Quick answer: Hoima City Stadium is one of Uganda’s AFCON 2027 venues, and Hoima is the closest host city to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest park. From Hoima you can reach the park in around two hours by road, which makes a 2 to 3 day safari easy to add before or after a Hoima match. You can see elephants, giraffes, lions, the Nile boat cruise and the falls themselves.
- Host city
- Hoima, western Uganda
- Kampala to Hoima
- Around 4 hours by road
- Hoima to Murchison Falls NP
- Around 2 hours to the southern gates
- Highlights
- Nile boat cruise, top of the falls, game drives in the northern savannah
- Ideal add-on
- 2 to 3 days
Most AFCON visitors will base themselves in Kampala, but some group matches are expected at the new Hoima City Stadium in western Uganda. If your team plays there, you are in luck: Hoima is the gateway to Murchison Falls National Park, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge before flowing into Lake Albert. It is one of the easiest safaris to combine with a match day.
Why Murchison Falls fits a Hoima match
Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park, and its savannah north of the Nile is home to elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kob and lions. The boat cruise to the base of the falls is one of the best wildlife experiences in the country, with hippos and crocodiles along the banks. Because the park is close to Hoima, you spend less time on the road and more time on safari.
Sample plan: match in Hoima plus a 2-day safari
- Day 1: Travel from Kampala to Hoima and watch the match.
- Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls, afternoon boat cruise on the Nile toward the falls.
- Day 3: Morning game drive north of the river, then return to Hoima or Kampala.
If you have another day, add the hike to the top of the falls or chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest on the southern side of the park.
What you can see in June and July
AFCON 2027 falls in the dry season, when grass is shorter and animals gather near water. That makes wildlife easier to spot on game drives. Mornings are best for lions and other predators, while the afternoon light is good for the boat cruise and photographs of the falls.
Getting from Kampala to Hoima
Hoima is about four hours from Kampala by road. If your schedule includes both Kampala and Hoima matches, read our Kampala to Hoima AFCON 2027 guide for transport tips and travel times on match days, when roads will be busier than usual.
Where to stay
Accommodation in Hoima will be in high demand during the tournament, so book early. Many visitors prefer to spend match night in Hoima and the next nights at a lodge near the park, where they can relax away from the crowds. A guide-driver can handle all transfers so you do not have to navigate on busy match days.
Can I add gorillas too?
Yes, but not from Hoima directly. Bwindi is much further south. A good plan is Murchison Falls after a Hoima match, then gorillas on a separate trip from Kampala. Our 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari covers the park, and AFCON 2027 and gorilla trekking explains how to fit in a trek.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Murchison Falls from Hoima?
The southern gates are around two hours by road, depending on the route and road conditions.
Can I visit Murchison Falls on match day?
It is better not to. Leave match day for the game and travel, and start the safari the next morning.
Is Murchison Falls good for a first safari?
Yes. It combines big game, a river cruise and a dramatic waterfall, so it gives a full safari experience in a short time.
Playing in Hoima? Tell us your match date and we will plan a Murchison Falls safari around it.
