Kisoro
The township of Kisoro only has about 18,000 inhabitants living in the town proper. More than a quarter of a million in its district, mostly earning 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 scenery, smooth roads, and hard-working people eager to please and offer hospitality.
However, the main attraction for many is the opportunity to get close with a troupe of habituated gorillas and hiking the different mountains.
There is indeed beauty in western Uganda, all green and hilly areas. Someone even mentioned western Uganda describes the true meaning of Pearl of Africa. If you love nature and want to relax which having an adventure of a life time, travel to western or south western of Uganda.
If you are interested in hiking and gorilla Trekking then Mgahinga National Park is one place to go. Mt Muhabura or Muhavura, Mt Gahinga, Mt Sabinyo all are found in Kisoro district. This one place you must visit on your Ugandan Safari.
We used the Masaka- Mbarara High way. Saw some zebras as we passed Lake Mburo National Park in Lyatonde district. From Ntugamu to Kable, Kisoro we began viewing the beautiful we shaped green rolling hills. The air becomes cooler as you get ahead.
The driver has to be extra careful and professional like the one of Ganyana Safaris. Otherwise one’s vehicle can easily fall off the cliff because of these sharp corned roads. Our eyes were filled of wonder, when we made a stopover to view the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Took some pictures and headed to Kisoro.
When you reach Kisoro it gets colder, so make sure you carried your jackets. There were kids along the roads who kept on waving and saying Muzungu mpaku sente, “White people give us some money”. Others were asking for books and pens. We saw women carrying baskets on the head and kids on their backs while breastfeeding them at the same time enjoying conservations with their friends.
There were many people along the road selling different items and others buying them. We were told it was a market day. We were told if you want to buy something or get airtime the best place to buy from is in Kisoro town because the shops are limited in the village. Many people were enjoying alcoholic drinks like crude waragi, they say it keeps them warm and the bars are in plenty.
In Kisoro town is where you will find the UWA offices. If you are going for gorilla trekking or hiking, that’s the place to buy permits from. There are different activites in Mgahinga National Park. These include: Gorilla trekking, hiking, sightseeings, Garama carves, bird watching, golden monkey tracking, batwa trails, cultural and nature walks among others.
One of the guides told us that Kisoro got its name from the colonialists. They realised that these people were social and welcoming to visitors. They named the place “Kiss All” the locals pronounced it as Kisoro.
Different tribes here especially the bafumbira, batwa, bakiga, Banyankole among others. If you are a first learner you will come become to Kampala knowing how to greet in any of their language.
The biggest percentage of people in Kisoro are Seventh Day Adventists and almost every home rears sheep. When we asked the guide why? He said they are cheap to maintain since there is plenty of grass and water.
The place is so beautiful you don’t want to leave when you reach there. Ganyana Safaris has experienced personnel when it comes to the various activities in Mt Mgahinga National Park.
There a few places for accommodation like, Mt Gahinga Lodge and Amajyambere Community Rest Camp. These are close to the park for those one’s going to hike, Travellers Rest Hotel, Lake Chahaffi Lodge.
