Drive Time / Road Distances in Uganda

As you plan a self drive trip in Uganda, it is very important to know the drive time / road distances from one destination to another.

Drive Time To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The driving time to Bwindi depends on where you come from. If you are from Kigali, Rwanda, its 3-4 hours drive while from Kampala or Entebbe Airport, it is 8 -9 hours drive. The journey is amazing as it enables visitors view the rolling hills of Kigezi region, Lake Bunyonyi, the Uganda Equator, road side craft and fresh fruit shops. The changes in vegetation, rivers and escarpments before reaching Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – the home of mountain gorillas. In terms of kilometers, from Kampala to Bwindi is 550 kilometers on a very good road (highway). However, off the main road to the park requires a 4×4 jeep especially during wet seasons.

From Lake Mburo national park in Kiruhura district, it’s approximately 5-6 hours. Some tour operators prefer stopping over in Lake Mburo to break the long distance to Bwindi National park. From Queen Elizabeth National Park (the second Largest park in Uganda), the driving duration is approximately 5-6 hours passing through ishasha section (the territory of the tree climbing lions) of the park, to Kihihi town and then Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

It should be noted that, the road through Ishasha sector is impassable most especially in rainy seasons when bridges tend to breakdown partly due to heavy down power and heavy tracks going to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Alternatively, you can use a short cut that drivers use but in most cases, you might find yourself using the Ishaka road then Rukungiri to Nengo and then Kihihi and lastly to Buhoma.

Kampala To Kibale National Park

Visitors interested in Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park can get there in approximately 5-6 hours from Entebbe international Airport or Kampala city. Because it is approximately 350 kilometers. From Bwindi, it is approximately 6-7 hours through Ishasha Section then to Kasese, Fort portal and then to Kibale National Park. There is an alternative route used especially if you are coming from Lake Mburo National Park. Instead of driving back to Kampala or to Kasese, you can use Ibanda road which will take you through Kamwengye then to Kibale National Park.

Drive through Kibale Forest

Kampala To Queen Elizabeth National Park

This park is popular for not only tree climbing lions in Ishasha but also the popular boat cruise on Kazinga Channel which has the highest concentration of Hippos in Africa plus over 600 species of birds. From Kampala, you drive a distance of 460 kms / approximately 6-7 hours. From Bwindi, it takes 2-3 hours and you will be in Ishasha and if you drive an extra two hours, you will be in the Mweya sector which is in the northern part of the park

Kampala To Semliki National Park

The nearest route is through Mubende, Kyenjojo to Fort portal, takes about 5-7hrs. Others prefer to use Masaka-Mbarara route through Kasese, and this takes over 8hrs. Semuliki National Park’s Sempaya Gate is 59km from Fort Portal. The park headquarters at Ntandi is 6km further along the road.

Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park

This is the largest and oldest park in Uganda. It is famous for the magnificent Murchison Falls where the park derives its name. Among the popular animals include Giraffes, African Lion, Elephants, Buffaloes and over 300 bird species. The fantastic boat cruise to the bottom of the falls rewards you with fantastic game viewing, herds of buffaloes, elephants and huge Nile crocodiles seen basking along the shores.

Kampala to Masindi is 210km (Approximately 3hrs drive), and about 80 km into the park from Masindi (Approximately 90 minutes drive)

Murchison Falls

Kampala to Kidepo Valley National Park

This is one of the most interesting tourist destinations in Uganda, located in the north Eastern part of the country on south Sudan boarder. Kampala to Kitgum Via Masindi is 435km (appro 6hrs drive on a very good road).

Game Drive in Kidepo Valley N.P

Kitgum to Kidepo Valley National park is about 2hr drive on a murram road.