Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in south-western Uganda, about 530km from Kampala. The park can be reached by road from several directions. Bwindi Forest is found in the south-western part of Uganda near the democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The forest has an annex into the DR Congo. It is situated on the border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the Albertine Rift.
By Air
There are scheduled domestic flights to different air strips around Bwindi, For instance, Kisoro, Kihihi and others. Charter flights can also be organized to this park. You can choose to fly from Entebbe or from Kampala at Kajansi airfield to the up to date tarmac airstrip found at Kisoro.
Additionally Planes may as well be chartered to the Savannah or the grass Kayonza airstrips. Bwindi is actually well served by 3 airfields at Kihihi plus Kayonza for the northern area in addition to Nyakabande found in Kisoro for people going to track mountain gorillas within the southern area including Mishaya, Nshongi and Nkuringo
By Road
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be accessed by road and it is 520 Kilometres from Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Normally for one to enjoy the journey, 4 Wheel drives are recommended taking the below routes:
- Move from Kampala to Kabale about 414 Kilometres, about 5-8 hours drive, then Kabale-Kanungu- Kanyantorogo – Buhoma Park Headquarters, about 120 kms, a 3.5 hour-drive.
- Alternatively you can move from Kampala-Kabale about 414 Kms, and then proceed to Ruhija and finally to Buhoma which is 95 kilometres, a three-hour drive. From Queen Elizabeth National Park to the northern sector like 2 to 3 hours drives, from Kampala through Mbarara about 6 to 8 hours drive or from Kabale town to the southern just 1 to 2 hours. All those roads converge at Butogota, just 17 kilometres from the Buhoma entrance-gate.
- A daily bus leaves Kampala for Butogota via Rukungiri and Kihiihi.You can get a taxi from here for about 20 km to Buhoma. Nkuringo has no public means unless when you hire a private vehicle from Kisoro.
- For those on self drive, please consider a whole day since it may take you approximately 9-10 hours to drive on a winding road.
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya) – Kihihi – Buhoma
This route passes the Queen Elizabeth Park’s southerly Ishasha sector, providing the chance of a stopover to search for the famous tree-climbing lions. Bwindi is 160km from Mweya and 64km from Ishasha.
Kampala – Kabale – Kanungu – Buhoma
This route follows a tarmac highway to Kabale (414km) and takes 5-6 hours. The next section, which follows winding murram roads for 120km, passes through Kanungu and Kanyantorogo and takes 4-5 hrs. A 4WD vehicle is required.
Kampala – Ntungamo – Rukungiri – Kihihi – Buhoma
This, the quickest and most direct route from Kampala, follows tarmac roads to Rukungiri (390km) followed by 82km on murram roads to Buhoma.
Kampala – Kabale – Ruhija – Buhoma
The Kabale-Ruhija-Buhoma segment on this route is 95 kilometres on a murram road and takes 3-4 hours. The Ruhija section is in poor condition and should only be attempted with a 4WD vehicle. The public does not frequently use this road.
Kampala – Kabale – Nkuringo
Nkuringo is 105km from Kabale. The drive takes 4 hours on a mountainous murram road. Most visitors overnight in Kisoro (80km from Kabale) before proceeding to Nkuringo. The road from Kisoro is a winding 35km that takes 1-1.5 hours. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for both approaches to Nkuringo.
Public transport
A bus runs daily from Kampala to Butogota from which a taxi can be hired for the last 17km to Buhoma. There is no public transport to Nkuringo but vehicles can be hired in Kisoro.
From Rwanda
For those coming from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the Virunga express bus service has different bus terminals in Rwanda so board any Virunga bus from any part of Rwanda up to Kigali Virunga Express office in Nyabugogo Taxi Park. They also have Virunga Express costa buses on routes from Gisenyi, Musanze and Butare daily from Kigali to Kabale at 3:00 pm (Rwanda time)
If you are in Musanze (Ruhengeri) board the Matatu to Chanika-Rwanda-Uganda boarder and then contact a car rental agency to pick you and proceed to the next destination.
The Southern Region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a reasonable distance from Kigali Airport
Uganda has many trusted tour operators who can organise you a stress free trip to Bwindi Impenetratable National park.
Bwindi National Park is one of the most visited parks in Uganda visited by different kind of visitors. The main activity in this park is Gorilla Tracking. The park has 4 sections where the activity can be done, Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo. Besides all-inclusive safari, the park is also visited by car rental clients. They hire different types of cars either with drive or by self-driving and they access the park
Bwindi National Park is not wildlife park where game drives are conducted. All activities in this park are done on foot and its mountainous. Visitors on self drive basis, will drive to the park headquarters with all the necessary permits, cars are left parked at the park headquarters and then after briefing, clients enter the forest for a life time experience.
Since Bwindi is found in Western Uganda, accessing the park need a good car in proper mechanical conditions. Mostly 4×4 car is recommended for a smooth running of the vacation in Uganda. There are many 4×4 cars available like 4x4Land cruiser V4, 4×4 land cruiser Prados, 4×4 land cruiser safari extended and many more.
Visiting Bwindi with a Rental Car
The park can be accessed both by road with a 4×4 vehicle. From Kampala, take Mbarara masaka Highway or some visitors opt to take Kasese road depending on their Itineraries, the drive takes almost the whole day as visitors reach there approx. at 4pm and above. Most of the visitors do not include any other activity on the transfer day as it is quite tiresome.
Mountain Gorillas