Best Things to Do in Kisoro for Tourists. Tucked away in the misty southwestern corner of Uganda, Kisoro is one of East Africa’s most breathtaking and underrated destinations. Flanked by the towering Virunga volcanoes, blanketed in emerald-green hills, and home to some of the world’s rarest wildlife, this compact district punches well above its weight as a tourist hotspot. Whether you are arriving from Kigali for a gorilla safari or simply exploring Uganda’s hidden gems, Kisoro promises an adventure that will stay with you long after you’ve left. This guide covers the very best things to do in Kisoro for tourists — from jungle treks and lakeside canoe rides to vibrant local markets and golden monkey encounters.
Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
No trip to Kisoro is complete without gorilla trekking, and Kisoro district is one of only two places in the entire world where you can do this life-changing activity. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. The southern sectors — Rushaga and Nkuringo — are accessed directly through Kisoro, making the town the ideal base camp for your trek.
Each trekking group is limited to just eight visitors per gorilla family per day, making the experience intimate, personal, and deeply moving. You will hike through dense rainforest guided by expert rangers before spending a magical hour with a habituated gorilla family in their natural habitat. The trek can last anywhere from one to six hours depending on the gorillas’ location that day, but every moment in that forest is absolutely worth it.
If you are planning your gorilla trekking adventure, explore the available gorilla trekking safaris on Kenlink Tours and then book your transfer or safari package directly from Rwanda or Uganda. Gorilla permits cost $700 per person and must be secured well in advance, so early planning is strongly recommended.
Track Golden Monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Kisoro is also the gateway to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a jewel of a reserve that sits where the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo meet. While gorillas can occasionally be tracked here too, Mgahinga is most celebrated for its golden monkey tracking experience — an activity that is often overlooked but absolutely delightful.
Golden monkeys are highly social, strikingly beautiful primates with bright orange and gold patches on their fur. They move in large, lively groups through the bamboo forests on the slopes of Mount Gahinga and Mount Muhavura, and spending time watching them play, feed, and interact is pure joy. The trek itself is relatively gentle compared to gorilla trekking, making it a great option for travellers who want a primate experience with a little less exertion.
If you are considering combining gorilla and golden monkey experiences, you can find comprehensive multi-day itineraries on Kenlink Tours’ Uganda safari packages. To organise your ground transport to Mgahinga, check the car hire options near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park available through our fleet.
Explore the Stunning Lake Mutanda
One of the most beautiful and serene lakes in all of Uganda, Lake Mutanda sits just a few kilometres from Kisoro town, framed by terraced hills and the dramatic silhouette of the Virunga volcanoes. The lake is dotted with small islands, and its glassy surface reflects the surrounding mountains in a way that feels almost too picturesque to be real.
Visitors can hire traditional dugout canoes and paddle across the water, stopping at forested islands where vervet monkeys and water birds live undisturbed. The canoe ride to the Batwa community on one of the islands is a particularly popular excursion. Sunrise and sunset at Lake Mutanda are truly magical moments — the kind that make you reach for your camera every few minutes.
For more inspiration on what to see and do around Kisoro’s lakes and landscapes, the Kenlink Tours blog on top things to do in Kisoro Town is an excellent resource to bookmark before your trip.
Hike the Virunga Volcanoes
For those with a love of hiking, Kisoro offers one of East Africa’s most rewarding trekking experiences: climbing the Virunga volcanoes. The three volcanoes that fall within Uganda — Mount Muhavura (4,127m), Mount Gahinga (3,474m), and Mount Sabyinyo (3,645m) — all rise from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and can be climbed with experienced guides.
Mount Muhavura is the highest and most challenging, rewarding those who summit with sweeping views across Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC, and a beautiful crater lake at the top. Mount Gahinga is gentler and takes you through dense bamboo forest teeming with wildlife. Mount Sabyinyo is arguably the most dramatic, requiring scrambles through narrow rock chimneys as you approach its summit — the very point where three countries meet.
All volcano hikes depart from the Ntebeko Gate in Mgahinga and require a guide and a permit. The hikes take between four and eight hours depending on the volcano chosen. It is important to be adequately fit, bring warm layers, and start early in the morning for the best weather and visibility.
Immerse Yourself in Batwa Cultural Experiences
The Batwa people are one of Uganda’s oldest indigenous communities, traditionally known as the forest-dwelling “keepers of the forest.” Once inhabitants of the very jungles where gorillas roam, the Batwa were displaced when national parks were gazetted for conservation. Today, Kisoro is one of the best places in Uganda to engage with Batwa culture respectfully and meaningfully.
Cultural walks with Batwa communities are offered in and around Mgahinga, during which guides lead visitors through the forest while sharing traditional hunting techniques, honey gathering methods, medicinal plant knowledge, and storytelling. The experience is both humbling and eye-opening, and it directly supports the livelihoods of the Batwa people.
This kind of cultural immersion, combined with primate trekking, is exactly what makes Kisoro such a rich destination. If you are interested in combining Rwanda and Uganda cultural experiences in a single trip, Kenlink Tours’ guide to combining Rwanda and Uganda gorilla trekking and culture is an excellent starting point for your planning.
Visit the Kisoro Town Market
For a genuine slice of local life, a morning stroll through Kisoro’s weekly market is an experience not to be missed. The market is a lively, colourful affair where farmers from the surrounding hills come to sell fresh produce — bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados, beans, and an astonishing variety of vegetables all grown in the fertile volcanic soil.
You will also find handcrafted basketware, wooden carvings, and locally made crafts that make wonderful souvenirs. The market is a great opportunity to interact with local people, practice a few words of Rufumbira (the local language), and experience the authentic rhythm of life in this corner of Uganda. Local restaurants around the market serve traditional Ugandan meals at very low prices — do not pass up the chance to try matoke, groundnut stew, and roasted maize.
Enjoy Birding Around Lake Chahafi and the Forests
Kisoro is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The district’s varied habitats — from volcanic forests and bamboo thickets to wetlands and lakeshores — support an extraordinary diversity of bird species, including many that are rare or endemic to the Albertine Rift. Lake Chahafi, located close to Mgahinga, is a particularly productive birding spot where you can watch African fish eagles, malachite kingfishers, and various herons and egrets.
Within the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga, dedicated birding walks can be arranged with specialist guides. Target species include the handsome francolin, African green broadbill, Grauer’s rush warbler, and Shelley’s crimsonwing — birds that serious twitchers travel across continents to see. Even casual wildlife enthusiasts will be charmed by the sheer variety and beauty of Kisoro’s birdlife.
Getting to Kisoro: Transfers and Transport
Kisoro sits approximately 510 kilometres from Kampala and about 85 kilometres from Kigali via the Cyanika border crossing, making it highly accessible for travellers coming from Rwanda. Many visitors combine Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park with a Kisoro-based gorilla trek in a single trip — a combination that offers incredible value and variety.
If you are travelling from Kigali, read our complete guide on how to travel from Kigali to Bwindi for gorilla trekking for route options, border crossing tips, and travel times. Our team specialises in private, comfortable transfers from Kigali to Kisoro and Bwindi, with well-maintained 4×4 vehicles, professional drivers, and flexible schedules. You can browse our full range of vehicles on the Our Fleet page and choose the vehicle that best suits your group size and budget. We also have a dedicated page for car rental companies in Kisoro to help independent travellers plan their ground transport with ease.
Plan Your Kisoro Safari Today
Kisoro is a destination that rewards every type of traveller — from adventure-seekers and wildlife enthusiasts to culture lovers and those simply seeking peace and natural beauty in one of Africa’s most stunning landscapes. The district’s combination of gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking, lakeside relaxation, and authentic community experiences makes it genuinely one of Uganda’s crown jewels.
Whether you are visiting for a short weekend or building Kisoro into a longer East African itinerary, the memories you make here will last a lifetime. Browse our full range of safari packages to find the right trip for you, check the Travel Guide for tips on what to pack and when to go, and contact our team today to start planning your perfect Kisoro adventure. We are here to make every kilometre of your journey as smooth and unforgettable as possible.
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