Cheapest way to travel from Kampala to Bwindi

Affordable Gorilla trekking holidays in Uganda

Cheapest way to travel from Kampala to Bwindi

Situated in the southern western part of Uganda close to the democratic republic of Congo, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park next to the Virunga national park edging to the Albertine rift.

One can access the park using the road as it is roughly 520 km from Uganda’s capital city Kampala, usually for a traveler to enjoy the journey a 4×4 safari vehicle is recommended as you use the following routes;

From Entebbe international airport/ Kampala to kabala roughly 414 km, which is about 5-8 hours’ drive, the Kabale-kanungu-kanyantorogo down to buhoma region where the park headquarters are found, about 120 km and is a 3-5-hour drive.

You can still opt to more from Kampala-Kabala which is roughly 414 kilometers and then continue to Ruhija and finally to Buhoma that is 95 kilometers and 3-hour drive, from Kampala via Mbarara city close 6 to 8 hours’ drive or from kabala town to the southern just for an hour or two. All the said road routes join/meet at Butogota, a 17 kilometers distance from Buhoma region entrance gate.

There is a daily bus that leaves Kampala for Butogota through the towns of Rukungiri and Kihihi and you can get a taxi from here which takes about 20 kilometers to Buhoma.

However, Nkurungo has no public means unless you have a private vehicle from Kisoro town.

For travelers on self-drive, we advise you to consider a whole day since it is likely to take around 9-10 hours driving on a twisting road.

Drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

The driving time to Bwindi forest subjected to where you come from, in case you’re from Entebbe international airport, it is 9-10-hour drive and if you are from Kigali-Rwanda, it is 3-4-hour drive.

The journey is exciting with scenic views of rolling green steep slopes and hills of kigezi region, the Uganda equator line, road side craft and fresh fruit shops and lake Bunyonyi. The small rivers, changes in vegetation and escarpments before you approach Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, the home to the Mountain Gorillas.

From lake Mburo Ntional park in Kiruhura district, it is roughly 4-5 hours. Some tourists’ companies like a slop over at lake Mburo National park to break the long distance drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. In case you are from Queen Elizabeth national park the drive can last for approximately 5-6 hours via the ishasha section the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park, famous for tree climbing lions, to Kihihi town and proceed to Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

In certain times, the road via ishasha region is so rough and slippery, mostly in the wet season as a result of heavy rainfall and heavy trucks heading to the Democratic republic of Congo get stuck on the road. Another option can be a short cut that drivers use but mostly, you are likely to find yourself in ishaka road, to Rukungiri to Mengo then Kihihi town and finally to the Buhoma region.

Getting at Bwindi forest from Rwanda

Travelers coming from Kigali- Rwanda to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, the Virunga express bus service has different bus routes within Rwanda, so you can board any Virunga bus from any part of Rwanda up to the Kigali city. The Virunga express company have their offices in Nyabugogo taxi park. They also have Virunga express costa buses on routes from Gisenyi, Musanze and Butare each daily from Kigali to Kabale at 3:00pm Rwandan time.

If you are in Musanze (Ruhengeri) board the Matatu to chanika-rwanda-uganda boarder and contact a car rental company or contact us safari vacations and travel services to pick you and continue to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

The southern and the eastern regions of Bwindi impenetrable forest is a decent distance from Kigali international airport or Rwanda.