Kihihi Airstrip in Uganda
Kihihi Airstrip in Uganda
Kihihi Airstrip in Uganda is a small but significant landing site that serves as a gateway for travelers headed to two of the country’s most prized tourist destinations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National Park, as well as Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kihihi Airstrip, a non-commercial airstrip, plays a strategic role by providing easy and fast connectivity to Uganda’s most remote and biodiverse regions, especially for those interested in gorilla tracking and other Uganda wildlife tours. In this article, I will guide you through everything you need and want to know about Kihihi Airstrip, including its location, the services it offers, and the nearby attractions for travelers visiting Uganda.
Get to Kihihi Airstrip
Kihihi Airstrip is located in the Kanungu District, which is situated in the southwestern part of Uganda, and it primarily operates domestic flights for both private charters and scheduled services from the main regional centers of Uganda, including Entebbe and Kampala. It is actually a barrier of a size, yet it is the most suitable for tourists, who use it to access the south western part of Uganda for gorilla tracking in the Bwindi impenetrable forest and other tours to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kihihi Airstrip attracts traffic and connects to the Uganda tourism circuit, although it has limited infrastructure and size. It helps to reduce the tiring 8 to 10 hours’ drive from Entebbe to Bwindi. Upon arrival, Kihihi takes one hour to reach Bwindi and it is more comfortable for arriving tourists after long flights from other parts of the world.
This airstrip has very minimal construction, just the necessary ones. It has been well taken care of with competent management, which guarantees a safe landing of small planes like those of Aerolink Uganda and Fly Uganda.
Kihihi Airstrip travelling inbound and outbound flights
This Kihihi airstrip is mainly operational for domestic flights that will facilitate tourists and other travelers intending to travel to south western part of Uganda. Currently, Kihihi lacks direct international flights, but Entebbe International Airport provides easy access to this airstrip.
Scheduled Domestic Flights
Currently, Aero Link Uganda and Fly Uganda have scheduled daily flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi. The flight costs $150 per person and lasts approximately an hour, during which the client gets to view different regions of Uganda, such as areas of hills, forests, and large plains of savannah.
Both morning and afternoon schedules are set to enable passengers to arrive at Kihihi in the morning or, as they prefer, in the latter.
Charter Flights
Besides, Kihihi Airstrip carries out both scheduled and chartered private flights as well as those of tourists. Most of the operators specialize in charter services for groups or individuals, which may involve private and exclusive travel. Flexibility is attainable for charter flights can be arranged according to the user’s convenience, hence the added value of privacy.
Travel by flight to Kihihi has a relatively faster cycling time than road transport to reach Bwindi or Queen Elizabeth National Park, making flying preferred for those who wish to spend most of their time on the ground discovering the wildlife and natural beauty in Uganda.
Kihihi Airstrip has emerged as the optimal starting point for gorilla trekking.
For travelers planning to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kihihi Airstrip is the most recommended entry point. Bwindi is among the few countries in the world where one can track the endangered mountain gorillas and although the park sits in the south western part of Uganda in a hugely forested area along the Rwenzori Mountain, road networks are poor. Kihihi Airstrip is just a few kilometers from most of Bwindi’s sectors; thus, it is the most appropriate port of entry for anyone intending to go gorilla trekking.
Distance to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The ride from Kihihi Airstrip to Bwindi takes between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the sector one intends to visit: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo or Rushaga. The road leading to the park is beautiful but rough, so having access to an airstrip eliminates long hours on Ugandan roads. The Buhoma sector, one of the most developed for gorilla trekking in Bwindi, is even closer to Kihihi Airstrip; moreover, a drive is almost 90 minutes.
How to improve your visitor experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking is an early morning activity, with treks starting around 7:30 a.m. After a one-hour briefing, tourists venture into the forest to find their assigned gorilla families. While Kihihi airstrip is reachable by air from Kisoro, I highly recommend overnighting here the night before the trek since it is a strenuous, though not exceptionally long one; it’s best begun well rested.
As few gorilla trekking permits are issued and many travelers are interested in gorilla trekking, most of them always choose to fly to Kihihi so that they get to Bwindi before the permits expire.
A scenic tour of Queen Elizabeth National Park is also available.
Even though Kihihi Airstrip is mainly famous for gorilla trekking, it can also act as a gateway to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is one of Uganda’s most complex wildlife parks. Queen Elizabeth National Park is approximately a 2-to-3- hour drive from Kihihi by road, which should be an excellent backup destination on the southwestern Uganda circuit.
Special Features of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kazinga Channel: The Kazinga Channel is a natural canal that forms a link between Lake Edward and Lake George. This presents one of the wealthiest boat safaris in Africa. Visitors can view large groups of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a variety of birds.
Ishasha Sector: In one of Uganda’s most famous parks, the Queen Elizabeth National Park, best known for tree-climbing lions. These lions stretch themselves during the day in the branches of Fig trees, providing tourists with a unique view that they will not get from ordinary guided tours.
Game Drives: Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is characterized by open grassland habitats, supports larger families, such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and large cats, including lions and leopards. Park and reserve tours, usually in the morning, late afternoon and evening drives, are one of the main activities.
Uganda’s Kihihi Airstrip is ideal to enable those planning a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi to embark on a classic Uganda wildlife safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
