Kisoro town is in the South Western Uganda approximately 480 km from Kampala in the border between Uganda and Rwanda. You can access Kisoro town through Uganda or Rwanda using Kyanika border which is about 10 Km from Kisoro town. Kisoro can be accessed from Kampala city centre using tarmac road using Kampala-Mbarara- Kabale- Kisoro road using direct buses from Kampala which takes about 8 to 9 hours. Kisoro town can also be accessed by air through local frights arranged from kajansi and Entebbe airport which takes about 40 min.
Kisoro town is surrounded by the Bafumbira people which the dominant tribe. however, there is a minority tribe of pygmies-Batwa who originally used to stay in Bwindi and Mgahinga national park before it was gazetted into national park. Kisoro town is a very famous town with a lot of tourism sites and activities. It lies between the 2 national parks of Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park which host the endangered mountain gorillas a few remaining in the world. Mgahinga gorilla national park also hosts the endangered golden monkeys which are only found in 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.
Kisoro town has a lot of Tourism sites which include, Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga gorilla national park, lake Mutanda, lake Murehe, and the three volcanic mountains of Gahinga, Sabinyo and Muhavura. While in Kisoro, one of the neighboring hills near Nkuringo will give you the beautiful views of Mt Nyiragongo an active volcano in the DRC-Congo which last erupted in May 2021
Lake Bunyonyi is also a few kms from kisoro town which is approximately 50kms.Lake Bunyonyi is one of the lava dammed lakes believed to be the 2nd deepest lake in Africa. It hosts the punishment island where the Un married girls in Bakiga culture would be taken to starve and dies to serve as an example to the rest.
Tourism activities around Kisoro town
Gorilla tracking:
This is a must do tourism activity which is done in Bwindi impenetrable national park in the nearby Rushaga sector which is about 35km from kisoro town and Nkuringo sector which is about 45 km. Gorilla trekking can also be done in mgahinga gorilla national park with Nyakagezi family. This activity will give you an opportunity to encounter with the few remaining mountain gorillas and stay with them for at least one hour taking photos in close range. This activity is approximated to last between 4 to 6 hours. However, the estimated time can be more or less depending on the movement of the gorilla family you have been assigned to. Meeting the gorillas is one of the most captivating lifetime experiences that gives you lasting memories.
Golden monkey tracking.
Golden moneys 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
Walking safari:
Walking safari can be done around the highlands adjacent to Kisoro town with the community guides which takes about 3 to 4 hours. This will give you an opportunity to visit the communities and interact with them and learn their ways of living. You can as well do the mountain biking that will test your fitness since the land scape is hilly.
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.
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 lodge
- Ikoro Hotel
- Rushaga Gorilla camp
