Updated
The cheapest flights to Uganda are usually one-stop fares to Entebbe on Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, or the Gulf carriers, Emirates, Qatar Airways and flydubai, via their hubs. To find the best price, search flexible dates in Google Flights or Skyscanner, book two to six months ahead, avoid the peak periods of July–August and Christmas–New Year, and compare flying into Kigali or Nairobi as well as Entebbe. Check the baggage allowance and connection times as carefully as the price.
Which airlines fly to Entebbe
Entebbe International Airport is served by several international carriers. Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and RwandAir connect Uganda to their African hubs and onward to Europe, North America and Asia. Emirates, Qatar Airways and flydubai connect through the Gulf, Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, and Brussels Airlines from Brussels. KLM has long served Entebbe from Amsterdam, but its flights were disrupted in 2026. Uganda Airlines, the national carrier, flies regional routes and, since 2025, direct between London Gatwick and Entebbe, along with routes to Dubai and other hubs. Schedules change, so check current routes when you search.
When to book
For most routes, the best economy fares appear two to six months before departure, and earlier for peak dates. Fares rise sharply for July and August, when European school holidays coincide with the dry season, and for Christmas and New Year. Shoulder months such as late February, March, October and November, and the rainy months of April and May, are usually cheaper, and in April, May and November the gorilla permit is cheaper too, at US$600 instead of US$800. Set fare alerts once you know your rough dates.
How to search
Start with a flexible-date search on Google Flights or Skyscanner to see which days are cheapest, then check the same flights on the airline’s own website, where fares are often the same and changes are easier to manage. Compare the total journey time, the connection time at the hub and the arrival time in Entebbe: many flights land late at night or very early in the morning, which affects your first night’s plans. A slightly more expensive flight that arrives at a sensible time can save a hotel night or a lost day.
Compare Kigali and Nairobi
If your gorilla permit is for Rushaga, Nkuringo or Mgahinga in southern Uganda, flying into Kigali in Rwanda can be cheaper and faster, as those sectors are only 3.5–5 hours from Kigali by road.
Nairobi has many more international flights than Entebbe, and a separate short flight to Entebbe sometimes brings the price down, though booking separate tickets means you are not protected if the first flight is late. An open-jaw ticket, for example into Entebbe and out of Kigali, avoids backtracking on a trip that covers both countries. See our guide to Kigali to Bwindi by road.
Hidden costs to watch
Some of the lowest fares exclude checked luggage or limit it heavily, which matters for a safari with boots and camera gear. Check the change and cancellation rules, because a gorilla permit fixes your dates and a delayed or changed flight can cost you the trek. Remember that domestic flights within Uganda allow only about 15 kg in a soft bag; see our guide to domestic flights. Travel insurance that covers delays and missed connections is worth having.
Book the permit before the flights
Because gorilla permits for popular dates sell out, the usual order is to secure the permit first, then the lodge in the same sector, and only then your flights. Leave at least one night in Uganda before your trek after a long-haul flight. Our guide to booking a gorilla permit explains the steps, and our guide to getting from Entebbe to Bwindi covers the onward journey.
Frequently asked questions
Often Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines or a Gulf carrier, but it varies by route and date. Compare with a flexible-date search.
Usually outside July–August and Christmas–New Year, such as March to May, October and November.
Uganda Airlines flies direct between London Gatwick and Entebbe; most other routes have one stop.
Sometimes, and it is closer to southern Bwindi. Compare fares into Kigali and Entebbe for your dates.
Flight prices to Uganda from Europe and North America show the greatest variation when booked 4 to 6 months in advance, when airlines are filling forward inventory. Booking closer to departure typically finds fares rising steeply as available seats reduce. Monitoring fares over a 3-month window before booking — using flight alert services rather than checking manually — identifies the point at which prices begin to climb and gives a data-based booking window.
