Flying to Bwindi Gorilla Park
Flying to Bwindi Gorilla Park is the fastest way to reach Uganda’s mountain gorilla destinations. There are two main gorilla destinations that you can get to by chartered or scheduled flights from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular, with many gorilla trekking sectors, including Buhoma and Rushaga. Flights connect Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip and Kihihi Airstrip for easier access to these areas.
Flying to Bwindi Gorilla Park is the quickest and most practical way to get to the park, which is located in southwestern Uganda. Bwindi National Park is a famous tourist destination and home to the endangered mountain gorillas. During gorilla trekking adventures, some tourists would rather fly to the national park because of its location and the distance covered.
During flight safaris in Bwindi National Park, scheduled and charter planes can be reserved to explore the park’s numerous sectors and participate in activities such as hiking, bird viewing, Batwa experience, gorilla trekking, and gorilla habituation. In Bwindi National Park, permits for gorilla trekking cost $ 800, while those for gorilla habituation activities cost $1500. The only airport in Uganda is Entebbe International Airport (EBB), which acts as a hub for both domestic and international aircraft during travel excursions.
Airstrips in Bwindi Gorilla Park
When flying to Bwindi Gorilla Park, two airstrips can be used to get to the destination during gorilla treks in Uganda: Kihihi Airstrip and Kisoro Airstrip, whereby travellers can reserve one-way or return flights to Bwindi Gorilla Park with domestic airlines.
Kihihi Airstrip-Northern Part
Travellers planning to visit Bwindi Gorilla Park for gorilla trekking via flight to Bwindi’s northern part of the park in the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors of Bwindi, will always use Kihihi Airstrip. These flights are organised by Uganda’s top airline companies, including the Uganda Aviation Authority and Aerolink Uganda. Flights from Entebbe Airport to Kihihi leave at 7:00 am and arrive at 08:45 am, 10:30 am to 11:25 am, and at 1:00 pm and arrive at 3:00 pm.
Flights to Entebbe International Airport from Kihihi Airstrip leave at 09:45 am, 12:15 pm, and 03:45 pm, and arrive at Entebbe at 11:25 am, 2:00 pm, and 5:15 pm. The scheduled flights from Kihihi Airstrip and Entebbe International Airport take approximately one and a half to two hours. Guides can pick up visitors at Kihihi airport and drive them to their lodges in Bwindi National Park.
Kisoro Airstrip-Southern Part of the Park
Tourists travelling to the southern regions of Bwindi National Park, such as the Ruhija and Nkuringo sectors, use Kisoro Airstrip, which also provides a convenient means of access to Mgahinga National Park. These regular flights between Kisoro Airport and Entebbe International Airport are also provided by Aerolink Uganda, one of the leading airline companies in the country. The aircraft to Kisoro airstrip from Entebbe International Airport leaves at 7:00 am and lands in Bwindi National Park around 8:10 am. Alternatively, there is a flight which leaves at 10:15 am from Entebbe Airport and arrives at 11:30 a.m. in Kisoro district at Kisoro airstrip in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The flights from Kisoro airstrip to Entebbe International Airport leave at 8:30 am and arrive at 11:25 am, respectively, and another flight leaves at 11:45 am and lands at Entebbe Airport at 2:00 pm.
How to book a flight to Bwindi Gorilla Park
An individual or tour operators, like Nakra Safaris, one of the leading travel companies in the country, can arrange flights to Bwindi National Park through organised and efficient airline companies like Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe International Airport.
Individual flight booking to Bwindi
Individual travellers can also make reservations for flights to Bwindi National Park by contacting the domestic airline. To get the best flight to Bwindi National Park, though, a lot of research will be needed. Bookings made by individuals are also typically more common than those made by tour operators for flights.
Booking Bwindi flights through a tour operator
It is much simpler to have an approved tour operator help you with your travel plans to Bwindi National Park. A professional tour operator can arrange all aspects of the gorilla trekking tour, including lodging, gorilla permits, and any additional activities during the journey to Bwindi National Park. They also receive discounted aircraft prices.
What is the best time for flights to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
During the dry season, that occurs from June to september and December to February, is the best time to visit Bwindi using flight means of transport, since the rainy season tends to have unfavourable weather conditions that may affect some of these air crafts due to their small size compared to the larger planes that can sustain heavy storms among others. more still the trekking trails during the dry season tend to be dry, making it convenient for park activities such as gorilla trekking.
Other ways to access Bwindi National Park
Besides flying to Bwindi National Park, visitors can also access the park by using road transport, from the Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale road, which requires 8-9 hours of driving. The Gatuna border is another way to enter Uganda from Rwanda, and visitors can drive for around 4 hours from Kigali to Bwindi National Park via the Cyanika border. The vehicles used to enter Bwindi National Park can be rented from car rental companies.
Other ways to get to the park by road include booking a tour package with a tour operator that includes transportation or taking the bus to the park for the tour. Safaris in Bwindi Gorilla Park can take visitors to nearby locations such as Mgahinga National Park, which is also home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys; Lake Bunyonyi, a great spot to unwind and enjoy canoe rides; Queen Elizabeth National Park, where visitors can see lions climbing trees and other wildlife; Kibale National Park, which offers chimpanzee trekking experiences; and primate tours in Uganda. Additionally, visitors can go from Bwindi Gorilla Park to Rwanda, where they can enjoy the Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Lake Kivu, and other Rwandan attractions.
Conclusion
Using air transport to connect travellers to Uganda’s leading destinations is one way of empowering the private sector in linking up to various tourism destinations, such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mgahinga, and Kidepo Valley National Park, and many others across the country. This helps enhance and transform the country’s tourism sector, especially when utilizing reliable airlines and tour operators within the industry.
