For tourists planning a safari to Uganda’s famous gorilla parks, Kihihi Airstrip is an important stop. Although it does not directly connect to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park like the nearer Kisoro Airstrip, it still serves as a useful access point for travelers exploring southwestern Uganda.
Kihihi Airstrip is located in Kanungu District and mainly provides quick flights to the northern areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, especially the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors. It also serves visitors heading to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its tree-climbing lions. Since the drive from Entebbe or Kampala takes about nine to ten hours, daily scheduled flights to Kihihi are very convenient, cutting the journey down to about one hour and fifteen minutes.
The airstrip is one of Uganda’s key upcountry facilities, with a compact and well-maintained runway suitable for small aircraft. Airlines such as Aerolink Uganda and BAR Aviation Uganda operate daily flights from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala. These flights use light planes like the Cessna Grand Caravan, offering a comfortable and scenic alternative to long road trips.
The main challenge for tourists flying into Kihihi and heading to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the long road transfer. Mgahinga is in the far south, near Kisoro and the Rwandan border, while Kihihi lies further north, closer to Bwindi’s central and northern regions. The drive between these two points covers about 150 to 200 kilometers, depending on the route taken through the hilly Kigezi region.
Even with this distance, Kihihi Airstrip is still a popular option for travelers on multi-park safaris. It is less commonly used for those visiting only Mgahinga, since Kisoro Airstrip provides a more direct route and a shorter 45-minute drive to the park. However, for tourists starting their gorilla trek in Bwindi’s Buhoma or Ruhija sectors before traveling south to Mgahinga for golden monkey tracking or another gorilla trek, flying into Kihihi is ideal. It saves about eight to ten hours of road travel from Entebbe to Bwindi’s northern areas.
Kihihi Airstrip plays a key but secondary role in providing flight access to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It is most suitable for visitors planning to explore both Bwindi and Mgahinga as part of a wider Uganda safari.
