Getting there

Getting there

Uganda's main international gateway is the Entebbe International Airport. It is located some 40km south of Kampala, the Capital, in the lakeside town of Entebbe. Its setting makes a spectacular entry to the country with an approach over Lake Victoria. A number of International and regional carriers operate regular flights to and from Entebbe: Air Tanzania, British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Gulf Air, Kenya Airways, South African Airways and SN Brussels.

International Carriers SN Brussels flies four times a week from Brussels direct to Entebbe. British Airways flies three times a week from London, Gatwick. From USA, there are flights to Entebbe  via London or Brussels, or alternatively clients can fly from New York or Atlanta to Johannesburg with South African Airways and then take a connecting flight.

From other parts of Africa Clients can fly into any of the listed African cities and then connect to Entebbe . Ethiopian Airways provides connections from Addis Ababa. Kenya Airways flies daily from Nairobi. South African Airways provides connections with Dar-es- Salaam and Johannesburg. Egypt flies weekly from Cairo, only to Entebbe. East African Air provides connections from Nairobi, and Johannesburg. Air Tanzania provides connections from Dar-es-salaam. Rwanda Air flies from Kigali, Johannesburg and Nairobi. Emirates flies twice a week from Dubai, only to Entebbe.

Domestic Air Services Some attractions such as Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Kidepo in Uganda are far from Kampala/Entebbe, covering long distances of up to 500km and more with approximate driving time of 8-11 hours. It is advisable, where funds allow, to use air charter to these far away locations. Apart from the weekly and sometimes scheduled flights to Arua, Ajdumani and other parts of the North where there are only some attractions, only non-scheduled, chartered aircraft can be used to fly to the other destinations, especially in the Western part of Uganda where most tourist attractions are. The major tourist destinations which are usually in remote parts of the country are always accessible by charter. Some air fields such as Kayonza near Bwindi, Paraa, and Jinja can only accommodate 3-5 seater aircraft. Others such as Kisoro near Mgahinga, Ishasha and Kasese near Bwindi, the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth Park, can accommodate larger aircraft. The approximate drive time between any of these localities is about 7 hours. At the moment there are no scheduled flights to these destinations.

Arrival by Road The main road border crossings are open at Malaba, Busia, Mutukula, Kisoro, Arua and Lwakhakha for Uganda. The main road border crossings for Rwanda are open at Cyanika, Katuna, Kagitumba, Cyangugu, Akanyuru on the outskirts of L.Tanganyika and a few border points with Tanzania and Burundi. Drivers require a valid international driving license, and must carry their vehicle log books. They will be expected to show adequate third party insurance, and pay a temporary road license.

Arrival by Water Weekly services to Port Bell from Mwanza in Tanzania are normally provided by Tanzania Railways Corporation in conjunction with Uganda Railways Corporation. This service resumed from February 1999 but it is slow and erratic. The MV Victoria operates on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday between Mwanza, Bukoba and Port Bell. It leaves Mwanza on Sunday at 14.00hrs and arrives at Port Bell at 07.00hrs. It then departs at 16.00hrs same day.