Updated 19 October 2026

There are two ways to get from Entebbe to Bwindi: drive for 8–10 hours, or fly for about an hour to Kihihi or Kisoro and then transfer 1–2 hours by road to your lodge. Which is better depends on where you are trekking, because Bwindi has four sectors at opposite ends of a large forest, on different roads and served by different airstrips. This guide explains each option, how long it really takes, and how to plan your first day after landing.

Entebbe to Bwindi: How to Travel After Landing in Uganda

Start with your trekking sector

Your gorilla permit is for one sector, and your lodge should be close to it, so plan the transfer around the sector rather than “Bwindi” in general. Buhoma and Ruhija in the north are reached through Rukungiri or Kabale and are nearest to Kihihi airstrip. Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south are reached through Kabale or Kisoro and are nearest to Kisoro airstrip. If you are unsure which sector suits you, read our guide to choosing between Bwindi’s four sectors.

Driving: the usual choice

Most travellers go by road with a driver-guide in a 4×4 safari vehicle, usually as part of a booked trip rather than a separate transfer. The route runs south-west from Entebbe on the Masaka road, crosses the equator at Kayabwe, and continues through Mbarara. Here it splits: north-west through Ntungamo and Rukungiri for Buhoma, or south through Kabale for Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. The tarmac is generally good as far as Kabale or Rukungiri. The last one to two hours are on murram roads that are slow, steep and often muddy after rain.

Doing the whole drive in one day is possible but tiring after a long-haul flight, and it leaves no margin before dark. Many itineraries split it instead. A night at Lake Mburo National Park, roughly halfway, adds a boat trip or walking safari among zebras. Alternatively, Queen Elizabeth National Park makes a natural stop on the way to Buhoma, which is reached through the Ishasha sector and its tree-climbing lions.

The advantages of driving are flexibility and value: the same vehicle and guide stay with you for the whole trip, carry your luggage without weight limits and can stop wherever you like. The drawback is time, since a gorilla trip with road transfers needs at least two full travel days. A dedicated one-way private transfer from Entebbe, without a safari attached, typically costs several hundred US dollars per vehicle.

Flying to Kihihi or Kisoro

Scheduled light aircraft fly from Entebbe to Kihihi and Kisoro, mainly with Aerolink Uganda, and charter planes are also available. The flight takes about an hour, sometimes with a stop at another airstrip, and gives a clear view of the hills as you approach Bwindi. Your lodge or operator meets you at the airstrip. Counting check-in, the flight and the road transfer, door to door is usually four to five hours rather than a full day.

Things to know before you book: scheduled fares run to a few hundred US dollars per person each way, and luggage is limited to about 15 kg in soft bags. Flights operate only in daylight and can be delayed by cloud over the airstrips. Flying makes most sense for short trips, travellers who find long drives difficult, and anyone continuing from Bwindi to another destination by air. Many people combine both, flying in and driving out or the other way round.

Night arrivals: stay in Entebbe first

Many long-haul flights land at Entebbe in the evening or late at night. Do not set off for Bwindi after dark. Rural roads have no lighting, with pedestrians, cyclists, livestock and unlit vehicles on them, and the mountain roads near the park are narrow and steep. Spend the first night in Entebbe, which has hotels from simple guesthouses to lakeside resorts within 10–20 minutes of the airport.

Staying in Entebbe also avoids Kampala’s heavy traffic, which can add one to two hours if you overnight in the city. To arrive before dark, leave Entebbe by about 7 am if driving directly. For a morning flight, the airport is minutes away. Plan your gorilla trek no earlier than the day after you reach Bwindi, never on the day of arrival, as briefings start around 7:30–8:00 am.

Public transport

Budget travellers can take a bus from Kampala to Kabale, Kisoro or Butogota, then a shared taxi or motorbike taxi to the park. It is the cheapest option by far, but takes a long day with several changes and crowded vehicles. The last stretch to the park gates is the hardest part, especially in the rain. It suits experienced, flexible travellers with light luggage. If you choose this route, arrange where you will stay and how you will reach the trailhead on trekking morning before you set off.

Flying into Kigali instead

If you are trekking in Rushaga or Nkuringo, flying into Kigali in Rwanda is often quicker than Entebbe. The drive from Kigali to southern Bwindi takes about 4–5 hours, including the Katuna or Cyanika border crossing. You will need visas for both countries, or the East Africa Tourist Visa, and some rental vehicles cannot cross the border. See our guide to getting from Kigali to Bwindi.

At Entebbe Airport

Entebbe is a small airport and arrival is usually straightforward. Have your passport, approved e-visa and yellow fever vaccination certificate ready, as the certificate can be checked at immigration. Our guide to Uganda’s entry requirements covers the details. ATMs and forex bureaus are in the arrivals hall. MTN and Airtel sell SIM cards there, and mobile data works along most of the route to Bwindi, though signal can be weak inside the park. Your driver or hotel will wait outside arrivals with a name board.

For the drive, keep water, snacks, a warm layer and any medication in your day bag. Entebbe is warm and humid, but Bwindi’s lodges sit at 1,500–2,300 metres and evenings there are cool, especially in Ruhija. For where to stay at the other end, see our Bwindi lodge guide.

Frequently asked questions