At Taste Africa Safaris, we believe that how you travel matters as much as where you go.

Yes, there is romance in the slow roll of a 4×4 through dusty villages and papyrus swamps. But there is also magic in lifting off from Entebbe and watching the entire country unfold beneath you like a living map, the Nile a silver ribbon, the Rwenzori peaks piercing the clouds, and the wild heart of Uganda waiting just an hour away.

This is the fly-in safari. And it is not just for the ultra-wealthy. It is for the time-conscious, the comfort-seeking, and the adventure-hungry traveler who wants to taste more of Africa without spending their holiday on the road.

Why Fly? Time Is the Ultimate Luxury

Let us be honest with you.

Driving from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest takes nine to ten hours on winding mountain roads. The journey to Kidepo Valley, Uganda’s remote “Mara”, requires a full day of driving just to reach the park gates.

That is time you could spend tracking gorillas. Watching lions nap in fig trees. Feeling the spray of Murchison Falls on your face.

A fly-in safari transforms your itinerary 

The Taste Africa Fly-In Experience: Where Can You Go?

Uganda’s network of domestic airstrips has grown dramatically in recent years. Today, you can fly directly to almost every major national park. Here is where we can take you.

Murchison Falls National Park: The Nile from Above

Airstrips: Pakuba, Bugungu, Chobe

The flight from Entebbe takes just 90 minutes. You will touch down on the northern bank of the Nile, right in the heart of the action. From Pakuba Airstrip, you can be watching elephants drink from the river within an hour .

What awaits you:

• Game drives where lions, giraffes, and buffalo roam open savannah
• The legendary boat cruise to the base of the falls
• Luxury lodges like Baker’s Lodge (reached via Bugungu) or Chobe Safari Lodge (via its private airstrip)

Why fly here? The road to Murchison is long and rough in sections. Flying spares you the fatigue and delivers you directly to the wilderness .

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Gorillas in Record Time

Airstrips: Kihihi (north sector) or Kisoro (south sector)

This is where fly-in safaris change everything.

The drive to Bwindi is famously arduous, nine hours of winding mountain roads that leave even seasoned travelers exhausted. The flight? Just over one hour. And the approach is stunning: you descend over the Virunga Volcanoes, the forested peaks shrouded in mist, before landing on a small airstrip carved into the hills .

What awaits you:

• The life-changing experience of tracking mountain gorillas
• Luxury lodges like Gorilla Forest Camp (Kihihi) or Nkuringo Safari Lodge (Kisoro)
• Optional golden monkey trekking in nearby Mgahinga

Pro tip from Taste Africa: 

The morning flight from Entebbe to Kisoro departs at 7:00 AM. You can be at the park headquarters for your gorilla briefing by 10:00 AM. By road, you would still be somewhere near Mbarara

Queen Elizabeth National Park: Tree-Climbing Lions & the Kazinga Channel

Airstrips: Mweya, Kasese, Kihihi (for Ishasha sector)

Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s most visited park for good reason. And flying into Mweya Airstrip places you directly on the Mweya Peninsula, overlooking the famous Kazinga Channel .

What awaits you:

• Boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, hippos, crocodiles, and elephants at the water’s edge
• The tree-climbing lions of Ishasha (fly into Kihihi for the closest access)
• Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge

Three daily flights connect Entebbe to Mweya and Kasese, making this one of the most accessible fly-in destinations in Uganda .

Kidepo Valley National Park: The Remote Marvel

Airstrip: Apoka

Kidepo is not easy to reach. That is its gift. And its challenge.

Located in the far northeast, near the South Sudan border, this park sees fewer visitors in a year than some parks see in a day. The wildlife is spectacular—ostriches, cheetahs, enormous buffalo herds, and lions that have never learned to fear vehicles. But driving here takes over ten hours .

The fly-in solution: A two-hour flight from Entebbe lands you at Apoka Airstrip, just three kilometers from the park headquarters. From there, you step directly into one of Africa’s last great wildernesses .

What awaits you:

• Game drives where you may see cheetahs, rare in Uganda
• The dramatic landscapes of the Narus and Kidepo Valleys
• Authentic cultural encounters with the Karamojong people

Taste Africa’s take: If you want a genuinely exclusive safari experience, fly to Kidepo. You will share the savannah with almost no one else .

The Practicalities: How Fly-In Safaris Work

Which Airlines Operate Domestic Flights?

Aerolink Uganda is the primary domestic carrier, operating scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airfield to all major airstrips. Charter flights can also be arranged for groups or custom itineraries .

What Does It Cost?

Scheduled flights typically range from 478 per person one way, depending on the route and season. Private charters are more expensive but offer complete flexibility.

Luggage: Pack Light, Pack Soft

This is important. Domestic flights in Uganda have a strict 15 kg (33 lb) luggage limit per person, and all bags must be soft-sided (no hard suitcases). Your Taste Africa Safaris consultant will remind you of this and we can help arrange storage for any excess luggage at our office in Kampala