The cheapest way to travel to Bwindi from Entebbe is by road. The drive from Entebbe to Bwindi Forest national park will typically last 9 – 10 hours. You’ll need to hire/rent a descent 4×4 vehicle, and we also recommend hiring an experienced driver-guide to safely navigate both the traffic and bad roads that lead to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located approximately 500km/310mi from Entebbe. The drive from Entebbe to Bwindi typically lasts 9 – 10 hours. The best style in which to drive/cover this long journey si by breaking the drives with some en-route stops like the famous equator stop at Kayabwe (approximately 2hours from Entebbe). Here you can stop for souvenir shopping, coffee/tea break, or even photography – remember to get your photo taken at the equator. After the stop at the equator, you should plan to proceed with your second leg of the drive that should break in Mbarara for lunch.
From Mbarara, depending on which region of Bwindi Forest you are visiting you’ll follow these routes;
- Buhoma region; From Mbarara, you’ll continue onwards to Ntungamo town, and then lookout for a distinct right turn onto Ntungamo – Rukungiri highway for 50km. From Rukungiri town, continue onto the Kambuga – Kihihi road which is a dirt road for about 48km/30miles – a journey that will take you about 1hour 30minutes to get to Kihihi town. From Kihihi to the Buhoma region, you’ll need to plan an extra hour and a half (1hr30mins) of off-road driving before you finally arrive Buhoma Region (Northern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park).
- Ruhija region: From Mbarara, you’ll follow the Mbarara – Ntungamo – Kabale highway. When you get to Kabale (your last commercial town – remember to fill up the gas or replenish your supplies). From Kabale town, you will drive for about 25kms/15miles and follow the signage on your right for another 1hr 30minutes before arriving at the Ruhija Gorilla trekking Region.
- Rushaga region: From Mbarara, you follow the Mbarara – Ntungamo to Kabale highway. From Kabale town, you drive towards Muko and look out for an open junction as you navigate the sharp turn at Muko (02 km/01miles from Kabale town along the Kabale-Kisoro road) and drive for 16 km/10miles on a dirt road to get to the Rushaga Region. This is the best, fastest, or rather easiest route to the Rushaga sector.
- Nkuringo Region: From Mbarara you’ll follow Mbarara – Ntungamo to Kabale highway. From Kabale town, you drive towards Muko and look out for an open junction as you navigate the sharp turn at Muko (02 km/01miles from Kabale town along the Kabale-Kisoro road) and drive for 36 km/22miles on a dirt road to get to the Nkuringo Region.
For whichever route you choose to take to your designated gorilla trekking region (check your gorilla Permits for clarity) we recommend starting your drive as early as 06:30 am so as to get to your destination before sunset. Refrain from driving at night.
- While a great section of this drive is on paved road, the last sections are on loose surface dirt roads which can be challenging to navigate both in dry & wet conditions, especially for first-time self-drive travelers not familiar with driving on such roads.
- While DIY (Do it yourself) is common, we recommend booking your trip to Bwindi Forest National Park with a trusted and experienced local tour operator like Realm Africa Safaris™. We will provide you with an experienced local driver guide familiar with driving on Ugandan roads to accompany you on this trip. You are better safe than sorry. Cheapest way to travel to Bwindi from Entebbe
