Most Uganda safaris travel overland by road, but domestic flights linking Kajjansi Airfield (near Kampala/Entebbe) to park airstrips can save a full day of driving on longer itineraries, or connect two parks without backtracking through the capital.
Main airstrips
- Kajjansi Airfield: the main domestic hub near Kampala and Entebbe, used by most scheduled light-aircraft operators.
- Kihihi Airstrip: serves the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
- Kisoro Airstrip: serves the Nkuringo and Rushaga sectors of Bwindi, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, in the far southwest.
- Pakuba Airstrip: serves Murchison Falls National Park, on the park’s northern side near the Victoria Nile.
- Mweya Airstrip: serves Queen Elizabeth National Park, close to the Kazinga Channel.
- Kasese Airstrip: serves the Rwenzori Mountains and the western approach to Queen Elizabeth.
- Kidepo (Apoka) Airstrip: serves Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda’s most remote park in the northeast, where flying saves a full day’s drive each way from Kampala.
- Semuliki Airstrip: serves Semuliki National Park and the Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve in the west.
Planning a fly-in route
Flying is most valuable for combining Kidepo Valley with other parks, or for travellers short on time who still want to cover Bwindi gorilla trekking and a savannah park such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls in one itinerary. Luggage allowances on light aircraft vary by operator, aircraft and route. Confirm the current soft-bag size and weight limit directly with the operating carrier before packing.
Flying into Uganda
Fly-in safaris cut hours of driving into a short scheduled or chartered flight between parks. Talk to us about adding fly-in connections to your route, or browse our safari packages for itineraries built around them.
When flying beats driving in Uganda
Uganda's roads are good on the main routes, but distances are long and the last stretch to the forest is slow. Driving from Entebbe to Bwindi takes most of a day, and Kidepo is further. A light aircraft cuts either to under two hours in the air. Flying makes most sense for the gorilla leg, for Kidepo, and for travellers with only four or five days. See our gorilla tours and safari duration guide page.
How domestic flights work
Scheduled and charter flights depart from Kajjansi Airfield and sometimes Entebbe, and fly to airstrips near the parks. Scheduled flights follow set days and times, while charters are flexible but cost more. Flights are weather dependent in the wet months, so we build in buffer time. Flights seat a few passengers, so seats sell out for the dry seasons, and baggage is limited to a soft bag, so pack light. Always confirm the current baggage limit with the operator.
Which airstrip for which park
Kihihi serves the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors of Bwindi, and Kisoro serves Nkuringo, Rushaga and Mgahinga. Pakuba or the airstrip near Murchison Falls serves the northern bank of the Nile, Mweya serves Queen Elizabeth, Kasese serves Rwenzori, Apoka serves Kidepo, and a small strip serves Semuliki. Our Bwindi sectors guide explains which sector fits your permit, because this decides the airstrip.
Sample fly-in routes
A four day route flies from Kajjansi to Kihihi or Kisoro for a gorilla trek and returns. A six day route adds a chimpanzee day at Kibale by road. A ten day route flies to Kidepo, flies back, then drives to Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth. A luxury route pairs two flights with a night in a lodge near the trailhead. Read our luxury accommodation in Uganda page for lodges linked to each airstrip.
Safety, weather and delays
Light aircraft operators in Uganda follow national aviation rules and fly in daylight on visual conditions. Mist and rain can delay morning flights at the forest strips, so we avoid tight connections. Do not schedule an international flight on the evening after a domestic one. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is worth having. Read our health and safety page.
Mixing flights and roads
Many travellers fly one way and drive the other, seeing the countryside on the road and saving a day with a flight. A common pattern is to drive out through Kibale and Queen Elizabeth and fly back from Kihihi or Kisoro. We tell you the length of each road leg before you decide. See our national parks of Uganda page for how the parks line up.
What a flight to the forest is like
The flight from Kajjansi to Kihihi or Kisoro takes about an hour to ninety minutes, and the aircraft flies low enough to show lakes, tea estates and the Bwindi ridges. Landing strips are short and grassy. A lodge driver meets you at the strip, and you are at your lodge within an hour. Flights suit nervous travellers poorly, so ask us about road options.
Packing for small aircraft
Bring a soft duffel, not a hard case, and keep the weight near the operator's limit, usually about 15 kg per person including hand luggage. Leave spare bags at your Entebbe hotel or in a vehicle that will meet you at the end. Photographers should carry lenses in a day bag, since the limit applies to the whole bag and cameras are heavy. Wear your trekking boots on the plane to save weight.
Scheduled flights and charters compared
Scheduled flights are cheaper per seat, but days and times are fixed, and a missed connection costs a day. Charters leave when you want and can combine two strips in one trip, but the whole aircraft is paid for, so they suit groups and luxury travellers. For a couple, a scheduled flight is usually enough. We price both and show the difference inside one total.
Questions to ask about any flight
Ask which airstrip and which terminal, how much luggage is allowed, what happens in bad weather, and whether the return flight is protected if the outbound is delayed. We ask these on your behalf and put the answers in writing. See our gorilla tours and Uganda gorilla tours pages for trips built around flights.
Booking flights and permits together
Gorilla permits fix the date, so book flights after the permit is confirmed. If the flight is delayed, the permit is lost, so arrive a day early. Flights to Kihihi and Kisoro depart in the morning and return in the afternoon, so the trek day is the day after landing. We hold seats while the permit is confirmed and tell you the risks in writing.
