HOW TO GET TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK.

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park : Bwindi Impenetrable national park being a top safari destination in Uganda, many visitors definitely want to know how to get to the national park. Well, the national park can be accessed by road or air transport means. Here is a guide on how you can travel to the Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda.

Travelling to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by air

There are three airfields that located close Bwindi Impenetrable national park and these include Kayonza, Kihihi and Kisoro airfield.  Visitors who want to use air transport can fly to any airfield depending on the sectors where they want to trek gorillas from. From Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield, you can book scheduled or chartered flights through the tour operator to Kisoro airfield and then connect by road to the Nkuringo sector in case you want to trek gorillas in Nkuringo or Ruhija sector because the airstrip is near Nkuringo and Ruhija sector.

You can also fly from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi to Kayonza airfield and connect by road to Buhoma sector for gorilla trekking.  Alternatively, you can also fly from Entebbe airport to Kihihi Airstrip and then connect by road to Ruhija sector for gorilla trekking.

Travelling to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by Road.

Road transport is the most commonly used means of transport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The national park can be accessed by road from Kampala via Kabale, Kanungu, and Buhoma. Visitors using this route will have to travel from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kanungu then will connect to Kanyatorogo and then to Buhoma sector in the northern part of the park. From Kanungu to Buhoma you drive on a murrum and bumpy road and therefore require a 4WD car. This is the longest route to Bwindi national park taking relatively 9 to 10 hours but is rewarding in terms of scenic views while on the journey for example the Equator which has many craft shops, landscapes, hills, local people among others.

The national park can also be accessed from Queen Elizabeth national park which is located in Kasese district. Visitors can combine a game drive or boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park with a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park. When using this route, you will drive from Queen  via Ishasha sector where you will be able to view the climbing lions and then connect to Buhoma sector in northern part of the park which is 160km and takes about 2 to 3 hours.

Another alternative route to use while travelling to Bwindi national park is from Kampala via Ntungamo, Rukungiri, and Kihihi to Buhoma. This is one of the quickest and easiest route to route to the national park where you drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara reach Ntungamo and branch off the highway to the murrum road which continues to Rukungiri, Kihihi then to Buhoma sector.

From Kampala via Kabale to Nkuringo, when you are using this route you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale to Kisoro then Nkuringo sector southern part of the national park. From Kabale to Nkuringo, you will drive on a murrum and bumpy road hence giving you African massage and beautiful views of the local people, hills among others.

From Kampala via Kabale to Ruhija, this route starts from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale to Ruhija sector is the eastern part of Bwindi national park. From Kabale to Ruhija, you will drive on a bumpy and murrum road and during the rainy season the road is slippery which therefore requires a 4WD vehicle. When you use this route you will be able to enjoy the Kigezi hills, landscapes, local people among others and it takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Kabale to Ruhija sector.

In case you want to use public means of transport to the park, there are daily buses which travel early mornings from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo and then to Kabale which take about 7 to 8 hours. When you reach in Kabale you will hire a private vehicle to any sector where you want to trek mountain gorillas which take 3 to 4 hours’ drive.

Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed from Kigali city in Rwanda.  Visitors can fly to Kigali international airport and then connect to Rushaga sector south of the national park by road through Cyanika border or connect to Kabale town by road through Katuna border and then to Buhoma park headquarters in the northern part of the park.