Getting To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park By Road Or Flight

Getting To Bwindi National Park. There are only 2 options to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park From Kigali or Entebbe/Kampala: Fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip in Kampala to either Kayonza Airstrip, or Kihihi Airstrip or Nyakabande, then take a drive to reach the park. Otherwise, you can take a drive by road from Kampala/Entebbe  or Masaka or Lake Mburo, or Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National park or from Kigali through Bunagana Border to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, hence the park can be reach by both road & Air/Flight from Kigali or Entebbe/Kampala.

Getting To Bwindi Impenetrable national Park

Location Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable is located in South Western Uganda, on the Eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. The park takes a section of the Bwindi Impenetrable forest, which shares an international border  with Democratic Republic of Congo, just nearby Virunga National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers a total area of 321 square kilometers, siting within the Districts of Kanungu, Rubanda, Kabale and Kisoro. The closest town is Kanungu or Kihihi in the north (Buhoma), Kisoro in the South and Kabale in East.

How to Get There By Road

There are various ways of getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road: either by private (self drive or tour guided) or public means (by bus). Journeys usually Start from and end in Kampala/Entebb or Kigali.

From Kampala, it takes 6 – 8 hours drive on Kampala – Mabarara or Kampala-Kabale to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Accessing to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Via Masaka route for a distance of 518.9 km is about 9 ½ hours, while  it takes 2 to 3 hours from Queen Elizabeth National Park via Isasha sector to the Northern Sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. The Isasha sector is well known for tree climbing Lions. However, Lake Mburo National Park is located 5-6 hours’ drive to Bwindi National Park,  for a distance of 172.2 km on Kabale-Mbarara route.

Majority of the route meet at Butogota town which is 17 km from Buhoma Entrance Gate.

While for public means, there are so many bus companies offering road transport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which include: post bus, gateway bus services, horizon busses, and Bismarkan bus companies.  The public means are cheaper compared to private means, although, you out to remember which sector you will be tracking from that is,  the southern sector follows the Mbarara, Kabale & Kisoro route, while the Northern section of Bwindi Follows through Mbarara, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kihihi to Butogota. All public means don’t reach the park entrance, which demands for  every traveler to stop at either Butogota or Buhoma, then after hire a car or a motor bike for a ride to the Park gate/headquarters.

Getting From Kampala to Kabale to Kanungu To Buhoma Sector

This route is the longest but most prominent route which stretches about 330 miles, through spectacular scenery. The terrain starts with a 5-6 hours drive, then connects to the rough & rugged on agravel road for the last 4 hour drive.

Getting From Kampala to Ntungamo to Rukunjiri to Buhoma

This is the most convenient and fastest route with a distance of 240 miles to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The path follows the Kampala-Ntungamo highway, before branching off and  joining the smaller gravel road to Buhoma Gate.

Getting From Kampala through Kabale To Ruhija

It takes an 8 hour drive from Kampala to Kabale, then connect by gravel road through local communities to Ruhijah sector  in the North Eastern area.

Getting From Kampala To Kabale To Nkuringo

This is the most populous and highly recommended route to reach Nkuringo area of the Park in 65 miles. It starts from Kampala to Kibale, then joins a bumpy hilly road through local communities.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park By Road From Rwanda

Reaching Rwanda starts with a flight to Kigali International Airport in Kigali City. Thereafter, it takes about a 4 hours’ drive for a distance of 176.6km via Cyanika/Katuna border to reach Bwindi impenetrable National Park from the south Western route.

While for public means, one can easily use Virunga Express bus to enter Uganda, then after proceed to the park by another hired car.

Note That, only 4×4 safari jeeps are able to navigate through the roads to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park.

Flying To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Fly To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park From Kajjansi or Entebbe International Airport to either the Northern section Airstrip or the Southern Section, then after transfer by road (4×4 drive) to the Park headquarters.

There are three Airstrips including: Kihihi Airstrip, Kayonza Airstrip & Nyakabande Airstrip serving Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Kihihi & Kayonza Airstrip serve the Northern section, While the Southern section is served by Nyakabande Airstrip.

Chartered Flights to Bwindi impenetrable National Park are managed by Aerolink Uganda, Eagle Air Uganda Ltd and Fly Uganda Ltd.

However, getting to the Bwindi Forest National Park  is relatively straight forward process, whether you decided to fly or drive. The park is effectively accessible from Entebbe/Kampala. With a little planning and preparation, you can be en route to encounter the inconceivable natural life, and panoramic views of the park.