Kisoro Town Bordering Rwanda : Located in Southwestern Uganda, Kisoro town is one of the best places worth visiting while on Uganda safari. Sitting on a hilly side of Uganda, Kisoro town is an incredible tourism transit hub for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is a main town of Kisoro District lying a few minutes off Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo borders with Uganda.
Kisoro town is about 76kms by road from Kabale District, 500kms Southwest of Kampala Capital City and it is situated East of Rumangabo and Virunga Massifs in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It sits at altitudinal range of 1,929 meters and overviews the Mufumbiro Mountains.
ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN KISORO.
Kisoro is strategically located in area with distinct attractions and plenty of activities for tourists to explore and experience. They include;
Gorilla trekking
Kisoro town lies in Southwestern where two gorilla safari parks in Uganda are all situated that is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Due to its strategic location, tourists have opportunity to engage in gorilla trekking a lifetime experience. While in Kisoro, you can at least trek gorillas in 3 gorilla trekking sectors including; Nyakagezi sector in Mgahinga national park, Rushaga and Nkuringo sector of Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Kisoro Town Bordering Rwanda
Gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s most sought after wildlife experience offering a chance to visitors to enjoy a close encounter with the rare mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. Gorilla permits in Uganda, per person cost USD700 for foreign non-residents, USD600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens.
Leisure at Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda is one of the beautiful lakes in South-western Uganda and also one of the major attractions in Kisoro district. Lake Mutanda is about 20kms North of Kisoro town. While at Lake Mutanda, visitors can take a local dugout canoe rode to one of the stunning islands as they also enjoy splendid views of the Virunga Volcanoes.
Volcano climbing
Mountain climbing is a thrilling adventure visitors should not miss while in Kisoro town. The 3 of the 8 Virunga volcanoes are located adjacent to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park just near Kisoro town. These include Mount Gahinga, which is about 3,475 meters high, Mount Sabyinyo, which is about 3,669 meters high and Mount Muhabura, which is the highest in Uganda with about 4,127 meters high.
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey tracking is one of the memorable wildlife experiences tourists can enjoy while on tour in Kisoro, Southwestern Uganda. Golden monkeys in Uganda live in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park part of the Virunga Region. Golden monkeys are among the 20 amazing species of primates Uganda boasts of with about 2000-4000 of them left and thriving within the Virunga region, Kisoro Town Bordering Rwanda
Golden monkey permits in Uganda per visitor costs USD 60 for foreign non-residents & foreign residents; UGX 40,000 for East Africa citizens. There is also golden monkey habituation experience with permits costing USD 100 for foreign non-residents & foreign residents while East Africa citizens pay UGX 100,000.
Batwa cultural tours
The Batwa trail in Mgahinga national park offers amazing cultural interaction with the Batwa and while in Kisoro town, it should be a must do. The Batwa pygmies lived in the forest as hunters and gatherers before they were evicted from the National Park. On cultural tour, Batwa guide will lead you or alternatively, you can visit Bakiga community.
Getting to Kisoro town
Kisoro town is accessible by road or by air. By road and from Kampala to Kisoro, it is about 500 kms, which is approximately 8-9 hours’ drive. From Kigali to Kisoro, it is 135 km, about 4 hours’ drive.
By air, one can take a flight from Entebbe with either Bar Aviation Limited or Aerolink Uganda Limited; both operate one daily morning flight from Entebbe to Kisoro and back to Entebbe. Flight is only 2 hours as a connecting flight to other airstrips. From Kisoro airstrip, you can then connect from the airstrip to Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park by road.
ACCOMMODATION IN AND AROUND KISORO TOWN
Some of the best places to spend a night in and around Kisoro town include Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Travellers Rest Hotel, Ikoro Hotel, Bavah Guesthouse, Virunga Campsite and Backpackers.
