How Far is Queen Elizabeth National Park from Entebbe
How Far is Queen Elizabeth National Park from Entebbe: Queen Elizabeth National Park is a popular destination that can be accessed from Entebbe International Airport using both air and road means of transport. The park enjoys a fabulous Rift Valley Setting located between the two water bodies of Lake Edward and Lake George, at the foot of the snow-capped Mountain Rwenzori. Queen Elizabeth National Park is found in the western part of Uganda in the western part of the East African Rift Valley along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park stretches to over 1978 square kilometers and is bordered by several districts that include Rubirizi, Rukungiri, Kamwenge, and Kasese. However, to understand the distance covered between Entebbe International Airport, Kampala, and the park majorly depends on the mode of transport used. These transport modes include air and road means of transport, either through tour operators like Caracal Explorers, self-drive, or by bus.
Accessing Queen Elizabeth National Park
A flight from Entebbe International Airport can take about 1:15 minutes to Mweya Airstrip in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, or fly to Kasese Airstrip and then connect to the park by road. After landing at Mweya Airstrip, you will connect to the lodge on the peninsula or transfer to other accommodation choices.
Alternatively, you can exercise a little from Mweya Airstrip within less than 10 minutes to Mweya lodge, which is quite interesting. However, travellers who use air transport will access the park faster and more efficiently, and conduct activities on time.
By road, from Entebbe International Airport, it takes about 440 kilometers to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park, and travellers can access the park using different routes. About a 7-8-hour drive from Entebbe, you can head southwards using the Masaka- Mbarara Highway to Rubirizi via the Bushenyi districts and access the park. Alternatively, you may opt to use the Mityana-Mubende Highway, which is slightly longer, connecting to Fort Portal and then Kasese District, connecting to the park.
More still, you can access the park either by self-drive or by special hire that will pick you from Entebbe International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. However, if you opt to use public transport, you will drive to the bus park in Kampala, where the bus will take about 8 hours up to the park headquarters at Katunguru, after which you can link to your booked lodge by using a special hire.
Accessing the park through the self-drive makes your safari adventure quite exciting and unforgettable, due to the country’s natural beauty, landscapes, cultural encounters, and several attractions. You will drive from Kampala southwards to the Masaka-Mbarara highway to Mbarara city, then drive to Kasese through Bushenyi and Rubirizi to Kasese District.
This drive will take you about 7 hours, which is less compared to using public transportation. However, some travellers may opt to drive via Rukungiri and then connect to the park using the Ishasha road.
Some travellers may find using road transport a little hectic and challenging based on several factors, like hatred for travelling long distances, privacy, and having a tight schedule, among others. However, such visitors miss a lot! Road transport offers you opportunities to enjoy the countryside’s breathtaking views, interact with the local communities, gaze at wildlife alongside the road, and visit roadside markets, among others. This amazing experience can hardly make you get bored, due to the fact that you are always entertained with unique attractions and experiences. More still, the stunning landscape of western Uganda makes it miraculous as visitors will enjoy its exciting beauty of terraced hills, plantations, scenic Bunyaruguru crater lakes, among others, as they approach the park.
Based on the above experiences, road transport offers numerous advantages; however, air transport means still hold an upper hand as the quickest mode of transport to access different tourism destinations in Uganda, including Queen Elizabeth National Park, making its accessibility easier.
In contrast to road transport, using air transport means is not hectic, but visitors will miss out on the eye-catching views to can be seen by those using road transport. Therefore, the choice of selection remains yours as a traveller based on your budget, time frame, and experience too whether you travel by air transport or road transport.
However, for visitors who focus on research, with a deeper understanding and exploration of Uganda’s rich culture, wildlife and rolling landscapes, among others, it’s advisable to opt for road transport since it will offer you a once in a life time safari experience. Some of these activities to do include game drives, chimpanzee trekking, boat launch, birdwatching, predator tracking, sightseeing, and nature walks, among others.
Conclusion
The distance and duration covered from Entebbe International Airport to Queen Elizabeth National Park are primarily determined by the mode of transport you opt for, such as air and road transport. Therefore, travellers planning to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park should know that the park offers an unforgettable adventure experience, with exciting activities that are likely to leave an indelible mark on your lifetime safari.
