Travel times to Mirima
You can drive from Entebbe or Kampala, take a domestic flight from Entebbe to Kasese and continue by road, or reach Mirima through Fort Portal as part of a wider Uganda safari.
Pre-arranged road transfers are available between Mirima and Entebbe International Airport or Kasese Airstrip.
From Entebbe by road
Approximately 330 kilometers. Allow around 6–7 hours after meeting your driver.
From Kampala by road
Approximately 310 kilometers. Allow around 5½–6½ hours.
From Entebbe by air via Kasese
Take a domestic flight to Kasese Airstrip, followed by a 56-kilometer road transfer of around 1½ hours.
From Fort Portal
Approximately 20 kilometers. The drive usually takes around 30 minutes.
Distances and driving times are estimates. Traffic, stops, weather, road conditions and your exact departure point can affect the journey.
Luggage
Soft bags are strongly recommended for domestic flights and safari vehicles. Domestic flights to Uganda’s safari airstrips usually allow 15 kg per person in soft bags, including hand luggage. Extra luggage can be charged and carriage depends on aircraft space. Safari vehicles also have limited rear storage, especially when six to seven guests are travelling in one vehicle. Hard-shell suitcases can be awkward on small aircraft, mountain roads, and longer park-to-park transfers.
Map Pin: G89C+XF Durama
Driving from Entebbe or Kampala
Driving from central Uganda to Mirima is a substantial road journey. From Kampala, the route is approximately 310 kilometers and usually takes around 5½–6½ hours. Most international guests begin at Entebbe International Airport, where the full drive typically takes 6–7 hours after immigration, luggage collection and meeting the driver.
You drive through Kampala before continuing west toward Fort Portal. The final 20 kilometers leave the city behind, passing tea plantations before entering the crater-lake country around Lake Nyamirima.
Traveling by road works well when Mirima is part of a longer safari through western Uganda. It allows the vehicle and guide to continue with you toward Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi or the next stop on your route.
For later international arrivals, an overnight stay in Entebbe gives you a better start the following morning. Papyrus Guesthouse works well as an arrival base before the drive west, particularly when your flight lands late or you would rather begin the safari after a proper night’s rest.
Road transfers from Entebbe International Airport are available on request and should be arranged in advance with our reservations team or your destination manager. Share your flight number, scheduled arrival time, group size, and luggage details when booking.
Domestic flight from Entebbe
Scheduled flights connect Entebbe with Kasese, the nearest practical domestic airstrip to Mirima. A direct flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, making this a useful alternative to the full road journey from Entebbe. Baggage allowance is about 15 kg per person, including hand luggage, packed in soft-sided bags. Extra baggage is accepted only when space permits, so let the team know before travel if you expect to carry more. Check in 90 minutes before departure.
Kasese Airstrip is approximately 56 kilometres from Mirima. The drive to the lodge takes around 1½ hours, passing through Kasese before turning toward Fort Portal and the crater-lake country around Lake Nyamirima.
Mirima can arrange the road transfer from Kasese Airstrip once your flight is confirmed. Share your flight number, arrival time, group size and luggage details in advance.
When connecting from an international flight on the same day, leave enough time for immigration, luggage collection and domestic check-in.
For a late arrival into Entebbe, an overnight stay before flying west the following morning will usually give you a smoother start.
Driving from Fort Portal
Fort Portal is the nearest city to Mirima Kibale Lodge. From central Fort Portal, the lodge is approximately 20 kilometres away, and the drive usually takes around 30 minutes.
The road leaves the city and continues into the crater-lake country around Lake Nyamirima.
If you are driving yourself, use Mirima’s verified map pin rather than navigating to Kibale National Park generally. Save the location before leaving Fort Portal and keep the lodge contact details available for the final approach.
Map pin: G89C+XF Durama
Reaching Mirima from other parks
Mirima can be reached by road from Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi and Murchison Falls as part of a wider Uganda safari. These routes can also be planned in reverse when leaving Mirima for your next park or lodge. Exact timings depend on the departure property, park sector and road conditions.
From Queen Elizabeth National Park
From the Mweya or Kasenyi area, Mirima is approximately 144 kilometers away. The drive usually takes 2–3 hours, with the preferred route passing through Kasese.
Ishasha lies farther south and uses a different approach. From most lodges in the sector, allow approximately 4–5 hours, traveling north toward Kasese and Fort Portal.
The exact timing depends on where you stay and how long it takes to leave the park.
From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The drive from Nkuringo to Mirima is about 390 kilometers and takes around 7–8 hours via Ntungamo and Ibanda. Plan an early departure and treat this as a full transfer day. Buhoma uses a different route through Ishasha, Kasese and Fort Portal. Allow approximately 8-9 hours, depending on your departure lodge and road conditions.
Your gorilla trekking sector and accommodation location should always guide the route. A general “Bwindi to Kibale” estimate can be misleading because Bwindi has several access points.
From Murchison Falls National Park
From Murchison Falls, allow about 7–9 hours from most lodge areas and treat the journey as a full road day.
An early departure gives you more room for park roads, comfort stops and changing conditions along the way.
We can help you plan Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Murchison connections as part of a private Uganda safari.
Airport transfer to Mirima
Mirima offers pre-arranged road transfers between Mirima Kibale Lodge and:
- Entebbe International Airport
- Kasese Airstrip
When making your request, share your travel date, flight number, scheduled arrival time, number of guests and luggage details. This helps the team match the vehicle to your party and coordinate the transfer with your arrival.
Getting to the trekking center
Kanyanchu Visitor Center, the briefing point for many chimpanzee-tracking activities in Kibale National Park, is approximately 16 kilometers from Mirima. The drive usually takes around 20 minutes. Vehicle support/transfer with driver available at a cost.
Your permit will show the required reporting time, so plan to leave the lodge with enough time for registration and the ranger briefing before entering the forest.