Uganda Safari, The Undiscovered Pearl for Travelers

SOUTH WESTERN UGANDA
Lake Bunyonyi, Kabale, Kisoro, Mgahinga

Kigezi region is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda, one of the most attractive and distinctive parts of this country. The typical scenery found here is steep hills of terraced cultivation, giving off a patchwork effect. This region is extremely fertile because of the volcanic soil and ideal climate for cultivation crops. The largest town in the area is called Kabale, a friendly town where it is often said, that some travelers plan staying one night and end up spending a week. This town is often used as a base from which to visit mountain gorilla forests, or the sprawling Lake Bunyonyi, which is strewn with many pretty islands. The lake, about 6km from Kabale, is very picturesque. You can take uganda safari rides in dugout canoes, go for walks, watch spectacular birdlife and even camp on one of the islands.

This erratically shaped lake with many fingers, is 900m deep in parts. The weather is very cool, because it lies at an altitude of 2,000 m. The steep-terraced hills are covered in cultivation, as are most of the islands. Bunyonyi means, “place on birds” -0 and it is not difficult to see why. You can also spot otters at a place called Kyabahinga. Close to the mainland is Far Out Island with a tented camp that is highly recommended. It is said to be safe to swim in the lake which is too cold to support the bilharzias parasite, and there are no hippos and crocodiles found here. Even the fish are very tiny, but the small fresh water crayfish are worth feasting on.

Bushala island is a community project set on a tree-filled in the middle of the lake. This is simply a ‘top spot’ tranquil, filled with birds and commands beauriful views over the lake. You can stay in standing tents, or pitch your own. Monday is a market day, and its quite amazing to watch hordes of dugout canoes coming from every direction, loaded with their cash crops as they descend on Kyabahinga near Kabale.

Kisoro lies at the base of the Virunga Mountains near the Rwadan and Congolese borders. It is often used as a base for visits to the mountain gorilla in Mgahinga National Park or the Djombo Gorilla Sanctuary in the Congo. The setting here is quite breath-taking, with hills rolling out in every direction and the volcanis peaks of Virungas rising into the sky to the south. It is a wonderful area for day excursions and hikes, especially to Lakes Mutanda and Mulahe surrounded by mountains, and only a 6-8 km walk from Kisoro.

Mgahinga Gorilla Safari National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park and also one of the newest. It borders Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, and Parc National des Virungas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ugandan side of the Virunga mountain range includes six mountains, thre active and three extinct peaks. The three extinct volcanoes lie within the park: Mt. Muhabura (4127m). Mt. Gahinga (3475m) and Mt. Sabinyo (3645m). Mgahinga is an afro-montane tropical rain forest, including a montane forest balt, bamboo zone, an ericaceous belt (heather-type plants) and an alpine zone. There are also three large swamps in the park, namely: Rugezi, Kabiranyuma and Kazibakye. This park offers panoramic views over steep volcanic cones in the south, and the Bwindi hills in the north. Mgahinga is famous for Gorilla tracking but strangely, these gorillas do not live in the park permanently. They move freely between Uganda and Rwanda. However, gorilla tracking is not the only attraction. The park offers other activities such as forest walks and also caving, for example, the exploration to Garama and Gashjja Caves near Kisoro.

Mgahinga is situated within one of the most densely populated parts of rural Africa, surrounded by the terraced hills of the Batwa and Bafumbira people,who once were hunter-gatherers and are now keen agriculturalists.