Drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park depends on one’s location or starting point of their journey. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a common destination for many people visiting Uganda or traveling to the western part of the country. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of the country in the districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, and Kabale. The park covers a total area of 331 square kilometers and it is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda. The park is home to a variety of wildlife and plant life but it is the mountain gorillas that bring in so many travelers.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 448.8 kilometers from Entebbe International Airport thereby making it the second furthest tourist destination in Uganda after Kidepo Valley National Park which is 458kms. Though far away, the drive is a rewarding one with numerous stops for add-ons and a number of en-route activities. Luxury travelers and those with limited time to spare can opt for a flying gorilla safari with chartered flights provided by Aerolink and Fly Uganda. Booking in advance is required though.
As earlier mentioned, the drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park depends on one’s location. Below are some of the starting points for most travelers visiting the park and the time they are likely to spend on the way;
Drive time to Bwindi from Entebbe and Kampala
From Entebbe, one drives for 1hr17m via the Entebbe Express to Kampala. The drive time to Bwindi from Entebbe and Kampala is roughly 8-10 hours. This long drive is not a boring one though, there are a number of attractions en-route that one can opt to do say the equator water experiment. This drive is a great way for travelers to see Uganda’s countryside as the locals go about their daily life. Frequent stops are also possible, say to use the toilet, stretch and also have lunch. The 8-10 hours of drive time to Bwindi from Entebbe and Kampala, therefore, are worthwhile.
Drive time to Bwindi from Lake Mburo
Most people heading to Bwindi have a stop at Lake Mburo National Park to break the long journey. They get to relax with either a boat ride on the lake or game drive in the park to see lots of zebras or simply relax at the lodge and spend an overnight. The drive time to Bwindi from Lake Mburo is about 6-7 hours.
Drive time to Bwindi from Queen Elizabeth National Park
Travelers who have both Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks have a shorter drive time to experience when heading to Bwindi. Most travelers often have Queen Elizabeth National Park as their first stop to see the country’s wildlife and nature and then continue to Bwindi. The drive time to Bwindi from Queen Elizabeth National Park is roughly 4 hours via the Ishasha sector, the home of the tree-climbing lions.
Drive time to Bwindi from Kigali
Given the long distance from Kampala to Bwindi, travelers and tour operators have resorted to having travelers flying in directly into Kigali International Airport of Rwanda and then transferring to Bwindi via the Cyanika or Katuna border posts. The drive time to Bwindi from Kigali is 4 hours only. The short distance from Kigali International Airport to Bwindi has made it easy for travelers to do 1 day Bwindi forest gorilla trekking from Kigali safaris and also 3 days Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali safaris that can allow a traveler more time to explore the park instead of rushing through. One is required to have visas for both Uganda and Rwanda, but travelers can have an East African Visa that allows entry to the East African countries for up to 30 days.
The drive time to Bwindi, irrespective of where you are starting the journey from is a good opportunity for you to discover Uganda’s countryside. Try sitting it through and you will surely not regret it. Get in touch with us to take you there, and get to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the fullest.
