How to get to Bwindi forest national park in Uganda

How to get to Bwindi forest national park in Uganda : Bwindi Forest National Park is the a prime gorilla destination located in the South Western Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley, the park covers an area of 331 square kilometers protecting the largest Afromontane lowland forest extending to well within the montane forest belt.

Bwindi impenetrable National Park is a home to tremendous biodiversity, the park’s slopes stretch over a broad altitudinal range fo 1,447 meters crating habitats roaming from lowland forest at 1,160 m to unique Afromontane vegetation above 2,600 m. Forest protected by Bwindi is extremely old since most of Africa’s forests were destroyed during the arid conditions of the final age 12,000 – 18,000 years ago.

Bwindi impebetrable National Park is a home to largest population of mountain gorillas, one of the two gorilla populations in the world with over 600 gorilla individuals. The park also hosts 120 mammals including 10 primate species including latter are red tailed, chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s and blue monkey, black & white colobus and olive baboons and over 350 bird species including 7 species which are IUCN red data listed and Albertine rift endemic species that are hard or impossible to see in other parts of East Africa.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is located in the South – western part of Uganda proximately 8-9 hours’ drive via Masaka Road from Kampala.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is a fascinating Uganda gorilla trekking destination that is why it is visited by thousands of visitors each year, to get to Bwindi impenetrable national for a safari. Road and air means of transport are used.

By air

For travelers choosing to fly to Bwindi impenetrable National park which is the best alternative to get to the park quickly, there are several air companies offering domestic and chartered flights to Bwindi.

flying to Bwindi national park

These flights fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to the 3 airfields serving Bwindi impenetrable National Park and these include Kihihi and Kayonza airstrips for visitors flying to the north area, Nyakabande “Kisoro” airstrip found in Kisoro for visitors heading the southern region of the park.

Flight companies offering flights to Bwindi impenetrable National Park include Bar Aviation and Aerolink among others.

By Road

Bwindi forest National Park is located in South Western Uganda which is approximately 8-9 hours’ drive at a distance of 463.7 kilometers to get there via Masaka Road from Kampala. Road transport is the easiest means of transport to get to Bwindi impenetrable National park, there are several routes used to get to the park by road transport.

driving to Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable National Park can be accessed from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the north of the park which is a two – three hour drive, from Kabaale town to the south which takes only about one – two hours. The park can also be accessed from Kampala through Mbarara for about 8-9 hours, these roads meet at Butogota which is a distance of only 17 kilometers from Buhoma entrance gate.

There are two options to get to Bwindi impenetrable National Park using road transport that is private means or public means, there is a daily bus service that leaves Kampala for Butogota Via Rukungiri and Kihihi.

Note: A 4×4 vehicle is needed most especially during the rainy months.

Various routes are used to get Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kampala and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya) – Kihihi – Buhoma

On your way to Bwindi impenetrable National Park from Queen Elizabeth National park, you will pass through Ishasha and you will enjoy spotting the rare and fascinating to see tree climbing lions along with monkeys on the road. From Mweya, Queen Elizabeth National Park it is about 160 kilometers and about 64 kilometers from Ishasha Sector.

Kampala – Kabale – Kanungu – Buhoma

This route is a tarmac highway to Kabala covering a distance of about 414 kilometers and it is a 5-6 hours’ drive, the next route has a murram road and has about 120 kilometers. This route goes through Kanungu as well as Kanyantorongo and takes about 4-5 hours.

The most convenient vehicle to use is a 4WD.

Kampala – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Kihihi – Buhoma

This is the easiest and most convenient route to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kampala, this route is a tarmac road to Rukungiri and is about 390 kilometers in addition to murram road to Buhoma.

Kampala – Kabale – Nkuringo

This routes covers a distance of about 105 kilometers from Kabale town and it takes approximately 4 hours to get to the mountainous murram road. Many tourists prefer to spend a night in Kisiro town and the remaining distance of about 80 kilometers from Kabale prior to Nkuringo, Kisoro road is a meandering 35 kilometers and takes about 1 – 1.5 hours.

Public means of Transport to Bwindi Forest National Park

There are buses setting off every day from Kampala to Butogota, thereafter a tax can be got the last 17 kilometers to Buhoma. Nkuringo has no public means and the best thing to do is to hire a vehicle from Kisoro.