How to Get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

How to Get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park : Whenever you are planning your gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi National Park, it is important that you ascertained how you will be getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in order to avoid losing your way or even having to waste time getting there.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the most sought-after Uganda safari destinations that travelers visit for their gorilla trekking adventures, is one of the most popular safari destinations in Uganda.

As the name implies, it is home to a large population of mountain gorillas, which can be found in only four destinations around the world, Virunga National Park in the Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A little over 1000 mountain gorillas were documented to exist in each of the three countries as of 2018. However, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is located in Uganda, is home to the greatest number of mountain gorillas. It is therefore more suitable as a gorilla trekking destination.

Due to its size and impenetrable nature, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers about 331 square kilometers. Because of its size and impenetrability, the park is divided into four gorilla sectors. These sectors are Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga. They all provide amazing gorilla trekking experiences.

Getting to the different sectors of the country is equally as important as knowing how to get there; therefore, hiring an experienced Uganda safari guide will be of great assistance.

In order to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there are two main ways to do so, namely by road and by air. Both ways are good and can get to you to your destination almost seamlessly.

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by Road

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 463.7km away from Kampala or Entebbe, which is the base of most of Uganda’s gorilla safaris, and can be reached by road via Masaka Road in about 8-9 hours.

Despite the long journey, getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road is one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways of getting to the park, as well as rewarding to travelers as it provides the opportunity to truly appreciate the Ugandan countryside and the wildlife in it.

Gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi

By road, there are a number of routes that travelers can use to get there. Below are the different routes that travelers can get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road;

Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma Route

Travelers often use this route to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by car because it is one of the most commonly used routes by road. This Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma route has a tarmac highway till Kabale district that is about 5-6 hours of road drive, with the rest of the journey murram covering about 120kms only. This route is good in that it allows travelers a chance to see different communities as well as scenic views as they approach Kabale.

Kampala-Ntungamo-Rukunjiri-Kihihi-Buhoma Route

Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road is another easy route to take since it is paved all the way to Rukunjiri. The road from Rukunjiri to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be reached by road.

Kampala-Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma Route

By using this route, travelers can access Bwindi Impenetrable National Park‘s Buhoma sector as well as the Ruhija sector, which is part of the Ruhija sector. Travelers visiting the Ruhija sector of Bwindi can also use this route and stop in Ruhija instead of continuing to Buhoma sector.

Kampala-Kabale-Nkuringo

This route is most convenient for travelers trekking gorillas in the Nkuringo sector of the Park, or even the southern part of the park generally.

Queen Elizabeth National Park-Kihihi-Buhoma

Those travelers who are on a Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park will be able to access Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha or Kihihi, in particular the Buhoma sector, which is the closest to the park. This is a very rewarding route giving travelers a chance to spot tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. From queen Elizabeth National Park, Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National park is about 4 hours of road drive.

Getting there by Air

In addition to taking long road transfers, travelers can also get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by air, especially if this is their first time visiting. Charter and scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi are available flying to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip. Kihihi airstrip best serves travelers visiting the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National park while travelers visiting the southern part of Bwindi best use Kisoro airstrip.

Alternatively, travelers may choose to fly to Kigali International Airport Rwanda, where they can then transfer to the Park, specifically to the Rushaga sector, as this is the nearest sector from Rwanda.

Taking a road trip from Kigali to Rushaga sector of Bwindi takes approximately 4-5 hours. As a result, it is possible to do a Bwindi gorilla safari from Kigali, and it is highly recommended.

It is important that you know how to get to the gorilla trekking park before you plan your gorilla trekking safari there. Book your Uganda gorilla trekking safari with a reputable Uganda safari company that has experienced guides who will be able to guide you on your Uganda gorilla trek.