1 / 4Entebbe Masaka- Lake Mburo National Park-Mbarar Town-Kabale-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-Queen Elizabeth Via Ishasha Sector-Ishaka-Bushenyi- Mbarara-Masaka To Kampala
Size
14,763 km²
Elevation
1,200 m
Entry fee
$82
Ideal stay
9 days
Established
1983
Nearest airport
Entebbe International Airport (EBB), 46 km from Kampala — primary gateway; domestic flights to Mweya Airstrip in Queen Elizabeth (1.5 hours from Entebbe) or charter flights to Ishasha and Bwindi airstrips (additional $400-600 per person one-way)
About Entebbe Masaka- Lake Mburo National Park-Mbarar Town-Kabale-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-Queen Elizabeth Via Ishasha Sector-Ishaka-Bushenyi- Mbarara-Masaka To Kampala
Best time to visit
Wildlife highlights
Things to do
Getting there
Nearest town: Kampala, 414 km from Bwindi (8-10 hour drive) — Uganda's capital and main international hub; Mbarara, 180 km from Bwindi (4-5 hour drive) — regional center with fuel, supplies, and lunch stops; Kabale, 95 km from Bwindi (2-3 hour drive) — gateway town with banks and markets
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit the Entebbe-Masaka-Lake Mburo-Kabale-Bwindi-Ishasha circuit?
Total cost ranges $1,800-$3,500 per person for a 9-day trip, including park entry fees ($82 Lake Mburo, $40 Queen Elizabeth, $50 Bwindi), mountain gorilla permit ($600, mandatory), accommodation ($50-200/night depending on category), meals, 4WD vehicle hire ($80-120/day), and English-speaking driver-guide ($25-40/day). Budget operators offer 3-day express trips (Bwindi only) for $800-1,200; mid-range packages cost $2,000-2,500; luxury all-inclusive safaris run $3,500+. Compare packages and book through verified operators on SafariFind.com to find options matching your budget.
What is the best time to visit the Entebbe-Masaka-Lake Mburo-Kabale-Bwindi-Ishasha route?
June-August (dry season) offers the best wildlife visibility, cool temperatures (15-22°C), firm roads, and peak gorilla trekking conditions — but expect higher prices and more tourists. December-February (short dry season) provides excellent game viewing with warm afternoons (24-28°C) and moderate crowds. Avoid April-May and September-November when heavy rains make murram roads muddy and impassable, reduce visibility, and close some Bwindi trails. Gorilla trekking is possible year-round but rainforest trails are slippery during wet months.
What wildlife can you see on the Entebbe-Masaka-Lake Mburo-Kabale-Bwindi-Ishasha route?
Lake Mburo hosts zebra, impala (found nowhere else in Uganda's parks), giraffe, eland, topi, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, and 200+ bird species. Ishasha sector guarantees tree-climbing lions, plus elephant, buffalo, topi, hippo, and waterbuck. Bwindi delivers 400+ mountain gorillas in habituated groups, chimpanzees, L'Hoest monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and 350+ bird species including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Over 120 mammal species inhabit Bwindi's rainforest.
How do you get to the Entebbe-Masaka-Lake Mburo-Kabale-Bwindi-Ishasha route?
Fly into Entebbe International Airport (EBB), 46 km from Kampala. Drive via Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale-Bwindi (414 km, 11 hours on mixed tarmac/murram roads) or faster Kampala-Ntungamo-Rukungiri-Bwindi (390 km, 10 hours). Alternatively, charter domestic flights from Entebbe to Mweya Airstrip in Queen Elizabeth (1.5 hours), then drive to Ishasha (2-3 hours) and Bwindi (3-4 hours). All routes require 4WD vehicles; fuel available only in Mbarara and Kabale.