Bugungu airstrip is located within Bugungu Wildlife Reserve in Buliisa district, in western Uganda. The airstrip is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), under license by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.
Bugungu Airstrip is situated about 260 kilometers (162 mi), by air, and 333 kilometers (207 mi), by road. This is north-west of Entebbe International Airport, in an approximately 1 hour and fifteen minutes flight, compared to a 5-hour drive from the Entebbe airport.
Bugungu Airstrip serves Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, Karuma Wildlife Reserve, Budongo forest reserve and among other tourist attractions within the area including Masindi town.
Carriers to Bugungu Airstrip in Murchison Falls National Park
AeroLink Uganda Limited is a domestic airline offering both scheduled and chartered flights to Bugungu Airstrip and to other parts of Uganda. From its base at Entebbe International Airport, AeroLink offers three (3) scheduled flights into Bugungu airstrip per week. That is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Other day’s flights are available on request at normal seat rate.
You can also opt to interconnect from Bugungu Airstrip to other parts of Uganda, on request. Entebbe to Bugungu departs from 1230 and arrives at 1330. Bugungu to Entebbe departure is at 1345, arriving at 1630, however the time may vary depending on aircraft routing.
Eagle Air is also another domestic airline carrier offering both scheduled and chartered flights of limited routes. Visitors opt to use Eagle Air to Bugungu, which is available on request.
Facilities and activities around the airstrip
Bugungu airstrip is mostly used by visitors who visit Murchison Falls National Park since the airstrip is located within the park, in the southern sector. The airstrip is surrounded by beautiful luxurious lodges in Murchison Falls that offer comfortable nights, beautiful sceneries, sightseeing, mammals and bird species.
Paraa Safari Lodge is just 10km away from the airstrip therefore it can handle your ground transfer within the park. Baker’s Lodge is only 20-minute drive away from the airstrip, in addition to Murchison River Lodge among others.
In Uganda, a number of airstrips are now made available to give flight access to guests that wish to fly closer to each national park. Guests to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a gorilla trekking safari tour, usually fly to Kihihi Airstrip and Kisoro Airstrip. Guests can access Kidepo Valley National Park for a game safari to Kidepo Valley via Apoka airstrip.