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

Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda: To see the gorillas in Rwanda or Ugand, which airport should I travel to? Gorilla trekking in Uganda can only be done in two parks—Bwindi Impenetarable National Park in the southwest and Mgahinga National Park in the northwestern.

With 19 habituated gorilla families spread among the four sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, Bwindi has the world’s largest mountain gorilla population. One habituated gorilla family welcomes visitors on trekking tours in Mgahinga National Park.

Bwindi and Mgahinga are an adventure to reach by car or air. Road travel is the most common way to reach national parks, taking 9–10 hours. Flying to the national park is simpler, more costly, and shorter for those with less time or who desire a premium gorilla trek safari.

Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip provide daily charter flights to Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kisoro, and Kihihi airstrips. These airstrips are closer to Bwindi and Mgahinga, however, the park headquarters needs a safari vehicle.

International Airport Entebbe | Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

Only Entebbe International Airport is utilized by all safari travelers in Uganda. The main entry to Entebbe is where a driver guide will meet you and transport you to Kajjansi for your trip to Bwindi or to Entebbe airport, where your flight will be ready. Be on schedule for your flight to prevent a safari setback.

Kajjansi Airstrip

Uganda’s Kajjansi Airstrip charters flights to Bwindi and Mgahinga for gorilla trekking. It is a few kilometers from Entebbe International Airport on Entebbe Road. This route has heavy traffic, therefore be on early to catch your flight.

Mission Aviation Fellowship owns the 1550-meter Kajjansi airport runway. Bar Aviation, Aerolink, and Fly Uganda fly to Kihihi and Kisoro for flying instruction. Still, they must be scheduled a few days before the hike for good preparation.

Kisoro Airport

You may fly to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks from Kisoro Airport. Kisoro, in southern Uganda, is minutes from the DRC-Rwanda border. Lake Mutanda, the Virunga Mountains, and gorilla treks make Kisoro a popular tourist destination.

It takes 9–10 hours to drive 500 kilometers from Kampala to Kisoro town via Uganda’s picturesque highways. Because it’s just a four-hour drive from Rwanda (approximately 135km), some visitors prefer flying into Rwanda and then to Uganda.

Kampala, Bwindi, and Mgahinga are easily accessible thanks to Kisoro Airport. Civil Aviation Authority runs Kisoro Airport. It is mostly used by small charter planes that carry visitors to surrounding sites, notably gorilla trekking in southern Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park. Note that the airstrip only handles domestic planes.

Domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip reach the airstrip. Kisoro Airstrip, 343 kilometers from Entebbe and 1–2 hours, is excellent for accessing Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park’s Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo sections.

Kihihi Airport
One of the primary airstrips in southern Uganda for gorilla treks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park is Kihihi. Flying to the airfield on a gorilla safari is pleasant and takes around an hour and 45 minutes. Bwindi, notably the north section of Buhoma, is easiest reached via Kihihi Airstrip. It also opens Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Although tiny, Kihihi is Uganda’s 3rd biggest airfield and operates under the KHX code. Kihihi airfield connects air visitors to Bwindi, where gorillas may be walked. The Civil Aviation Authority manages the airfield, which exclusively accepts domestic aircraft.

Upon arrival in Kihihi, your tour guide will organize a 4×4 to transport you to your lodging facility, which takes around an hour. Kihihi flights are operated by Aerolink Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Fly Uganda.

Daily Aerolink charters fly from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi and return. Still, they must be purchased in advance to ensure flight availability on your trip day. Find out the charter plane’s weight and capacity before booking with the carrier.

Flights to Kihihi are available in the morning, afternoon, and late afternoon, and only weather may delay them. This occurs throughout the wet season, March–May, and October–November. Cheaper fares are available for Bwindi flights during the rainy season. Weather and other variables affect the flight schedule to Kihihi.

Departure Arrival

7:00 am 8:45 am

10:15 am 11:25 am

15:00 2:14 pm.

No matter the season, travelers may utilize Kihihi Airstrip. Gorilla trekking is greatest in the dry season, June–September, and December–February.

Kihihi Airstrip is excellent for Buhoma and Kisoro for other hiking areas.

Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the few gorilla trekking sites. The Virunga region’s Volcanoes National Park contains it. The airport to Volcanoes National Park is roughly 2 or 2 and a half hours from Kigali in well-maintained safari vehicles. Volcanoes feature about 400 mountain gorillas and 10 habituated families that hike year-round.

International airport Kigali
The only way to enter Rwanda for gorilla safaris to Volcanoes National Park is via Kigali International Airport. Rwanda Air is one of the most active African airlines, thus you may easily fly to Rwanda from other countries. The Rwandan capital, Kigali, is home to Kigali International Airport, a one-stop shop for gorilla trekking and other safaris.

Airlines that fly to Rwanda include:

KLM
Qatar Airways
Turkish Airlines
South African Airways
Air Canada
Brussels Airlines
Kenya Airways Precision Air
Ethiopia Airways
US Airways
Travel time varies on distance and weather. Volcanoes, Bwindi Impenetrable, and Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda may be reached from Kigali International Airport (KGL). Tourists trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda utilize KGL’s nonstop flights.

After learning about the airports you may travel to visit gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, you need to know a few gorilla trekking basics to organize your trip.

Gorilla licenses cost money: Without permission, you can’t hike gorillas. Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board gorilla permits may be purchased directly from the governments or via travel operators.

Rwandan gorilla permits cost $1500 for international non-residents, $500 for other Africans, and $300 for East Africans. Foreign non-residents pay $800, foreign residents $700, and EAC nationals 300,000 UGX for permission in Uganda. Bwindi allows gorilla habituation for $1500 per person.

Since gorilla permits in both nations are in great demand, travelers should reserve them at least six months in advance.

Gorilla trekking restrictions

Uganda and Rwanda have comparable gorilla trekking guidelines that guests must obey. To preserve gorillas, Rwanda and Uganda have minimum trekking ages of 15 and 15. You cannot eat or drink with mountain gorillas, maintain 7 meters between you and them, avoid touching them, make little or no noise, and turn off your camera light before taking images of them. All waste is intended to be disposed of appropriately and not left in the national parks and a maximum of 8 persons are to hike a gorilla family every day.

What to bring for your gorilla trekking safari

Comfort and proper packing are essential for Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking. As a jungle, national parks have various terrains, so anticipate anything. For a gorilla safari, take neutral-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants, bug-repellent, and comfortable walking boots. A flashlight with spare batteries, warm socks, a waterproof jacket, sandals, a camera, and all photographic equipment like additional batteries, lenses, tripod, lens cleaners, sunscreen, binoculars, gaiters, gardening gloves, first aid kit, refillable water bottle, snacks, and warm sweater.

When to gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda | Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla hike safaris in Rwanda are excellent from June to September and December to February because of the nice weather. The dry season is when many people go on gorilla safaris. Gorilla trekking is still possible in March-May and October–November during the rainy season for budget-conscious travelers who don’t mind the rain. Rwanda and Uganda provide year-round gorilla safaris.

Why book with us |Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

You should book with us because we will help you plan and book a cheap Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safari. You may pick from affordable to premium gorilla safari programs year-round.

Visit our website and contact us for gorilla trekking and flying to Rwanda or Uganda.