Gorillas on the Fly: Flying to Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla National Park with Aerolink
Anyone that has traversed the winding and incomplete roads to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest not only understands fully the meaning of an “African Massage” but wonders why one of Uganda’s biggest tourism attractions is also one of most inaccessible.
Even vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive are no match for Uganda’s roads, as there are always causalities stranded on the roadside. The alternative of chartering a flight can run up to US$1000, a small fortune. Although many of Uganda’s neighbors have already established scheduled domestic flights it is was just a few days ago that Aerolink was able to run its first scheduled flight to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, southwestern Uganda.
The daily flight to Bwindi – Kihihi Airstrip, sets off from Entebbe at 8:30am daily. The spacious 11-seat caravan is staffed by two pilots and equipped with the latest avionics and technology. Taking off from Entebbe is uneventful, with the rest of the flight being relatively smooth.
The highlight of the flight is the stunning aerial views of Uganda’s quilted countryside, which gives a new perspective into Uganda’s beauty. Landing at Kihihi two hours later is a little rough, but nothing unexpected. Being able to arrive at Bwindi at 10:30am is a sigh of relief compared to the tedious 9 hour journey by car, leaving the whole day open to the cocktail of activities that Bwindi has to offer, such as the Batwa Trail and the Bwindi Community Hospital tour.
The next day, travellers start with an early morning gorilla trek into the dense rain forest. Hiking through the lush, verdant jungle to come across the gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the most moving experiences that Africa has to offer. Transferring to Kihihi after lunch, the flight back to Entebbe leaves promptly at 2:05pm, arriving in Entebbe a little after 4:00pm.
Aerolink offers a unique service to travelers that do not wish to navigate the roads or have limited holiday time. Besides Bwindi, Aerolink also offers sheduled flights to Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasese Airstrip) and Murchison Falls Game Park (Pakuba and Bugungu Airstrips). With fares starting as low as US$245, and with daily departures that require no minimum number of passengers, Aerolink provides reliable, punctual, and affordable access across the “Pearl of Africa.”
AeroLink Uganda is affiliated to Airkenya Express in Kenya and Regional Air Services in Tanzania.
The Package:
Churchill Safaris is offering a special promotion to celebrate the launch of Aerolink, offering two and three-day safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see the gorillas using the services of Aerolink. For more information email info@visitbwindi.com or visit their website at www.visitbwindi.com
