Kabale town is in the South Western Uganda approximately 420 km from Kampala in the border between Uganda and Rwanda. It can be accessed through Uganda or Rwanda using Katuna border which is about 30 Km from kabale town. Kabale town can be accessed from Kampala city center using tarmac road using Kampala-Mbarara- Kabale road using direct buses from Kampala which takes about 6 to 7 hours. Kabale town can also be accessed by air through landing at Kisoro airstrip which is about 50 km away and then you can connect with a vehicle rented from the community.
The tribe that is surrounded by Kabale town are the Bakiga staying in the highlands of Kigezi practicing agriculture for both domestic and commercial purposes. Kabale town is very famous because of Bwindi impenetrable national park which hosts the endangered mountain gorillas a few remaining in the world. Mgahinga gorilla national park is also 76 km away which also hosts the endangered golden monkeys only found in Uganda and also hosts gorillas with one family of Nyakagezi.
Kabale town is also famous because of lake Bunyonyi which is a good tourist destination in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi is believed to be the 2nd deepest lake in Africa next to Lake Tanganyika with the depth between 44m and 900m and about 7 to 25kms wide. The lake is located between Kisoro and Kabale districts in the South-western Uganda.
Kisoro town lies along the 3 volcanic mountains of Sabinyo, Gahinga and muhavura which attract hiking activities. Hiking up to the top of Sabinyo will give you a chance to be in 3 countries that is Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. The landscape in hilly and the surrounding community does agriculture through terraces which provides you with a very good beautiful scenery.
Kabale town neighbors lot of Tourism sites which include, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga gorilla national park, lake Mutanda, lake Murehe, and volcanoes of Gahinga, Sabinyo and Muhavura.
Tourism activities around Kisoro town
Gorilla tracking:
Kabale town neighbors Bwindi impenetrable national park and gorilla trekking can be done in the nearby Ruhija sector which is about 35km from town. Ruhija sector has 4 tracking gorilla groups including; Oruzogo, Bitukula, Kyaguriro, and Mukiza. You will have an opportunity to meet your closest cousins; the mountain gorillas the few remaining in the world. This is a rare and very exciting activity a must do in Uganda that will give you lasting memories. The activity lasts 3 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla group assigned to you.
Lake Bunyonyi Boat ride;
Lake Bunyonyi has calm waters good for a boat ride experience. This boat ride will help you explore some of the fascinating islands on the lake which include; Kyahugye Island where you will some wildlife including Zebras, waterbucks, impalas and Uganda kobs, Akampeine island popularly known as a punishment island where pregnant unmarried girls from Kigezi were dumped to die to serve as an example to the rest. You can also reach Bwama and Njuyeera Island, where missionary Dr. Leonard Sharp founded a leper facility that currently hosts White House Resort.
Community walk:
Community guides can take you on a nature walk along the lake Bunyonyi. You can also do a nature walk in the beautiful kigezi highlands which takes about 3 to 4 hours. You will also have an opportunity to interact with the communities and learn their ways of living. This may end with entertainment organised by the women groups of batwa and Bakiga. Those who are fit can engage in mountain biking in the highlands.
Canoeing:
You will do canoeing on the calm waters of lake Mutanda which is about 5km from kisoro town. The community guide you will take you on a canoe to explore the islands on lake Mutanda. You can also do canoeing on lake Murehe.
Golden monkey tracking.
Golden monkeys are found in Mgahinga gorilla national park residing in the bamboo from where they are sighted during the trekking. Just like gorillas, it also has rules and regulations which will be explained to you by your guide. This activity takes about 2-5 hours depending on the movement of these primates. Just like gorillas, you will also spend 1 hour with them taking photos in close range
Volcanoes climbing;
Mgahinga gorilla national park has three extinct volcanic mountains of Muhavura being the highest, Gahinga the second and then Sabinyo found in the border of 3 countries including Rwanda, DRC and Uganda. Volcano climbing takes an entire day. You can decide to climb one volcanoes, two or all the 3 depending on your fitness. The mountains have montane vegetation that gives you very beautiful scenery while hiking. It’s very interesting reaching the peak of Sabinyo, because standing at the peak will give you an opportunity to be in the three countries at the same time
Batwa tourist experience;
Batwa tribe is one of the minority tribes in Kisoro who originally were staying in the forest of Bwindi and Mgahinga before it was gazetted into the national park. The forest was their ancestral home and all their survival was from the forest. When the two forests were gazetted into national parks, the Batwa were relocated into the neighbouring communities. They live adjacent to the forests and practice agriculture for domestic purposes. They will take you on Batwa cultural experience where they will learn their survival tactics in the forest and their experience of living outside their ancestral home. This activity supports them as part of their livelihood. This activity lasts between 2 to 4 hours.
Accommodation;
- Lake Murehe resort
- Lake mutanda resort
- Gorilla nest camp
- Chameleon hill resort
- Ikoro Hotel
- Rushaga Gorilla camp
