One of the most popular national parks in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, offers flying safaris. The national park is situated in the Kisoro, Rukiga, and Kanungu districts in southwest Uganda. It draws thousands of tourists since it is home to the greatest number of mountain gorillas in the world and a destination for Batwa traditional experiences. Because mountain gorillas are thought to be closely related to humans, tourists fantasize of spending time with them.

The fastest way for visitors to get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a by flying safari. Luxury travelers and people who hate long-distance travel do these. Tours from Entebbe/Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park take 10 to 11 hours, whereas flying there takes roughly 3 hours.

Flying to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

There are two sectors in the north and two in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The two airstrips, Kisoro and Kihihi, are used by tourists who plan to fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park; which one to use depends on the sector they are visiting.

Tourists traveling to Buhoma and Ruhija sectors in the north use Kihihi Airport, while those traveling to Nkuringo and Rushaga use Kisoro Airport. It takes a while to get to lodges from these airstrips, depending on the type of roads and the driver’s speed.

Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip are typically the starting points for flights to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. There are several airlines in the country that assist travelers in getting to their desired locations. Our available airlines in Uganda are Aerolink Uganda, Kampala Executive Aviation, and Bar Aviation Uganda.

Travelers can fly from Entebbe International Airport/Kajjansi Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airports in one to two hours. Depending on the lodges’ location, the driver’s speed, and the type of roads, it can take a few hours to go from the airstrip to the lodges. After engaging in activities in Bwindi, visitors can still use the same airports and airlines to return to Entebbe.

When is the most appropriate time to fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park?

The best times to fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are during the driest months of the year. Flying safaris to Bwindi is preferred from June to September and December to February, when there is less rainfall. The roads leading to the park are in good shape, and there are no delays in flights.

The hiking pathways in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are passable and dry, making it easier for hikers to move around while hunting for birds or mountain gorillas. Because the jungles’ flora is sparse and short, visitors can clearly see the mountain gorillas and other park attractions.

What to do on a flying safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park?

Trekking mountain gorillas

The world’s largest population of mountain gorillas is found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Due to the fact that the endangered mountain gorillas are thought to share more than 98% of their DNA with humans, the park has seen an enormous number of visitors from all over the world. Most visitors to Bwindi engage in standard mountain gorilla tracking, while some choose the four-hour excursion known as “gorilla habituation.”

A gorilla permit is a document that permits visitors to spend one or four hours with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Tourists who have a gorilla permit travel early in the morning to the sector headquarters, where they are met by armed rangers who provide them with information on the activities.

Following the instruction at the park headquarters, tourists and armed ranger guides proceed to the tracking starting points and enter the dense forest to look for potential mountain gorilla locations. Trekkers have the chance to encounter many wildlife species in the park while searching along several paths.

Trekkers finally find the mountain gorilla family they have been searching for for four hours. In a typical gorilla trip, trekkers are allowed to spend an hour with the mountain gorillas, taking pictures and films of them as they go about their everyday lives. Trekkers are allowed to spend four hours with mountain gorillas to help them become accustomed to human presence.

Birding

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the greatest places to see birds, with more than 350 different species. Birdwatchers can participate in the thrilling birding activities in several park locations during a flying safari, giving them the chance to see as many different bird species as possible. In Bwindi, the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors are the main locations for bird watching.

Birdwatching in Bwindi offers the chance to see a variety of birds, including the majestic sunbird, black bee-eater, green-headed oriole, Shelley’s crimsonwing, black-billed turaco, brown-capped weaver, Grauer’s broadbill, Ladgen’s bush shrike, Archer’s robin chat, Willard’s sooty boubou, and Neumann’s warbler, to name a few.

Batwa cultural experience

Following mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, one can engage in a Batwa cultural experience. Tourists can visit the Batwa people’s homes in the evening to engage with them and observe how they go about their daily lives. The Batwa are skilled performers who sing and dance for the visitors. They also share their history of living in the bush and the difficulties they continue to face.