Accessibility between Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Parks.
Bwindi national park has a magnetic force that pulls tourists towards its pristine forces due to the rare apes found within. Whether it is by road or flight, tourists can’t miss the sight of these amazing beauties. The connection between Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth national park is easy because they are both found in the south western part of the country.
Take a flight.
The long hours spent on the bumpy roads are tiring hence tourists who can afford traveling by air can choose to fly to their destination and also chance on spending less hours traveling. There are several airstrips that serve both parks including Kihiihi and Kisoro airstrip in Bwindi National Park while Queen Elizabeth National Park is served by Mweya, Ishasha and Kasese airstrips.
Kasese to Kihiihi airstrip.
A flight to Kihiihi sets off from Entebbe is operated by Aerolink and has 3 flights in a day. The first flight sets off at 7:00 am and by 8:45 am, the second flight sets off at 10:15 am to 11:25 am and the last one from 12 to 2:45 PM. Usually, the flight is about 40 minutes to one hour and a half.
Fly to Kisoro airstrip in southern Bwindi National Park.
Taking this flight will lead one to the wonders of southern Bwindi in about one hour and the flight sets from Kasese at about 10:00 am.
Connect on a road transfer through Kanungu and Kabale districts.
Driving to Kabale is quite a long journey because of the long hours spent on the road but the fabulous sceneries met along the way leave tourists wanting more. There are various routes that can be used while driving from Queen Elizabeth National Park; one takes you through Butogota area which is just a few miles away from Buhoma – northern sector of Bwindi National Park.
The most popular route is the Kasese-Kanungu-Buhoma route. This bumpy ride takes tourists through a myriad of adventurous sceneries like the various ways of life in different communities, enjoying the lush Maramagambo forest, tourists get to pass through the surrounding national parks among others. Taking over 3 hours on the road, this is the favorite of all routes as one connects from Queen Elizabeth national park to Bwindi national park.
Brief description of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The collection of natural wonders found in the prestigious premises of the park make it the most visited national park in the country. Located in the south western part of Uganda, the park covers 1978 square km. The medley of joy has 600 bird species and 95 mammals that roam in its forests, grasslands and woodlands including the big 4 mammals – lions, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos.
The park has a vast beauty like the chimpanzees that are trekked within Kyambura Gorge, lust on the tree climbing lions that are a major attraction in the park. A boat cruise shouldn’t also be missed along the Kazinga channel. Katwe explosion, crater lakes, Lake Edward and George are the wonders that shouldn’t be missed while in this wonderful park.
Brief Description of Bwindi National Park
The word Bwindi Impenetrable clearly explains what the park is made of as the term Bwindi means darkness. The forests of this park have a long history of being impassable. The park is located in the southern part of the park and covers over 3200 hectares. The park has about 163 tree species, 104 ferns and 1000 flowering plants.
The park has over 8 primate species with the best of all attractions being mountain gorillas. It also has a collection of attractions that include falls like Munyanga, Rivers, Birds, cultural tours, cycling among other activities.
Bwindi National Park, among other activities is mostly famed for gorilla trekking safaris as it is a host to the largest number of habituated gorilla families worldwide, followed by Rwanda and D.R. Congo respectively.
Wondering what else is there to see in Uganda?
- Kibale National Park
Taking the western route leads one to the capital of primates. This glorious park has over 1500 chimpanzees but also tourists get to enjoy the sights of other primates like red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys among others.
- Uganda Wildlife Education Centre
Just after landing in the country, tourists can choose to visit this historic wildlife center, found in the heart of Entebbe. The center is a collection of all the wild animals that are found in the country. Getting a glimpse of what most national parks have, tourists enjoy sights from lions, zebras, buffaloes, and cheetahs.
- The equator landmark in Kayabwe and Mpambire drum village
While in Kayabwe, tourists shouldn’t miss experiencing being in two different parts of the world at the same time. Taking pictures in this iconic place is a must on the to-do list of tourists, buy souvenirs from the cultural shops around, feel lighter than normal and watch the magic of the water at the equator.
Mpambire is the oldest area in Buganda that makes amazing cultural drums. Touring this village exposes all sorts of drums from large to small making different interesting sounds.
- Lake Mburo National Park
Tourists shouldn’t miss an en route to this amazingly small park because it holds the pride of being the center of all national parks found in the western region. While in the park, tourists can enjoy a boat cruise, watch fishermen do what they best know, and gaze at a number of wildlife like bushbucks, Impalas, Kobs, Buffaloes and all the dazzling features that their eyes can land on.
- Amabere Ga’nyinamwiru caves
The folk stories associated with this naturally crafted landmark shouldn’t be missed by tourists. These stalactites and stalagmite rocks should not be left out because they have an impressive view of breast like rocks making it amazing.
