Getting there
How do you get to Bwindi?
From Entebbe you either fly or drive. Aerolink Uganda flies daily from Entebbe to Kihihi, for the north of the park, and to Kisoro, for the south, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority gives the flight as about 1 hour 10 minutes. By road the Authority gives about 6 hours from Kampala to Kabale and then about 5 more to Buhoma, so most itineraries break the journey. From Kigali the way in is by road: Visit Rwanda puts Volcanoes National Park three hours north of the city, and the Cyanika border post opens into Uganda's Kisoro district, from where Bwindi's southern sectors are a winding 35 km. Which route is right depends on the sector your permit is for.
Checked against official sources on . Sources
By air from Entebbe
- Aerolink Uganda's 2026 timetable has a daily 07:00 departure from Entebbe to both Kihihi and Kisoro, arriving at its first stop at 08:15, with the return leaving the airstrip at 08:35.
- A second departure at 10:30, and afternoon departures to Kihihi at 13:00, run all year except in March, April, May and November.
- Kisoro serves the southern sectors of Nkuringo and Rushaga; Kihihi serves the northern side of the park, where Buhoma is. That is the Uganda Wildlife Authority's own description.
- Baggage is limited to 15 kg in soft-sided bags. Excess is charged at US$5 a kilo.
- Check-in is 60 minutes before departure at Entebbe and 30 minutes before at the airstrips.
- The airline does not publish fares. Its timetable does state a surcharge of US$70 a person for Kisoro.
- From Kisoro, the Authority says, a four-wheel-drive transfer along a winding murram road takes you to your lodge in time for the next day's trek.
Timetabled times are for the aircraft's first stop, and the airline says timings may vary depending on aircraft routing. Do not plan a trek for the day you fly in.
Linking Bwindi with other parks by air
- From Murchison Falls, a 14:20 flight from the Pakuba, Chobe and Bugungu airstrips reaches Kasese or Kihihi at 15:30, with a minimum of four passengers an airstrip, outside March, April, May and November.
- Kihihi, Kisoro and Kasese can be connected to one another on request, at the seat rate.
By road from Kampala or Entebbe
- Entebbe International Airport is 40 km south-west of Kampala, so add that leg if you start from the airport.
- The Authority says a four-wheel-drive vehicle is highly recommended on the Kanungu, Ruhija and Ishasha routes, and recommended for both approaches to Nkuringo.
- It also notes that most visitors to the southern sectors spend the night in Kisoro, about 80 km from Kabale, and drive up to the trailhead the next morning.
| Stage | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kampala to Kabale | 414 km | About 6 hours |
| Kabale to Buhoma, through Kanungu and Kanyantorogo | 120 km | About 5 hours |
| Kampala to Buhoma through Rukungiri | About 390 km, then 82 km of winding murram | Not given |
| Kabale to Buhoma through Ruhija | About 95 km | About 4 hours |
| Kabale to Nkuringo | About 105 km | About 4 hours |
| Kisoro to the southern sectors | 35 km, winding | 1 to 1.5 hours |
From Queen Elizabeth National Park
Buhoma is approximately 160 km from Mweya and about 64 km from Ishasha, the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
From Kigali
- Visit Rwanda describes the drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park as three hours north.
- The two border posts on the way into south-western Uganda are Cyanika, in Kisoro district, and Gatuna, which Uganda calls Katuna, in Kabale district.
- No official source we found gives a driving time from Kigali to Bwindi, or opening hours for either border post, so we do not quote one here. Ask us for the current timing for your dates.
- Rwanda issues its visa on arrival at land borders. Uganda needs its online approval before you reach the border, unless you hold the East Africa Tourist Visa.
- There is no scheduled flight from Kigali to Kihihi or Kisoro in the airline's timetable, and Uganda's aviation authority lists Kisoro airfield as having no immigration service.
One visa or two for Uganda and Rwanda · Yellow fever certificates at the border
Common questions
- How long is the flight from Entebbe to Bwindi?
- About 1 hour 10 minutes to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, followed by a road transfer to the lodge.
- How long is the drive from Kampala to Bwindi?
- The Uganda Wildlife Authority gives about 6 hours for the 414 km from Kampala to Kabale and about 5 more hours for the 120 km on to Buhoma.
- What is the baggage allowance on flights to Bwindi?
- Aerolink Uganda allows 15 kg in soft-sided bags and charges US$5 for each extra kilo.
- Can I fly from Kigali to Bwindi?
- Not on a scheduled flight. The airline's timetable has no service from Kigali to Kihihi or Kisoro, and Kisoro airfield has no immigration service. From Kigali the route is by road.
- Which airstrip is closest to Bwindi?
- Kihihi for Buhoma and the north of the park, and Kisoro for Nkuringo and Rushaga in the south.
- Do I need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach Bwindi?
- The Uganda Wildlife Authority says a four-wheel-drive vehicle is highly recommended on the routes through Kanungu, Ruhija and Ishasha, and recommended for both approaches to Nkuringo.
Safaris to start from
6 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
A six-day safari through southwestern Uganda and into Rwanda, combining mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi with a game drive and Kazinga Channel boat safari in Queen Elizabeth. It ends with a visit to Kigali's Genocide Memorial.
6-Day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari
A six-day Uganda safari across Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi national parks, with game drives, the top of the falls, a Kazinga Channel boat cruise and mountain gorilla trekking.
16 Day Uganda Rwanda Safari
A sixteen-day journey across Uganda and Rwanda combining gorilla and chimpanzee tracking with savanna game drives, the Nile, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest and Akagera. The route ends in Kigali with a city tour and Genocide Memorial visit.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked on against these sources. Flight schedules change with the season and road times with the weather. The timetable quoted is the airline's for January to December 2026; confirm the times when you book.
- Uganda Wildlife Authority — Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Uganda Wildlife Authority — Bwindi visitor brochure (PDF)
- Aerolink Uganda — Flight schedule, January to December 2026 (PDF)
- Aerolink Uganda — Baggage policy
- Aerolink Uganda — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Uganda Civil Aviation Authority — Kisoro Airfield
- Uganda Civil Aviation Authority — Entebbe International Airport
- Visit Rwanda — Gorilla tracking itinerary
- Uganda National Citizenship and Immigration Control — Borders by region
- Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration — Border management (list of border posts)
- Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration — Visa on arrival
- Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control — Mandatory online visa applications
Planning questions
Flying in, or coming by road?
Tell us where you land and how many days you have, and we will plan the way to Bwindi and back around your permit.