Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Bwindi is one of the most visited places in Uganda located in the southwest of the country in Kabale, Kisoro, and Kanungu. The national park is most visited because it harbors more than a half of the mountain gorilla population left in the whole world. Travelers visit the park to encounter primates that are said to be closest relatives to human beings because they share 98% DNA with humans.
Bwindi gorillas are found in 4 sectors of the park and these can be reached by road from several sections. Only Buhoma sector can be reached by air transport because there is Kihihi airstrip in the region but travelers visiting Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga can use Kisoro Airstrip and access the region using road transport which takes 1-2 hours. Reaching Bwindi, you can use road transport or air transport as we explain below.
Getting to Bwindi by air
The fastest way to get to Bwindi is by air transport and there are domestic flights that help travelers who hate long distances fly to the park. Aerolink Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Fly Uganda are some of the airline companies that conduct flights to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. There are daily flights at Kajjansi airstrip and Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip and Kihihi airstrip. There are morning flights at 7:00 am, 10:15 am, and midday flights at 12:00 noon.
Flights to Kihihi airstrip are for those that are visiting the Buhoma region in the northern sector of the park. Flights to Kisoro airstrip are for those that are visiting Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga regions of Bwindi gorilla park. The flights take only 1 hour to reach the airport and then from there driver guides connect them to the park.
Getting to Bwindi by road
The cheapest way to get to Bwindi is by road transport although the journey is a bit longer compared to flying. Travelers can use road transport from Entebbe/Kampala or from Kigali. From Kigali to Bwindi is the shortest journey taking 4-5 hours and from Kampala to Bwindi, it is very long taking 9-10 hours but all the journeys come with great views of the beautiful scenery, water bodies, rolling hills, and much more.
Travelers that want to use the Rwanda side to get to Bwindi will fly to Kigali international airport and then drive to the Uganda Rwanda border at Katuna in Kabale and Cyanika in Kisoro where they will cross into the country and then drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
Travelers from Kampala/Entebbe have a number of routes to use to get to Bwindi gorilla park and these include Kampala – Kabale – Kanungu – Buhoma, Kampala – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Kihihi – Buhoma, Kampala – Kabale – Ruhija – Buhoma, Kampala -Kabale – Nkuringo, and those in Queen Elizabeth national park can drive from Mweya pass through Ishasha sector and get to Kihihi where they will connect to Buhoma region.
Trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable national park
The most appropriate time to visit Bwindi
Bwindi can be visited at any time of the year though the most appropriate time is the dry season. The dry season happens from June to September and December to February. They are characterized by little or no rainfall that keeps the trekking trails dry, the vegetation is always short and thin giving good views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to different sectors of the park are in good condition.
Travelers can still visit the park in the rainy season of March to May and October to November because the park is always open. The rainy season is good for budget travelers because they get to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities since the prices are lowered to attract the few tourists to the park. the rainy season is however characterized by too much rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, there are unclear views of the mountain gorillas since the vegetation is thick and tall, and the roads leading to the park are impassable.
Accommodation on your safari in Bwindi: There are several accommodation facilities in Bwindi found in each of the park sectors where travelers can spend a night or more while on a safari. These accommodation facilities are of different prices and offer different facilities and so where to stay depends on your budget. The park has lodges ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options in all four sectors.
Accommodation in Rushaga sector: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Resort, and Wagtail Eco Safari Lodge.
Accommodation in Nkuringo sector: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Backpackers Lodge, Mutanda Eco Community Centre, Nshongi Camp, Crested Crane Bwindi Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, and Virunga Campsite.
Accommodation in Buhoma sector: Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Ride 4 women Guest House, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Rest Camp, Haven Lodge, and Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge.
Accommodation in Ruhija sector: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Bakiga Lodge, Gorilla Mist Camp, Broadbill Forest Camp, Agandi Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, and Trekkers Tavern.
