Kisoro is a district and town in Uganda located about 460 kilometres (290 mi) from the capital city of Kampala. From Kisoro and its surroundings, you will have fantastic views of the Virunga Mountains located at the border of Rwanda, the Congo, and Uganda, which once extended down to the Bwindi National Park. The incredible Bwindi Forest is home to mountain gorillas and represents one of the world’s most diverse forests.
The region of Kisoro is known as the Switzerland of Africa due to its fantastic scenery, mountainous terrain and cool temperatures. The geography of the Kisoro district is hilly and mountainous with lakes and incredible views.
You can enjoy Kisoro gorilla tours into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see these magnificent mammals, plus enjoy seeing some of the other 90 species of mammal present and the 10 species of primate.
The mountain gorilla population of Bwindi has been increasing steadily and is now at a little over 400 individuals spread among eleven habituated groups throughout the forest. One of the most easily accessed group from Kisoro is the Nkuringo group.
To visit these wonderful animals while enjoying a comfortable lodge and delicious food, we recommend Kisoro gorilla tours from the Nkuringo Gorilla Camp or choose an enjoyable walking safari including gorilla treks on the Nkuringo Walking Safari.
Walking safaris provide a great adventure in the Ugandan wilderness and coupled with gorilla trekking make a fantastic way to experience what Uganda has to offer. Enjoy custom tours to suit your wishes limited simply by flight schedules and permit availability. Led by some of Uganda’s local guides, experience a land before time. One of our favorite walking tours is the seven day walking safari around Bwindi Park and Mgahinga National Park focusing on the gorilla group and golden monkeys. Enjoy the wildlife, forest, waterfalls, and learn about the area from your knowledgeable guide.
Another favorite is the Nkuringo Walking Safari where you will enjoy fantastic views over the Virunga Volcanoes as you walk from Kisoro to Buhoma led by excellent local guides. Spend your first night on the shores of Lake Mutanda. Cross the lake in traditional dugout canoe and enjoy varied culture, ethnic groups, scenery and wildlife on this great regional tour. You can enquire for both these experiences and other walking tours using the tour bubble above.
The Nkuringo Gorilla Camp is a great lodge from Kisoro, situated on the Nteko Ridge from where you have great views over the Virunga Mountains and into the fantastic Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. See into the Nkuringo where we will later explore to see the Nkuringo gorilla group across the Kashasha river valley. The lodge provides a great place to enter the forest to find the gorillas and provides excellent birding opportunities. Enjoy trails through Bwindi to areas rarely visited by other tourists to find a variety of interesting species.
The 4-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour
Entebbe, UgandaCurrently, TourTheTropics.com cannot help you book this experience. However, you can visit the tour operator's website for more information.
The 5-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour
Entebbe, UgandaCurrently, TourTheTropics.com cannot help you book this experience. However, you can visit the tour operator's website for more information.
In addition to the Nkuringo group, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge can also help visitors arrange their gorilla tracking permits for the Nshongi, Mishaya, Bweza Kahungye or Busingye groups on the south side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to find availability. Send a message using the lodge contact bubble for more information.
Activities offered from Nkuringo Gorilla Camp in addition to seeing the mountain gorillas include cultural exchanges by visiting the Batwa pygmies, guided village walks, a guided multi-day walking safari, and touring Bwindi to see other fantastic wildlife, including experiencing one of East Africa’s best locations for birdwatching.
Over 350 bird species have been recorded in Bwindi with 23 birds endemic to the area. This includes 90% of all the Albertine Rift Valley endemic species. Both the Nkuringo Gorilla Camp and Walking Safari options have a team of expert birding guides ready to show off the incredible birding opportunities of the region.
In addition to the fantastic birds, such as black billed turacos, yellow eyed black flycatchers, black bee-eaters, and kivus ground thrushes, enjoy chance sightings of some other Bwindi wildlife. Other mammals living in the area include white colobus monkeys, elephants, bushbucks, buffalo, civet cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted duikers, yellow backed duikers, clawless otters, genets and many species of bats.
The 7-Day Primate Tour
Entebbe, UgandaCurrently, TourTheTropics.com cannot help you book this experience. However, you can visit the tour operator's website for more information.
After gorilla trekking, from Nkuringo Gorilla Camp you can also enjoy a 3 to 4 hour community village walk designed by local guides from the Nkuringo Community. This is very nice walk which visits the suma waterfalls, a local school, and a woman’s craft center. The walk takes you up to the Nkuringo Hill View for fantastic 360° views over Bwindi, the Virunga Mountains and into the Congo.
Another popular forest walk, the Buniga Forest Trail helps provide income for the Batwa ethnic group and the walk itself is arranged by the Nkuringo Community Conservation and Development Foundation. The Batwa are employed as guides to show visitors their home. The Buninga forest is rich with animals and plant species, including plants used by the Batwa for medicinal properties. The forest has 100 different bird species identified and many mammal species, including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, and duikers.
