Kisoro town is situated in the southwestern part of Uganda, located in the hilliest part of the country with an area of 729.7 square kilometers and an estimated population of 266,222 people according to 2009 data.
The nearest town to Kisoro is Kabale town.
Kisoro town is 550 kilometers from Kampala, which takes about 10-12 hours to drive by road.
Tourists can also fly to Kisoro airstrip from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield within two hours.
Activities in Kisoro Town
Some of the popular activities that you can do in Kisoro Town include:
- Visit Lake Mutanda: Lake Mutanda is a scenic lake nestled within the Virunga volcanoes and Kisoro hills in western Uganda. You can visit Lake Mutanda and take a local dugout canoe to one of its 15 islands while enjoying superb views of the Virunga massif volcanoes.
- Gorilla Trekking: Kisoro town is near Mgahinga National Park, which is home to mountain gorillas. Tourists can fly into Kisoro airstrip and drive to the park. The town is also near gorilla national parks in Congo and Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is one of the most sought-after tourist activities in Africa. Gorillas are close human relatives, sharing 98% of their DNA with humans. The cost of trekking is $600 per person, and you are given an hour to spend in the presence of gorillas.
- Mountain Climbing: Tourists can also engage in volcanic climbing while in Kisoro town. Three of the Virunga mountains that are home to mountain gorillas are found in Uganda: Mount Gahinga at 3,475 meters above sea level, Mount Sabyinyo at 3,669 meters above sea level, and Mount Muhabura at 4,127 meters above sea level. These volcanoes provide a thrilling mountain climbing experience with panoramic views at the top, such as Mount Sabinyo, which offers views of all three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Cultural Encounters: Cultural encounters in Kisoro town can be experienced at the famous Batwa trail, featuring the indigenous Batwa tribe, who were the ancient people of the gorilla national parks before they were evicted from the national park. The Batwa guide will give you insights into how they used to survive in the forest for food, medicine, and culture. You can also visit the Bakiga people who live outside the park and are engaged in farming.
- Golden Monkey Trekking: Golden monkeys are an endangered species of monkeys, with Mgahinga National Park having the highest species count of about 3,000-4,000 of them. These monkeys move in troops of 40-100 individuals and are very interesting due to their playful characteristics and appearance. Golden monkey permits are also affordable, they are easy to trek, and the number of people trekking is not limited like mountain gorilla trekking.
