How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park

How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park

How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park; Bwindi impenetrable national park is a tropical rainforest located in southwestern part of Uganda on the edge of the rift valley in Kanungu district. The park covers a total area of 321 square kilometers and was gazetted as a national park in 1991 mainly to protect and conserve the endangered mountain gorillas. In 1994 the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique biodiversity. The park is a home of over 400 plant species, 120 mammal species including forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, antelopes, primates like the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons and over 350 bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is divided into four sectors namely Nkuringo sector in the south, Ruhija sector in the East, Rushaga sector in the south and Buhoma sector in the north. Bwindi impenetrable national park offers different interesting activities such as gorilla trekking which is the major activity that attracts big numbers of tourists, gorilla habituation experience, Batwa cultural tour, bird watching, nature walks/hiking among others. The park can either be accessed by road or air transport means

Getting to Bwindi impenetrable national park by road transport

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala or Entebbe through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then connect to any sector you wish to visit which takes about 8 to 9 hours drive in a 4WD safari vehicle.

You can also access the park from Queen Elizabeth national park through Ishasha sector and then continue to Buhoma sector which takes about 3 to 4 hours drive. Passing through Ishasha sector gives you an opportunity to view the tree climbing lions which will be lazily lying up in acacia/fig tree branches.

When using road transport means, the park can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda whereby travelers will fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Ruhija sector/ Buhoma sector via Katuna border in Kabale or Rushaga/Nkuringo sector via Cyanika border in Kisoro which takes about 3 to 4 hours drive.

Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed by public means of transport whereby tourists will board a daily bus that leaves Kampala via Rukungiri and Kihihi to Butogota where you will hire a taxi to the park headquarters. Tourists who use road transport means will be rewarded with stunning views of the beautiful scenery, landscape, Kigezi hills, traditional homesteads and terraced farmlands on the way.

Getting to Bwindi impenetrable national park by air transport

The park can be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book charter or scheduled flights with Aerolink Uganda limited from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to either Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips.

There are daily domestic flights to Kihihi/ Kayonza airstrips which depart from Entebbe airport at 7: 00am or 12:00pm and daily flights to Kisoro airstrip which depart from Entebbe at 7:00am. Upon arrival at Kihihi/ Kayonza airstrip you will connect to Buhoma or Ruhija sector and upon arrival at Kisoro airstrip you will connect to Nkuringo or Rushaga by road.

Tourists can also book charter or scheduled domestic flights from Entebbe airport to Mweya airstrip in Queen Elizabeth national park and then connect to the park via Ishasha sector by road which takes about 3 to 4 hours drive. Use of air transport means to access the park is fast and less tiresome, domestic flights to Bwindi impenetrable national park can however be booked by your trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris.

Best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season there is less or little rainfall in the park therefore access roads, hiking and gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable compared to the wet season when the trails are wet, muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.

Where to stay in the park

There are a wide range of accommodation facilities in the park ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your safari. The accommodations include Buhoma lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla lodge, Four Gorillas lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Mist camp, Wag Tail Safari lodge, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Gift of Nature lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge, Chameleon Hill lodge, Bwindi Jungle View lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Guest House, Eco Marvels Gorilla lodge, Engagi lodge, Mahogany Springs lodge, Gorilla Resort, Lake Kitandara Bwindi Camp, Nshongi Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Silverback Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp among others.

For more information on how to get to the park, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris.