Updated
Reputable safari operators in Uganda avoid driving after dark because the roads become much more dangerous: potholes and broken road edges are hard to see, livestock, cyclists and pedestrians walk on unlit roads, many vehicles and motorcycles have poor or no lights, and help is far away if something goes wrong.
Most park roads are also closed to visitors at night. That is why itineraries plan each travel day to arrive by around 6 pm, with sunset close to 7 pm all year near the equator. If a schedule would mean driving at night, the usual fix is to break the journey or fly.
Why night roads are risky
Uganda’s main highways are paved, but conditions vary: potholes, unmarked speed bumps in villages, sharp drops at the road edge and sections under repair. In daylight a careful driver sees them; at night they appear suddenly. People walk and cycle along the roads after dark, often in dark clothing, cattle and goats cross unpredictably, and broken-down trucks may be left without lights. Heavy trucks and buses travel fast, sometimes with dazzling or missing headlights. Uganda’s road accident rate is high, and a large share of serious accidents happen at night.
In and around the parks
Inside national parks, driving is generally only allowed in daylight hours, except on organised night game drives with a Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger. Animals such as elephants and buffalo cross roads in the dark, and the dirt roads to Bwindi’s sectors are steep, narrow and slippery after rain. Arriving at a remote lodge after dark also makes it harder to find, and staff may have little warning. Read about night game drives, the one safe way to be in a park after dark.
How itineraries are planned around daylight
Long drives start early, often around 6–7 am, to finish by late afternoon. Journeys of 8–10 hours, such as Kampala to Bwindi, are often broken with a night at Lake Mburo or Lake Bunyonyi. International arrivals at night stay near Entebbe airport and head west in the morning. On departure day, operators plan to reach Entebbe in daylight, which is one reason many travellers fly back from Kihihi or Kisoro at the end of a gorilla trip. See our guides to drive times to Bwindi and domestic flights.
If you are self-driving
Plan each day to arrive by about 6 pm, allowing for slow traffic, roadworks and stops, and do not let a late start push you into the dark. If you are running late, stop at a town and find a guesthouse rather than pressing on. Keep the fuel tank topped up so you never need to search for fuel at night. See our guide to self-drive safaris in Uganda.
Boda-bodas and taxis at night
In towns, motorcycle taxis are riskier at night, with more accidents and more theft. Use a car booked through your hotel or a ride-hailing app instead. See our guides to boda-bodas and special hire taxis.
Frequently asked questions
It is much riskier than daytime driving, and reputable operators avoid it.
Around 7 pm all year, as Uganda lies on the equator.
Generally not, except on organised night game drives with a UWA ranger.
Stay near Entebbe airport and start the drive west the next morning.
