This town is found in the Western Uganda about 550 kilometers from Kampala City. It is the main town of the district and the site of the district headquarters. In the same location of Kisoro, there is the peaks of mountain Mufumbiro which are part of the Virunga Mountains, a home to the rare mountain gorillas. It is the nearest town to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the town is accessible for those traveling to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and DR Congo’s Virunga National Park. Visitors are able to enjoy the beautiful scenic vews the Mountain, Lake Mutanda, colorful markets and volcano trekking are also available in Kisoro.
Shopping
As a relatively the biggest town in the region, it has a lot to offer when it comes to shopping. The market in Kisoro is open every Monday and Thursday. Expect to find plenty of stuff ranging from fresh fruits to fabrics. There are lots of shops open on a dairy basis along kisoro main street. The town is also known for handcraft shops where you can buy gorilla musks, t-shirts and many other hand made things.
Where to Stay
Most of the guest houses and hotels found in Kisoro sell drinks but if you want to go out for a drink, there are many places where you can go. There many places for hanging out along Mutanda road.
Getting Around
Getting around in Kisoro is possible. The most common mode of transportation used by the local people, are motorcycles locally known as “boda bodas.” However it’s advisable whenever riding a bodaboda to put on a helmet as a safety measure.
You can also a hire a matatu to take you around. For more information regarding Kisoro, check the Mgahinga National Park website, a local tourist information portal that is also useful in getting ideas on how to explore different places in Kisoro district and surrounding places.
The common means of travelling to Kisoro is by use of bus coaches that are found in Kampala bus park. There are several bus companies that operate on the Kisoro-Kampala route on a daily basis. Some of these bus companies are Jaguar, Bismarkan, Horizon, Post Bus. Most people prefer using Post Bus which is regarded to be more comfortable. The journey from Kampala to Kisoro can take between 8 to 10 hours. It is also possible to get a car hire though more costly.
For people travelling from abroad directly to Kisoro, flying to Kigali city in Rwanda is the best option. Kisoro is just 3 hours drive from Kigali which makes the road trip shorter compared to driving from Kampala.
Kisoro also has an airstrip that serves chartered flights from Kampala or Entebbe.
