Flying Safaris in Uganda : Many tourists, if not you, dread the road trip that comes with going for a safari. Thankfully, there is a faster and great way to get to your favourite safari in Uganda without the hustles of the road. A flying safari means that you pack fewer things than you do for the road and who wants tonnes of luggage for a trip? Flying also helps you spend more time at the actually safari than on the road. You get to spend time at your accommodation, camps and game drives. You can also tailor more than one safari depending on how long you want to stay. Visit all Uganda’s National Parks without the worry of getting tired from a long road trip. Get a bird eye view of the beautiful Uganda too!
A fly safari typically starts at Entebbe International Airport for most tourists or at Kajjansi airstrip for some. Depending on the time of your landing at Entebbe or the total days of your safari, you can choose to spend a night in any of the luxurious hotels or lodges in Entebbe town. While there, you will understand why Uganda is one of the world’s most hospitable countries. And how about a night with Lake Victoria in sight?
The two main fly safari providers in the country are Aerolink Uganda and Fly Uganda. They both have daily flights to most major parks in Uganda at very reasonable prices. However, like any other flights, you must book at least a day or two in advance to ensure adequate preparations for you. Booking can be done through your preferred tour operator or directly through the preferred aircraft’s website.
Parking for a fly safari in Uganda.
It is advisable that you carry a duffle bag to keep your packing light. The luggage weight limit for a fly safari in the country is 30 pounds so it is important, though understandably difficult to carry only essentials. Depending on you tour operator, your extras will be kept for you at their offices or brought buy vehicle to your safari. This may however mean incurring an extra cost.
National Parks and their different airstrips
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo park is located in the northern part of Uganda in Kaabong district. It is one of Uganda’s major national parks and is quite famous for being isolated. Natural walks, birding, game drives, camps and cultural trails of the Karamojongs and the IK tribes take centre stage at this park.
The nearest by air to Kidepo Valley is Apoka airfield. From Apoka, you can also connect to Pakuba, Chobe and Bugungu airstrips.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
This is arguably the most sought for national park in Uganda. Bwindi is the home of more than half of the remaining world population of Mountain gorillas. On the road, it takes approximately 8 hours to get there from Kampala. While flying, the journey is cut down to more than half the time.
With many entrances to the park, Bwindi has as many access airstrips thankfully. You will land at Kihihi airstrip if you are gorilla trekking in the Buhoma (Northern) sector of the park and Kisoro if you are trekking in the Southern sector.
From both airstrips, you can connect to Mweya, Kasese and Semiliki airstrips.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Home to the climbing lions, Queen Elizabeth National Park is another major safari destination in the country. She is also home to some of the other members of the big 4 and an easy connection to Kibale National Park, Bwindi and Mgahinga.
Queen Elizabeth is also blessed with a number of airstrip connections- Mweya, Kasese and Kihihi airstrips.
Murchison Falls National Park
Another home to the Big 4 and the magnificent Murchison falls, the park is one of the greatest places for a safari. What’s more is that you can also visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking, the fifth member of the” big” animals.
To get to Murchison falls National Park by air, you can go through Pakuba (northern sector), Bugungu (southern sector) or Chobe airstrips.
Kibale National Park
The thick forest, the green that screams to every creature she harbours, the unending list of the life she birthed and the famous chimpanzees are what define Kibale National Park.
Kibale also has a significant list of accessible airstrips and Kasese airstrip is the most known of them all. From Kasese airstrip, you will have a road trip for about one and a half hours to Kibale. But do not frown at the road trip yet; the sight of the beautiful Uganda on your way will make you forget all about it.
You can also use the Semiliki airstrip which also serves as the main airstrip for the Semiliki wildlife reserve.
