Two international airports serve the gorilla parks. Which one you fly into affects your permit price, your driving time and, on a short trip, whether the itinerary works at all.
- Uganda
- Entebbe International (EBB), 40 km from Kampala
- Rwanda
- Kigali International (KGL), 20 mins from the city
- Kigali to Bwindi
- 4–5 hrs by road
- Entebbe to Bwindi
- 9–10 hrs by road, ~1 hr 15 by air
- Kigali to Volcanoes NP
- 2–2.5 hrs by road
- Internal baggage
- 15 kg per person, soft bags only
Which airport
Kigali is the efficient choice for short trips. It is two hours from Volcanoes National Park and four to five from Bwindi's southern sectors, which means you can trek in Uganda on an US$800 permit while keeping Rwanda's transfer times. This is the routing we book most.
Entebbe is the right choice for longer Uganda safaris that take in Murchison, Kibale and Queen Elizabeth, and for any itinerary using internal flights.
Airlines
Both airports are served from Europe, the Gulf and Africa — RwandAir and Uganda Airlines regionally, with Qatar, Emirates, Turkish, KLM, Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian and Kenya Airways among the long-haul and connecting options. Kigali generally has the better schedule; Entebbe has improved considerably.
Internal flights in Uganda
| Airstrip | Serves | From Entebbe |
|---|---|---|
| Kihihi | Bwindi — Buhoma and Ruhija | ~1 hr 15 |
| Kisoro | Bwindi — Rushaga and Nkuringo; Mgahinga | ~1 hr 15 |
| Mweya / Kasese | Queen Elizabeth; Kibale | ~1 hr |
| Pakuba / Chobe | Murchison Falls | ~1 hr |
| Kidepo | Kidepo Valley | ~2 hrs |
The baggage limit is 15 kg per person including hand luggage, in soft-sided bags. Hard cases are refused. Entebbe hotels store what you leave behind, and excess can usually be purchased.
Road transfers
Every itinerary we run uses a private 4x4 with an employed driver-guide, except the shared budget departure. Roads are tarmac between the major towns and murram on the final approaches into Ruhija, Nkuringo and parts of Rushaga, where a 4x4 stops being optional in the rains.
We do not drive long distances after dark. It is the single largest avoidable risk on a safari and we build itineraries so it does not arise.
Helicopters
In Rwanda, Kigali to Musanze takes about 25 minutes by helicopter against two hours by road, and a Kigali–Kisoro leg removes the border crossing entirely. Available on request and priced per aircraft rather than per person — see the 7-day luxury itinerary.
Questions
Frequently asked
Should I fly into Entebbe or Kigali for gorilla trekking?
Kigali for trips of five days or fewer, or for Rwanda's park. Entebbe for longer Uganda safaris and anything using internal flights. See Uganda vs Rwanda.
What is the baggage limit on Uganda's internal flights?
15 kg per person including hand luggage, in soft-sided bags. Hard suitcases are not accepted.
What happens if an internal flight is cancelled?
Weather delays are usually short. We keep a road contingency for every fly-in itinerary and never schedule an internal flight to connect same-day with an international departure without a buffer.
Next
Keep planning
- Visas and entry — before you book flights
- 3-day fly-in gorilla safari — the fly-in option
- Uganda vs Rwanda — which airport, which permit
- Travel advice — the rest of the practicalities