Bwindi Airstrips

Accessing Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by road involves long travel hours, limited route options, and unpredictable delays. For time-conscious itineraries, flying remains the most reliable alternative.

Two domestic airstrips serve as key air access points to Bwindi: Kihihi in the north and Kisoro in the south. Both lie within strategic reach of gorilla trekking zones and are operational year-round for scheduled and chartered flights.

Tour operators, pilots, and lodge managers consistently coordinate around these airstrips. Their functionality supports not only luxury safaris but also fieldwork, conservation logistics, and government missions in the region.

Over the past decade, improvements in domestic aviation have expanded daily departures and streamlined passenger handling. Entebbe now connects to both airstrips with regular morning flights.

What are the Bwindi Airstrips?

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority licenses both Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips for domestic passenger flights to the Bwindi sector. Each supports aircraft up to 19-seater capacity.

They serve as fixed-wing alternatives to road transfers from Entebbe International Airport, reducing a 10-hour drive to just over one hour of flying time.

Flights to both are scheduled through Aerolink Uganda, operating from Entebbe with standard departures around 0700 hours. Other providers offer charters upon request.

These airstrips are not within the park boundary but are located close enough for immediate safari pickup and transfer.