Kisoro.
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Overview

The township of Kisoro only has about 18,000 inhabitants living in the town proper, but there are more than a quarter of a million in its district, mostly eking out a living as subsistence farmers on low incomes. It's the last sizeable settlement in Western Uganda, hard up against the borders of both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

Many foreign visitors to Uganda find that this is one of the nicest areas to spend time in with beautiful mountain scenery and hospitable locals. However, the main attraction for many is the opportunity to get close with a troupe of habituated gorillas.

Understand

At an elevation of 1,900 m (6230 ft), visitors from cooler climes will probably get a good night's sleep in the cool, clean and invigorating air of Kisoro.

The volcanic Mufumbiro Mountains dominate local views with Mount Karisimbi at 4,507 m (14,787 ft) being the highest volcano in this range. Immediately to the south of the township of Kisoro, Mount Muhabura, whose extinct volcanic peak delineates the border between Uganda and Rwanda at this point, is 4,127 m (13,540 ft) high.

Many foreign visitors come to view the mountain gorillas, critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, disease, and war. The Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat, is between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke.

In November 2013, about 1,500 fighters of the M23 Congolese rebellious faction, together with their leader, Sultani Makenga, surrendered in Mgahinga National Park a few kilometres to the south and were held on the local football pitch in Kisoro until being moved much further east to Chakwanze.

Get in

By car From Kampala the road via Masaka to Mbarara is well surfaced (apart from verge damage) and reasonably wide so 100 km/h can be maintained. Light traffic once you leave the traffic mayhem and fumes of the capital, means you're likely to take just less than 5 hours for this part of the journey. However, just after leaving Mbarara the road surface disintegrates and is badly potholed reducing speeds to 10-25 km/h for about 20 km until just before Ntungamo where road works were completed in Feb 2014. Once you leave Kabale the road narrows considerably but the tarmac surface is brand new and billiard table smooth but very winding and scenic. The Postbus, operated reliably and punctually by Uganda Post, departs M-Sa at 07:00 from the central Kampala post office in Kampala Road and arrives 10 hours later in Kisoro for USh30,000 one way. It seats 67 and you are guaranteed a seat if you book in advance (enter the post office as if you were buying stamps, take the first exit to the outside courtyard on your left, go round the corner of the building you just left, take the first door on your right, go down the corridor and enter Room 2 on your right. You can also get a ticket on the day of departure or from the conductor anywhere en route if you flag the bus down - it's huge and bright red).

Baby Coaches. Returning to Kampala, you may want to take the night bus for USh25,000 which leaves Kisoro at 19:15 and is scheduled to arrive in the capital at 06:00. Contrary to what you might expect from their name, they operate full size, 67 seat Isuzu buses, typically screening Nigerian TV soap-operas to keep you entertained. Apart from the middle of the back row (excessively bumpy) and seat number 6 (aisle seat in row of 3 immediately behind the driver) legroom is very restricted for what may be 10 hours plus.

Gateway Bus Service. Travels the same route as the Postbus between Kisoro and Kampala. Two night bus services to Kampala for USh20,000: the first leaves Kisoro at 17:00 and is scheduled to arrive in the capital at 04:00; the second service leaves Kisoro at 20:00 and is scheduled to arrive in the capital at 07:00. Operate full size, 67 seat Isuzu buses and a big advantage for some is that they do not screen Nigerian TV soap-operas or allow smoking and have 2-3 toilet stops on the way. Limited legroom and cleanliness.

From Bunagana, DRC, climb the rutted apology for a "road" that is alternately gloopy with mud or whipped into a duststorm until you see the barriers of the Ugandan border post. Here bodo-bodos will be waiting. There are also sometimes large buses, but their schedules are sporadic and whimsical. Tarmac is then smooth and peaceful until you arrive in Kisoro 14 km later. Fuel is available on the left, 6 km after the border.

From Busengo, DRC the road is lightly trafficked to the Ugandan border barrier and consequently is not as rutted as some more heavily used roads in the DRC. Gradients are as steep as 1 in 5 and typically the road does not allow two trucks to pass. Travellers need to be aware that the border crossing Busengo/Busanza is only legal if you cross using a passport from either the DRC or one of the countries of the East African Community (ie Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania or Uganda). Travellers bearing passports from other countries may physically be able to cross into Uganda here, but the officials at should turn you back to the DRC. If you have a really good story, the immigration officer may allow you to continue to the crossing point at Bunagana 38 km further and obtain the necessary entry stamps and visa there, but that would be an act of exceptional kindness. In the hamlet of Busanza, they were not connected to the electric grid in June 2014 but the high tension cables have already been installed and they are expecting connection in the next 3 months.Once you've crossed the (completely non-marked) border the road widens so two trucks can pass, the dirt surface is less rutted and gradients diminish to about 1 in 7. In May-June 2014 this was assessed as an all weather road. Watch out for stray mud bricks/blocks in the road, though, because many mud quarries and brick works are on this road. From the border it's about 27 km until you hit tarmac, but the road is good enough to cruise at 25-35 km/h on a motorcycle.

From Ruhengeri, Rwanda, the road has been good for a while now and once you're through the quick and relaxed Ugandan immigration the tarmac gets even smoother and the carriageway is about 10m wide with gradual bends. As of June 2014, there were no painted lines or reflectors on this new tarmac so you might want to drive this stretch during daylight - especially as the scenery is so attractive.

To Kigali , the capital of Rwanda with daily direct flights on Brussels Airline from Brussels or Turkish Airlines from Istanbul. KLM also flies to Kigali directly from Amsterdam. RwandAir also has flights from Dubai (often via Mombasa) using its new Boeing 737-800 and separately from Johannesburg using the same aircraft. From Kigali it is only about 3 hours on good roads to Kisoro - much shorter than from Entebbe.

Get around

Motorcycle Bodo-bodos are available.

If you're staying a while you might like to hire a vehicle to get around and see the lush countryside. The black-brown, volcanic soil is especially fertile and with nary a drought you could plant a broom-handle in the ground and it would sprout. There are lots of smaller, rounded hills and the rectilinear patchwork of varied hues of green made by the different vegetables growing in the gardens on their slopes makes for a very verdant and relaxing vista.

There are few dogs to run between your wheels, so you might want to consider hiring a local's 125-200 cc motorcycle for USh20,000-30,000 per day.

See

Gorillas up close and personal in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Potter's Village. This centre arranges foster family support and has the only premature baby care unit in the district. Visitors are welcome to see the work of the centre and gain an insight into the plight of many local families M-F 10:00-17:00. Most of the babies are asleep 11:00-13:00. It also offers outpatient care for children of less than 13 years around the clock. The centre does not get government funding, and all donations, whether of money or expertise are welcomed.

Lake Mutanda. Probably the nicest way to see the lake with its many islands and islets is from the ridge above it to the south - perhaps when on the walking snake safari. By road, the easiest access is to head west out of Kisoro on the smooth main road to the DRC and then turn right at the un-signposted road just after you pass the distinctive squat, square tower on the roof of on your right. You'll now be on the Kisoro-Busanza Road to the DRC. After 1.3 km you'll see a sign for the right turn to the lakeside , founded by the Pentecostal bishop the Right Reverend Cranmer Mugisha in 2010. This is a green lane that runs between maize fields and wild flowers down to the water's edge where there is a small creek and usually a few dugouts if you fancy being paddled across the lake.

Virunga Volcanoes. The ones accessible from the Ugandan side are either extinct or long dormant but there were eruptions in the DRC in 2006 and again in 2010.

Do

Milestone Safaris. Specialises in walking snake safaris starting from Kisoro town to Lake Mutanda. Typical start time is 09:00 and you will need a reasonable level of fitness since you will ramble along one of the district's green lanes, surrounded by wild flowers and laughing children, gaining about 280 m (800 ft) as you ascend a ridge until you have an exhilarating view of Lake Mutanda spread out below you. There's then quite a steep scramble down to reach the lake shore below. There is a particular promontory here where the village inhabitants believe that serpents are the spiritual throne of their ancestors - consequently the snakes here have found a kind of sanctuary amongst the Yam beds and sugar cane. You are likely to see deadly black mambas, 5 m (16 ft) long rock pythons, spitting cobras and, possibly, green mambas. When you've seen enough, a dugout canoe will pick you up and skirt the reed beds so you can admire kingfishers and other water birds. USD25 per person; discount for groups by negotiation.If you're a lazy muzungo, they also offer 3-day game drive safaris in air-conditioned 4x4s taking up to 3 people per vehicle into the southern part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park's Ishasha sector where you will almost invariably see the famous pride of tree-climbing lions. For this game drive, you'll leave Kisoro at 06:00 and first travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving about 08:00 to try to spot forest elephants, chimpanzees and, very occasionally, the rare and elusive L'Hoest's monkey (Cercopithecus lhoesti). Generally you will not leave the safety of your 4x4 because of the danger from giant forest pigs which can grow up to 2.1 m (6.9 ft) in length and can tip the scales at more than 270 kg (60 lb). Leaving Bwindi about 11:00, the next stop is lunch at Kihihi trading post. After lunch there is an hour's drive before you can check-in to your bandas in the Q.E.N.P. to have a shower and freshen up. You start your game drive about 16:00 until dusk around 19:00. The next morning kicks off with another game drive from 06:30 towards the Ishasha river. Here you'll be able to get some fantastic close-ups of hippo just a few metres below where you'll be standing on the steep bank (hippos are neither good at climbing nor leaping). After breakfast you'll be driven to Mweya for a 2-hour afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes George and Edward. After disembarkation, there follows another game drive with likely sightings of Uganda kob, water buck, warthogs, water buffalo, elephant. If you're lucky, you may spot leopard. That night is spent in the White House hotel in Kasese. The next morning is spent visiting about a dozen of the more than forty volcanic crater lakes in the vicinity of Fort Portal. After lunch, the afternoon is spent visiting some of the historic sights of the Toro Kingdom.

Nkuringo Walking Safaris. Rangers all speak excellent English and most were born and grew up in the local region, meaning they are extremely knowledgeable about local hazards and customs. They speak the most used local languages of Rufumbira and Rukiga together with other local languages such as Rutoro, Luganda, Runyankore and Kiswahili if there are any potential disputes about land access. Various routes are available customized to your fitness levels. Walkers are likely to see L'hoest, black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, while those who opt for a canoe across Lake Mutanda may see fish otters and abundant birdlife (eg: great white pelicans; yellow billed ducks; Ross's turacos; black crakes; black headed weavers; white tailed blue flycatchers; African paradise fly catchers; African jacanas; Regal, bronze and purple breasted sunbirds; pied kingfishers; malachite kingfishers; great cormorant; sacred ibis; cattle egrets; Mackinnon's fiscal; African pied wagtail; grey crested cranes; pin tailed whydahs). All rangers carry binoculars that you can use if you forgot your own. If you wish to walk further than the hamlet of Buhoma in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, then overnights at Nkuringo Gorilla Camp can be arranged.

Echuya Eco-tourism Association. A non-profit community group, Echuya Eco-tourism Association is now offering guided hikes in Echuya Central Forest Reserve for USh30,000. The reserve is located half an hour outside of Kisoro on the road to Kabale. There are two trails which cross forest, bamboo, and a rare high altitude swamp. Cultural visits with Bachiga, Batwa, and Bafumbira communities are also possible. Self-sufficient campground USh20,000.

Buy

Market days are Monday and Thursday with people coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to buy goods that they can not obtain without difficulty in their own country.

Crane Bank. External ATM open 24/7 processes only Visa cards.

Stanbic Bank. External ATM open 24/7 takes Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus network, Visa cards.

Equity Bank. Mastercard/Visa card ATM.

Eat

Coffee Pot Café. Yummy desserts and excellent coffee as you might expect. Apart from the chips, which are lovely, any other exotic foreign dishes like bacon and eggs, you'll have to teach them the way you like it.

Drink

Mucha Bistro. Tiny but beautifully formed café seating 10 inside and 8 outside in crisp and elegant surroundings; the colour-way is various shades of green. Carrot Cake USh6,000, Espresso Macchiato USh4,500.They also have the cleanest en suite guest rooms in Kisoro from USh35,000 for single occupancy and from USh50,000 for double occupancy including a moderate amount of laundry. No insect screens, but the windows and doors fit reasonably tightly. German owned, free Wi-Fi.The manageress can also put you in touch with a week's motorcycle self-drive hire for USh200,000 and you can be confident that the 100 cc Indian made Bajaj bike will have all those optional extras the muzungo needs like a working front brake, a clutch that does not slip and an operating horn.

Sleep

Hotel Virunga. camping/single/double rooms with outside bathrooms

Many of them feature metal doors for that authentic late-night cell block clang.

Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp. Community bandas and camping set right at the park entrance. Cheap to visit, excellent location.

Golden Monkey Guest House. Clean, brightly painted, budget place in central location, with the best food in town. Really helpful staff which might open up the kitchen for you in the late evening and help organise transport next morning. This whole establishment is fragrant and can access free Wi-Fi. Large area out front for overland travellers to park their vehicles at night and there is an armed guard. Most doors and windows close reasonably tightly and securely and the air-bricks are screened for mosquitoes. Can be very noisy at night with the metal doors and thoughtless tourists having loud conversations long into the night. Large towels are a bonus.

SawaSawa Guest House. This budget option has been opened by a local lady that has many years experience working in the hospitality industry. Breakfasts and other meals are great. Less than a dozen small chalets arranged around a central courtyard. Strictly non-smoking, but there is a well groomed and cared for cat. Very clean with comfortably firm mattresses.

Countryside Guesthouse. single/double rooms with outside bathroom

Rafiki Guest House. Looking oddly out of place, like it's been dropped in from the English home counties, this relatively quiet guest house is run by the same people as the Golden Monkey, but you do pay more for a better night's sleep and secure parking. No smoking & free Wi-Fi.

Virunga Motel & Campsite. Gardens and grounds are better maintained than the newish 2-storey accommodation block which has 4 en suite rooms on each floor, each with table and chair. Windows and doors are ill-fitting and the ventilation slats are not insect-screened. Door locks are more secure than most. In June 2014, satellite TV and Wi-Fi was only "planned" so they are poor value at USD50 for a double or twin, incl. a light, cold breakfast. There are also 9 smaller, older, self-contained chalets at USD25 for a double or twin.

Hotel Mucha. This brand new boutique hotel occupies a gorgeous spot on the left bank of the Mucha river just after it leaves Lake Mulehe. The river is clean and swift flowing and kingfishers often dart from the fringing reed banks. All 10 rooms are en suite with some of the nicest bathrooms in Uganda and either face the river or towards the volcanoes to the south. Fly screening is excellent and there are back-up generators.,They also allow smoking.

Lake Mutanda Resort. Despite its idyllic location, they don't operate a launch (or a sea-plane), so the road journey will take the best part of an hour from either the airstrip or town. 13 en suite cottages, each built on stilts so that there are excellent views out over the lake from each private verandah. Free Wi-Fi in the restaurant.

Travellers Rest Hotel. Eleven fully en suite rooms in the oldest established hotel in Kisoro. Large and comfortable guest lounge displays an eclectic collection of local art and cultural artefacts but the highlight for many will be the log fire that is lit many evenings. Guinness and Nile Special beer, together with the other usual suspects and malt whiskies served at the English pub style bar at one end of the guest lounge. Bathrooms are spacious and beautifully tiled. Rooms are grouped around a spacious, central garden courtyard and Rooms 1, 2, 3, and Mutanda have especially exhilarating views of the surrounding dormant and extinct volcanoes. Both the dogs and the staff are extremely friendly and affable. Evening meals are extremely tasty and varied and available to visitors not staying at the hotel, but must be booked by 15:30 on the afternoon they are served. Cash only, no plastic accepted.