Which airports do I fly to see gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda?

Which airport is best for traveling to Rwanda or Uganda to visit gorillas? The country’s sole gorilla trekking locations are Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, both of which are in southwest Uganda. With 19 habituated gorilla families spread among the four sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, Bwindi boasts the largest mountain gorilla population in the world. One habituated gorilla family can be found in Mgahinga National Park, which is accessible to the public for hiking.

There are two ways to travel to Bwindi and Mgahinga: by road or by plane. Getting there is an experience in and of itself. The most popular way to go to the national parks is by car, which takes roughly nine to ten hours. Flying to the national park is a simpler, more costly, but quicker, and more opulent way for visitors who have limited safari time or who want a premium gorilla trek safari.

Every day, charter flights are operated from Kajjansi Airstrip and Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip, Kihihi Airstrip, and the airstrips nearer Bwindi or Mgahinga. Although these airports are nearer Bwindi and Mgahinga, a safari vehicle is required to reach the park’s headquarters.

Airport at Entebbe International

All travelers planning safaris in Uganda use Entebbe International Airport, the country’s sole international airport. A driving guide will be waiting to take you to Kajjansi for your trip to Bwindi or, if you scheduled to travel from Entebbe airport, your flight will still be ready when you land. This is the main entry to Entebbe. Verify that the flight time is correct and don’t be late, as this can negatively impact the safari.

Kajjansi Airport
One of the Ugandan airports where flights to Bwindi and Mgahinga for gorilla trekking are chartered is Kajjansi Airstrip. A few kilometers from the Entebbe International Airport, it is situated along Entebbe Road. You must be on time to guarantee your flight because of the heavy traffic on this route.

The Mission Aviation Fellowship owns the 1550-meter runway at the Kajjansi airport. Kihihi and Kisoro are served by a number of airlines, including Bar Aviation, Aerolink, and Fly Uganda. It is mostly utilized for flying instruction. However, in order to properly plan, they must be reserved, for example, a few days prior to the trek day.

Airport in Kisoro
One of the airports that provides access to Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park is Kisoro Airport, which is situated in Kisoro town. The border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is only a short distance from Kisoro town, which is situated in the southwest of Uganda. In addition to the gorillas, additional tourist attractions in Kisoro include Lake Mutanda and the Virunga Mountains.

The town serves as a center for travelers traveling to Uganda for a gorilla trek. It takes nine to ten hours to drive from Kampala to Kisoro town, which is 500 kilometers away, across Uganda’s picturesque roads. Since it’s only a four-hour drive (about 135 km) from Rwanda, some travelers would rather fly into Rwanda and then continue on to Uganda.

However, travel between Kampala, Bwindi, and Mgahinga is now simple thanks to Kisoro Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority is in charge of overseeing Kisoro Airport. Small charter companies utilize it primarily to transport visitors to neighboring tourist destinations, particularly those who wish to go gorilla trekking in the southern regions of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. Keep in mind that the airport only handles domestic flights; it does not handle international ones.

Domestic flights can be taken from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe International Airport to the airfield. The best way to reach the Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo sections of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park is via Kisoro Airstrip, which is roughly 343 kilometers from Entebbe and takes one to two hours to get to.

Airstrip Kihihi
One of the primary airports in southwest Uganda, Kihihi Airstrip, is used to fly visitors to Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla treks. Flying is a wonderful way to experience a gorilla safari, and the flight to the airstrip takes approximately one and a half hours. The best way to go to Bwindi, particularly the north sector of Buhoma, is via Kihihi Airstrip. Access to Queen Elizabeth National Park is another use for it.

Despite being a small airport, Kihihi is Uganda’s third largest and has the KHX code. Tourists who are traveling by air can easily reach Bwindi, where gorilla trekking is possible, thanks to Kihihi Airstrip. Only domestic flights are able to access the airfield, which is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Your tour guide will arrange for a 4×4 to pick you up after you arrive in Kihihi and transport you to your lodging, which should take approximately an hour. Fly Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Aerolink Uganda are among the firms that offer flights to Kihihi.

Every day, Aerolink offers charter flights to and from Kihihi from Kajjansi Airstrip and Entebbe International Airport. To ensure that the flights are available on the day of your trip, these must be reserved in advance. Find out how much weight you will be carrying and how many passengers the charter plane can accommodate before making your reservation with the airline.

The only reason for a flight delay is a change in the weather. Flights to Kihihi are operated three times a day: in the morning, afternoon, and late afternoon. The wet seasons of March through May and October through November are when this typically occurs. Cheap or discounted flights are an advantage of flying to Bwindi during the rainy season. The flight schedule to Kihihi is shown here, however it is subject to change based on a number of variables, particularly the weather.

Arrival Departure

Seven in the morning to eight forty-five in the morning

Ten minutes before eleven twenty-five in the morning

At 15:00, 2:14 p.m.

Tourists are welcome to utilize Kihihi Airstrip at any time of the year. However, the greatest time to go gorilla trekking is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February.

When traveling to the Buhoma region, Kihihi Airstrip is the finest option; if you are trekking in other areas, Kisoro Airstrip is preferable.

Rwanda

One of the few places where gorilla trekking is practiced is Rwanda. It is situated within the Virunga region’s Volcanoes National Park. Well-maintained safari vehicles are utilized to carry visitors from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, which is around two or two and a half hours away. With ten habituated gorilla families that can trek all year round, volcanoes are home to more than 400 mountain gorillas.

Kigali International Airport
The primary airport and sole point of entry into Rwanda for travelers wishing to go on a gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park is Kigali International Airport. The fact that Rwanda Air is one of the busiest airlines in Africa means that getting to Rwanda from other places is easy. Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, is home to Kigali International Airport, which serves as a one-stop hub for travelers planning safaris and gorilla climbing in Rwanda.

The following airlines are listed as having flights to Rwanda on a regular basis:

KLM
Qatar Air
Turkish Airways
Airways of South Africa
Air Canada
Airlines in Brussels
Precision Air, operated by Kenya Airways
Ethiopian Airlines
United States Airways

The weather and the distance to be traveled determine how long it takes.

Utilizing the code name KGL, Kigali International Airport provides access to Uganda’s Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga National Park. Today, KGL offers nonstop flights, and travelers traveling to Rwanda and Uganda for gorilla treks use the airline.

As you plan your gorilla safari in Rwanda and Uganda, you need to know a few things about gorilla trekking after learning about the airports you may fly into to view gorillas in those countries.

The price of a gorilla permit: Without a permit, no one is permitted to embark on a gorilla trek, hence gorilla permits are necessary. The Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda and the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda issue gorilla permits, which can be purchased directly from the authorities or via your travel agency.

In Rwanda, a gorilla permit costs $1500 for non-resident foreigners, $500 for inhabitants of other African nations, and $300 for people of East Africa. Permits in Uganda are reasonably priced, costing $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and 300,000 UGX for EAC citizens. The gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person, and the practice is also practiced in Bwindi.

Due to their constant high demand, gorilla permits in both nations must be reserved in advance; therefore, travelers are encouraged to do so at least six months in advance.

Rules and procedures for gorilla treks

Similar restrictions and regulations apply to gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, and visitors are expected to abide with them. The minimum age requirement for trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is 15 years old, respectively, as part of regulations put in place to preserve the gorillas.

You must keep seven meters from mountain gorillas, refrain from touching them, make little to no noise when around them, turn off your camera’s light before capturing pictures of the primates, and refrain from eating or drinking while among them. No more than eight persons are allowed to trek a gorilla family each day, and all trash must be disposed of appropriately and not left in national parks.

Things to bring
You must prepare appropriately and be comfortable when gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda. Since this is a jungle, you should expect everything because the terrain varies in the national parks. When preparing for a gorilla safari, you should include neutral-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants, insect repellent, and trek boots that fit comfortably.

Warm socks, a waterproof jacket, sandals, a flashlight with additional batteries, a camera and all of its accessories, including extra batteries, lenses, a tripod, lens cleaners, sunscreen, binoculars, gaiters, gardening gloves, a first aid kit, a refillable water bottle, snacks, and a warm sweater.

When to visit Rwanda and Uganda for gorilla trekking

Because of the favorable weather throughout these months, June through September and December through February are the ideal times of year to visit Rwanda for a gorilla trek safari. Many travelers schedule their gorilla safari around this time, which is often referred to as the dry season.

If you don’t mind a little rain, you may still go gorilla trekking during the wet season, which runs from March to May and October to November, for travelers who want to avoid big crowds and those on a tight budget. Overall, gorilla safari destinations in Rwanda and Uganda are open year-round.

Reasons to make a reservation with us
We will assist you in arranging and organizing your gorilla safari to Rwanda and Uganda at a rate that is affordable, so you should make your reservation with us. Throughout the year, a variety of gorilla safari packages, from affordable to luxurious, are available for selection.