th century.
- Accommodation at Murchison Backpackers hostel
- Rooms and Rates – Murchison Backpackers
- Meals and Dining at Murchison Backpackers Hostel
- Services offered by Murchison Backpackers hostel
- Activities at Murchison Backpackers hostel
- How to get to Murchison Backpackers Hostel
- Reservations
- Images for Murchison Backpackers Hostel
In the Masindi district of Uganda, the Murchison Backpackers Hostel is located in a renovated house that dates back to the early 20th century and is easily accessible to some of the country’s major tourist attractions.
If you’re interested in meeting fellow travellers from around the world, or if you simply wish to stay comfortably in a hostel that offers a variety of room types, sightseeing opportunities, and other amenities, Murchison Backpackers hostel is the place for you.
The hostel is a renovated colonial-style home, situated 20 minutes from the Southern Gate of the popular Murchison Falls National Park and in close proximity to many of Uganda’s western tourist attractions.
Located down a small, quiet lane close to the famous Masindi Hotel – one of the oldest hotels in Uganda, the hostel is a short walk from the Masindi town centre, where you can tour the town or buy supplies, and is ideally situated for exploring the wildlife of Western Uganda.
Murchison Backpackers Hostel features a streamlined aesthetic of the colonial era, infused with some local, African touch.
Accommodation at Murchison Backpackers hostel
Known for its relaxed ambience, friendly staff, clean facilities, comfortable beds and prime location, Murchison Backpackers Hostel is one of the most liked hostels for travellers in Uganda.
The hostel has 17 rooms. Each room is equipped with comfortable beds, bed linen, mosquito nets, a private bathroom and a microwave. Complimentary breakfast is provided in addition to accommodation. Other room amenities include free Wi-Fi, ironing facilities, a dining area and luggage storage.
Check-in is available beginning at 11 a.m., but you can leave your bags in our free luggage storage area early on. Check-out time is 11:00 am, but you may leave your bags in our luggage room for a small fee and retrieve them at a later time. Customers under the age of 11 are not accepted at the hostel.
Rooms and Rates – Murchison Backpackers
| Type of Accommodation | Rates (USD) |
| Dorm room | $18 |
| Single room | $28 |
| Double room/Twin room | $40 |
| Triple room (ideal for 3 guests) | $65 |
| Family suite (suitable for 4 guests) | $85 |
| Family Cottage (ideal for 6 guests) | $130 |
| Camping (Per tent) | $15 |
Meals and Dining at Murchison Backpackers Hostel
Food is lovingly prepared and features a combination of Ugandan cuisine with an international twist. All ingredients used are sourced from local farms and are always fresh.
The goal is to provide all guests with a delicious experience.
- English or African Breakfast – Choose from a delicious English or African breakfast, complete with toast, katogo, fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereal, eggs, beverages, and Great coffee! Served between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m.
- African Lunch Buffet – Enjoy a variety of Ugandan dishes, including Matooke, red beans, beef stew, g-nut sauce, garlic potatoes, and more, all served hot and fresh. Lunch is served daily from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Barbeque Grill dinner- Choose between the deliciously spiced and grilled chicken or beef, and complement your meal with a variety of local salads and hearty main dishes. This is often served with an ice-cold beer between 5.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m.
- Mini Bar– Cold soft drinks, local beers, and select liquors are available all day until 10:00 p.m.
- Room service is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.
- Order-in – From neighbourhood restaurants / Pizza joints – between the hours of 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Note: Guests are welcome to use the kitchen if they prefer to eat in rather than go out to eat.
Services offered by Murchison Backpackers hostel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Bed and Breakfast
- Camping site
- 24-hour security
- Luggage storage
- Airport shuttle services
- Car hire
- Mini bar
- Tour desk
- Free parking on site
- Gift/Souvenir shop
- Laundry service
- Event space
Activities at Murchison Backpackers hostel
Birdwatching
Several visitors have remarked on the abundance of beautiful birds that hop around the trees on the hostel premises. The free tours begin immediately after you get to the property.
You can observe and photograph birds in their natural environment, regardless of whether it’s raining or sunny outside.
The Royal Mile in Budongo Forest, a haven for avian and butterfly enthusiasts, is also easily accessible by car. For this experience, put in a request at the front desk.
Bicycle Rental
Reserve a bicycle for the day you’d like to rent it here. Collect your bicycle along with a valid photo ID before 11 a.m. The team will provide you with a map and a helmet.
Come this April 2022, you can rent a bike from Murchison Backpackers. Please visit the front desk if you would like to rent a bike for a short period of time (less than 24 hours).
Private Tour of the Community of Masindi
Enjoy a guided community tour of Masindi, a small town surrounded by many points of interest. This tour brings you closer to the native people and allows you to observe life in a typical rural Ugandan community.
Come experience Uganda through the eyes of a local, and the best part is that it is FREE for our residents!
Learn how to make a Ugandan rolex
Rolex is a popular Ugandan street food made by rolling an omelette containing onions, tomatoes, cabbage, etc. into a chapati. This single-portion dish is easy to prepare and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack at any time of day.
The staff at the hostel can easily make this and believe it would be a valuable skill to bring back from your trip to Uganda. Register for a class at the front desk before 11 a.m. The team will be eager to team you!
Visit Murchison Falls National Park
You can get reasonably-priced private and small-group tours to the park that can be customised to your specifications.
At Murchison Backpackers hostel, the typical tour includes a visit to the waterfalls and a trek to the bottom and back, an afternoon boat cruise after a delectable meal, and a second day spent exploring the vast Savannah plains that are home to the wild animals of Africa.
With additional time, you can engage in more enjoyable activities, such as Chimpanzee trekking and habituation in Budongo forest, Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and birding, with over 400 species to discover, before taking an evening cruise of the delta.
How to get to Murchison Backpackers Hostel
Entebbe International Airport is about a 1-hour drive to Kampala, followed by a 3-hour drive to Masindi where Murchison Backpackers Hostel is situated.
From the arrivals terminal, local metered taxis or Uber will cost you approximately $150 to $180 for the entire journey. The team at Murchison Backpackers can organise a safe and stress-free airport transfer for you for as little as $100 for a 4-seat car OR $120 for a 7-seat car.
You may also take public transportation for $3 to the Kampala City Old Taxi Park and then take a $6 public taxi to Masindi town, where the hostel team will pick you up and give you a complimentary 5-minute ride to the hostel.
If you want to get around the neighbourhood, you can either drive yourself, hire a boda-boda, ride a bicycle or boda, ride a rented bike, or simply walk.
By means of air transport, the nearest airport to Murchison Backpackers Hostel in Masindi is Pakuba, which is located 106 kilometres away.
Reservations
For bookings at Murchison Backpackers Hostel, contact the friendly staff via email at hello@murchisonbackpackers.com and eliminate the hassle of group trip planning.
The front desk team will assist you with:
- Obtaining the lowest possible group rate.
- Reservations for group tours to Murchison Falls National Park
- Group transportation using 4X4 and bicycle rentals.
- Organizing individualised group meals and lunch packs
- Organizing cultural entertainment and live bands.
- And, provide you with the best travel advice for Murchison Falls tours.
Images for Murchison Backpackers Hostel
For the best Murchison Falls National Park safari experience, check out the following best accommodation nearby: Heritage Safari Lodge, Twiga Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, Global Village Guest House, Grassroots Cottages and Tours, Parkside Safari Lodge, Kabalega Wilderness Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Mama Washindi Lodge, and Budongo Eco Lodge.
Disclaimer: Booking.com is credited with all photos.
