Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and is home to half of the population of mountain gorillas and 13 other species of primates, including 120 species of mammals.
If you’re planning to drive there; something very common with budget gorilla trekking travelers, you have to know the driving times and distances so that you can plan your trip better ahead of time.
What is the drive time to Bwindi National Park?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four sectors, and the exact driving time cannot be estimated accurately, as some sectors are near and others are far.
It also depends on whether you are traveling from Kampala, the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, or Kigali.
Bwindi can be reached by road from Kampala in 9-10 hours.
The Buhoma sector of Bwindi is about a 6-7 hours’ drive from the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, while the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi National Park can be reached in 4-5 hours from Kigali in Rwanda.
Driving through the Ishasha sector of Queen can be challenging during the rainy season due to poor road conditions.
The road from Kampala is long and tiresome but very rewarding with spectacular views of the countryside and the rift valley.
You can shorten your journey by stopping over at Lake Mburo National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park for other wildlife viewing.
If you are not adventurous, you can fly to Rwanda and then drive a short distance.
Another alternative way of reaching Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, especially for luxury clients, is by using flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip in Bwindi National Park.
Best time to drive to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be reached at any time of the year, but some months are better than others.
The best time is during the dry season when the roads are in good condition and the trails for trekking gorillas are not muddy and slippery.
