How to Get to Bwindi National Park from Kampala or Entebbe

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in the south-western corner of Uganda, close to the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is not the easiest destination to reach — but the journey is part of the adventure, and the reward at the end is worth every kilometre.

Here are all your options for getting to Bwindi from Kampala or Entebbe.

By Road from Kampala or Entebbe

Northern Sector (Buhoma)

The northern entrance to Bwindi at Buhoma is reached via Masaka and Mbarara. The drive from Kampala takes approximately 8 to 9 hours in good conditions. The roads meet at Butogota, 17 km from the Buhoma entrance gate.

Bwindi can also be reached from Queen Elizabeth National Park to the north in 2 to 3 hours — making a combined gorilla and safari itinerary very practical.

A 4WD vehicle is strongly recommended, particularly during the rainy seasons (March–May and October–November) when roads can become muddy and difficult.

Southern Sector (Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija)

For the southern and eastern sectors of Bwindi, the route goes through Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale, then on to Kisoro town. From Kabale, depending on your gorilla permit, you drive to the southern, eastern, or northern sector entrance gate. This journey also takes approximately 8 to 9 hours from Kampala.

From Kabale to the south sector is approximately 2 hours. From Kisoro, a car hire can be arranged to the park entrance gates at Rushaga, Nkuringo, or Ruhija.

By Bus from Kampala

To Buhoma (Northern Sector)

There is a daily bus service from Kampala to Butogota via Rukungiri and Kihiihi. From Butogota, you can hire a car to the park entrance gate at Buhoma. This is the most affordable option but requires more planning and flexibility.

To Kisoro (Southern Sector)

There is a daily bus service from Kampala to Kisoro via Kabale, taking 7 to 8 hours. From Kisoro, a car hire can be arranged to the park entrance gates at Rushaga, Nkuringo, or Ruhija.

By Charter Flight from Entebbe

For those who prefer to minimise road travel, charter flights operate from Entebbe to airstrips near Bwindi. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and offers spectacular aerial views of Uganda's landscape.

Aerolink Uganda operates scheduled and chartered flights from Entebbe to Kihiihi airstrip (for the northern sector) and Kisoro airstrip (for the southern sector). From the airstrip, a vehicle transfer to your lodge takes 30 to 60 minutes.

This is the most comfortable and time-efficient option, though significantly more expensive than road travel.

Practical Tips

• Book your transport in advance, especially during peak season
• Hire a reputable driver who knows the roads — the final sections to the park can be challenging
• Allow extra time — road conditions in Uganda can be unpredictable, and arriving stressed before a gorilla trek is not ideal
• Combine with other parks — the drive through western Uganda passes near Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, and the Rwenzori Mountains, making multi-destination itineraries very rewarding

We can arrange all transfers as part of your gorilla trekking package. Contact us to discuss the best route for your itinerary.