Getting to Kibale National Park by Air
Getting to Kibale National Park by Air: Travellers planning to visit Kibale Forest National Park by flight, we got you covered because getting to the park for chimpanzee trekking safaris can now be done by flight. This is intended to ease accessibility for those travelers with limited time to have quick access to the park. From Entebbe International Airport, the flight covers 233 km and takes an hour and 15 minutes. With all airport transfers, the total journey takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, making it faster than the road transport, which takes 6 to 7 hours to get to the park. This transport system is mainly preferred by visitors who hate travelling long distances by road, those with limited time, and luxury clients.
There are flights to Kasese and Mweya airstrip, but you need to contact the airline in advance to book your seat. If you are using a local tour operator for your safari, they will calculate the total cost and require a deposit, part of which will go toward booking flights. The flights are scheduled based on your chosen travel dates, month, and year, all sent to the airline company, such as Pearl Sky, Bar Aviation Uganda, or Aerolink Uganda. If seats are available, a payment will be sent to book your seat, allowing you to fly to the park on the stipulated day of the safari.
Travel flights to Kibale Forest National Park
Pearl Sky, Aerolink Uganda, and Bar Aviation Uganda all offer chartered flights to various national parks in Uganda, including Kibale Forest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and many others. Tourists use Mweya airstrip in Queen Elizabeth National Park or Kasese airstrip, as there’s no airstrip in Kibale. Flights take about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Flights to Mweya/Kasese operate three times daily, departing at 0700, 1015, and 1200. During the peak season or dry season, there are three flights; in the rainy season, there are only two due to fewer visitors.
Activities to do on a fly-in safari to Kibale Forest National Park
Trekking chimpanzees
Chimpanzee trekking and habituation are popular activities in Kibale Forest National Park. Tourists want to experience being near apes that are closely related to humans. To participate, you need a chimpanzee trekking permit for one hour or a habituation permit for a full day. Activities begin with a briefing at the Kanyanchu visitor’s center, covering the rules and regulations. Trekking groups are limited to 8 people for trekking and 6 for habituation. Armed ranger guides lead the groups through the jungle to meet and spend time with the chimpanzees.
Nature walks
Kibale Forest National Park offers day and night nature walks for tourists to explore on foot with armed ranger guides. During these walks, visitors can see various mammals, primates, birds, water sources, and plants. One popular walk is to Nyamirima Hill, where tourists can view over five crater lakes.
Birdwatching
On a fly-in safari to Kibale Forest National Park, bird watching is a key activity. The park is known for its rich birdlife, with over 370 species recorded, making it an excellent bird-watching destination. Visitors can watch birds on foot within the forest or at the nearby Bigodi wetland.
Tourists may see various species, including the African emerald cuckoo, yellow-spotted nicator, alpine swift, great blue turaco, little greenbul, tropical boubou, slender-billed weaver, crowned eagle, African wood owl, blue-breasted kingfisher, Cassin’s spinetail, green-breasted pitta, zebra waxbill, papyrus canary, African dusky flycatcher, papyrus gonolek, crowned eagle, blue-breasted kingfisher, and many more.
What is the best time to access Kibale Forest National Park by air?
Tourists can reach Kibale Forest National Park by air anytime, but the dry season is the best time to visit. During this season, the weather is favorable with little rainfall, making flights easier. The park’s trails are dry and accessible, and the short vegetation allows for better views of wildlife.
Tourists can reach Kibale Forest National Park by air in the rainy season if the weather is good. The park remains open year-round, with discounted lodges during this season. However, heavy rain can disrupt flights, and inside the park, tall vegetation makes wildlife viewing difficult, while trails become muddy and slippery.
What to park on your flight safari to Kibale National Park?
Essential items to pack include long sleeved pants and shirts, hiking shoes, water proof jacket, brimmed hat, bottled drinking water, a camera, a binocular, extra batteries, water proof backpacker, chimpanzee trekking or habituation permit, among others.
