How to get to Uganda

Located on Lake Victoria in Entebbe town, about 46 kilometers (29 miles) from Kampala, the country’s capital, Entebbe International Airport (EBB) serves as Uganda’s primary airport. Although more upscale packages include fly-in safaris, Uganda’s relatively small size means that ground transportation is the most common way to travel inside the nation. The trip package you have chosen will often include airport and hotel transfers. There are two terminals at Entebbe International Airport: one for domestic travel and one for international travel. There are taxis and car-rental companies at the airport.

Getting Around: Ugandan Transportation

Comparing Uganda to its neighbors, traveling there is very easy and affordable.

From Entebbe, taxis

Between Kampala and Entebbe International Airport, there are authorized private taxis. Common taxis and special rental taxis are easily accessible in most places; however, it is best to agree on the fee before embarking on a trip.

Ugandan Boda Bodas

The Boda Boda is among Uganda’s most widely used forms of transportation. Boda Bodas may be any two-wheeled vehicle with a passenger sitting on the back, including bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, scooters, and more. The least expensive form of transportation is a boda boda, yet despite its speed and enjoyment, accidents are frequent.

Buses and Matatus

In Uganda, buses come in two varieties: coaches and minibus taxis. Matatus are minibuses that run regularly, provide a hop-on, hop-off service, and travel along designated routes between towns. Their poor standards for car safety and frequent stops are drawbacks. A lot of businesses provide coaches or normal buses, which travel less often and typically leave from major depots.

If you have a flexible schedule, buses and matatus are an affordable way to see Uganda’s main cities, which makes them perfect for backpackers. Nevertheless, they often have too much work and do not always follow rigid timetables.

Get a Car Rental

Driving often seems like a desirable alternative since Uganda is a very small country. The major highways of Kampala are in good shape, while lesser roads are typically dirt paths with heavy traffic. It might be challenging to drive on these roads after a lot of rain. Due to a mix of bad illumination, oncoming traffic, cows and goats, and sporadic criminal activity, roadways may be dangerous at night. Having a knowledgeable guide or driver relieves the strain of driving and lets you enjoy the view.

Distances & Travel Times to Uganda

Given its tiny size, Uganda might have lengthy drives if you choose the straight route. The Uganda safari circuit, which circles Entebbe clockwise, is where the majority of the locations are located, however. Beginning in Entebbe on the beaches of Lake Victoria or in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, itineraries often include Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Toro-Semliki, and Murchison Falls before returning to Kampala. The far north’s Kidepo Valley National Park and the far east’s Mount Elgon are extensions of Uganda’s most isolated regions. The distances and travel times for the Uganda safari shown below are just estimates based on the schedule mentioned above.

30 miles (49 km) from Entebbe International Airport to Kampala City Center

Uganda has infamously horrible traffic. An hour or so should be plenty for the trip, but allow extra time

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Kampala: 508 km/315 mi

The journey from Kampala to Bwindi is lengthy, taking around 10 hours. A popular destination for travelers is Lake Mburo

30 miles (49 km) from Bwindi to Mgahinga National Park

It might take more over two hours to go from Bwindi to Mgahinga, which is only 49 kilometers away.

320 kilometers (199 miles) from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park

It takes around seven hours to get by car from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Murchinson Falls National Park to Queen Elizabeth: 328 km/204 miles

It takes around six hours to travel from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Murchinson Falls.

Entebbe International Airport to Murchinson Falls National Park: 252 km (157 miles)

It takes little more than four hours to get from Murchinson Falls National Park to Entebbe International Airport. The trip to Kampala, which is 213 kilometers (132 miles) distant, takes around 3.5 hours.

Jinja to Kampala: 96 km/60 miles

From Kampala, the travel to Jinja will take around 2.5 hours.