Fly-in Safaris
Uganda's parks, connected by scheduled light aircraft instead of long road transfers.
Road transfers between Uganda's parks can run anywhere from five to eleven hours. A network of scheduled light-aircraft routes connects Entebbe to airstrips near almost every major park, cutting that to under an hour — with the Rift Valley, the Nile and the Rwenzori's peaks as the view along the way.
Where the airstrips are
Kihihi and Kisoro serve Bwindi and Mgahinga; Pakuba serves Murchison Falls; Kasese and Mweya serve Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and the Rwenzori region; Apoka serves Kidepo Valley in the far north-east. Most routes connect through Entebbe.
Who fly-in safaris suit best
Travellers with limited time who still want to cover two or three parks, anyone combining a remote park like Kidepo that would otherwise mean an 8–11 hour drive, and those who'd simply rather spend an extra day on the ground than in a vehicle.
What you trade for the time saved
You lose the roadside scenery and small-town stops of a driving transfer, and light aircraft come with modest baggage limits — usually around 15kg in a soft-sided bag. For most itineraries, the time saved outweighs both.
Compared to 5–11 hours by road, depending on the route.
Uganda's most remote park becomes a realistic add-on rather than a full-day commitment each way.
The Rift Valley, the Nile and the Rwenzori's peaks, seen from the air en route.
Extra time for activities instead of transfers, on a shorter trip.
Regular scheduled flights keep costs well below a private charter.
Fly one leg, drive another — itineraries mix and match by route.
How much does a fly-in safari add to the cost?
More than a road transfer, but the difference narrows considerably on longer or more remote routes like Kidepo, where the time saved is substantial.
What's the baggage limit?
Typically around 15kg per person in a soft-sided bag, given the size of the aircraft used on these routes.
Can I mix flying and driving on one trip?
Yes — a common pattern is flying into a remote park like Kidepo and driving the more scenic, shorter legs elsewhere.
