Can I Fly from Masai Mara to Bwindi?

Can I Fly from Masai Mara to Bwindi?

Can I fly from Masai Mara to Bwindi? Absolutely yes! Connecting from Maasai Mara National Reserve to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is now easier than ever before. You just need to book a fly-in safari and in the shortest time, you will be in Uganda to explore the wonders of Bwindi National Park. The best way to connect from Masai Mara National Reserve to Bwindi for gorilla trekking is for you to first take a flight up to Entebbe International Airport (EBB). From Entebbe Airport, you can then take a domestic flight up to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. From any of these airfields/airstrips, visitors can drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips all offer easier access to different parts or sectors of Bwindi National Park. Kihihi airstrip is the best to fly to, especially for visitors with plans to explore the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors. Kisoro airstrip is ideal for holidaymakers with plans to visit the Southern sectors which are Rushaga and Nkuringo.

Direct flights from Masai Mara to Entebbe Airport

Visitors can take direct flights from Masai Mara to Entebbe International Airport (EBB), Uganda. This can take place during the morning or afternoon departure time. The active airstrips around Masai Mara include Kichwa Tembo, Mara North Airstrip, Serena, Musiara Airstrip, Angama, Siana, Olare Orok, Ngerende, Keekorok and Olkiombo airstrips. Plan and book your fly-in safaris with Native Africa Tours hassle-free.

Flights from EBB to Bwindi National Park

Which airline operates from Entebbe to Bwindi? Most of the flights from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are conducted by AeroLink Uganda. You can plan and book a fly-in mountain gorilla safari tour through Native Africa Tours. Ensure that you have booked your fly-in gorilla tour in advance to avoid last-minute stress. Flying from Entebbe to Bwindi means you spend fewer hours than if you used road transportation. With road travel, you require up to 8-9 hours to drive from Entebbe/Kampala city to Bwindi, unlike 1-2 hours by air transportation.

What to expect when you fly from Masai Mara to Bwindi

Taking a flight from Masai Mara to Bwindi means you have a 100% chance to enjoy a combined wildlife and mountain gorilla safari. Maasai Mara and Bwindi all have unique attractions for you to explore.

Masai Mara National Reserve 

Maasai Mara is a spectacular game reserve located in the Southwestern part of Kenya and is most popular for not only the Big 5 game but also the Great Migration. The Masai Mara extends up to 1510 sq. km and offers refuge to the diversity of wildlife. Besides the wildebeest and the Big 5 (elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, and buffaloes), Masai Mara also shelters wildlife species such as impalas, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, and over 470 species of birds.

The diverse bird species that make the Mara a bird-watchers paradise include ostriches, martial eagles, Ross’s turacos, pygmy kingfishers, giant kingfishers, Denham’s bustards, lazy cisticola, cinnamon-breasted bunting, African wood owl, purple grenadier and trilling cisticola.

Other bird species include saddle-billed storks, Rosy-throated long claw, Usambiro barbet, Southern ground hornbill, yellow-throated sand grouse, woolly-necked storks, white-bellied go-away bird, and others.

What to expect on Masai Mara safari?

Masai Mara is most popular for its powerful wildebeest migration. During the Great migration season, millions of wildebeest can be closely watched as they transverse the plains of Masai Mara in search of food and water. The best moment of the Great Migration is the Mara River crossing. This is without doubt a bucket list wilderness experience when it comes to all Kenya safaris in Masai Mara. The best time to travel to the Masai Mara to witness this world’s spectacle is during the peak dry season; July to September.

Birding/bird watching

 Masai Mara is known for its enriching bird-watching expeditions. A birding trip in the Mara Game Reserve exposes birders to the reserve’s incredible birds. Over 470 bird species all exist in the Masai Mara and include Egyptian goose, spur-winged goose, knob-billed ducks, rufous-necked wryneck, golden-tailed woodpecker, Nubian woodpeckers, Madagascar pond-heron, pallid harriers, grey-crested helmet-shrike, lesser kestrel, Jackson’s window birds, and more.

Game drives/wildlife viewing

Masai Mara is a superb savanna-protected area that guarantees you unforgettable Big Five game safaris. It is a complete Big 5 game destination and on a game drive, expect to search for wildlife such as African bush elephants, leopards, rhinos, lions, and buffaloes. Additional wildlife species include giraffes, zebras, a myriad of antelope families, and others.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Located in Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi is most visited for mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) encounters. Bwindi National Park is the only National Park in the world with the highest population of mountain gorillas and also habituated gorilla groups. Over 23 habituated gorilla groups are all open for gorilla tourism in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park alone.

The diverse gorilla groups in Bwindi are distributed across all four regions or gorilla trekking sectors. The main mountain gorilla sectors within Bwindi National Park include Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Nkuringo. Top gorilla families to visit on gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi National Park include Nshongi group, Mishaya, Mubare, Mukiza, Busingye, Kahungye, Bitukura, Habinyanja and Katwe, etc.

Visiting Bwindi to see mountain gorillas requires all trekkers to have a valid gorilla permit. A gorilla permit can be booked with ease through Native Africa Tours at USD 800 per person. A gorilla permit should be booked in advance before you fly to Bwindi to track gorillas. With fewer than 1063 endangered mountain gorillas currently left on earth, a visit to interact with these large apes in the jungles leaves lasting memories.

Where to stay on the Bwindi and Masai Mara tour?

Booking the right accommodation for an overnight stay is essential if you plan to embark on a combined Maasai Mara and Bwindi National Park. Luckily, all these safari destinations have budget, midrange, and luxury accommodation options making them complete.

In Bwindi, the gorilla trekking safari lodges exist in the four regions; Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Top accommodations to book for overnight stays in Bwindi include the Four Gorillas Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Camp, and Buhoma Lodge.

Masai Mara lodges include among others the Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp, Sanctuary Olonana Camp, Ashnil Mara Camp, Mara Fishi Camp, Mara Crossings Camp, and Sentinel Mara Camp. Other lodges include Mara Explorer Tented Camp, Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Fig Tree Camp Governors’ II Moran Camp, and Mara Intrepids Tented Camp to mention but a few.

What to pack for Masai Mara and Bwindi safari?

Some of the essential items to include on your Masai Mara and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park safari include waterproof hiking boots, a pair of binoculars. Long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, trousers, a good camera, toiletries, first-aid kit, and long lightweight pants. Additional items to have on your packing list for the Bwindi and Masai Mara tour include a first aid kit, a flashlight, a pair of socks, garden gloves, a daypack, and others.

Conclusively, visitors can fly from Masai Mara to Bwindi National Park. First, it involves you taking a flight up to Entebbe International Airport (EBB). From here, you can connect to Bwindi National Park. Talk to an expert to plan and book a trip that allows you to combine both Masai Mara and Bwindi National Park safari.