WHY YOU NEED TO VISIT THE SWISS OF AFRICA?
Swiss of Africa is the best destination for a visitor to explore while in Uganda or Rwanda. It is commonly known as kabale district which is between Mbarara –kisoro districts. Swiss of Africa is located in the southwestern part of Uganda with various touristic attractions such as Lake Bunyonyi, beautiful mountains for hiking, nature walks, boat cruise, farming, gorilla trekking and birding. People living in kabale district speak lukiga language who originated from the Bantu tribe.
What to see in the swiss of Africa?
Lake Bunyonyi.
Lake Bunyonyi is located in the southwestern part of Uganda neighboring kisoro district. The lake is the deepest in Africa and is close to the border of Rwanda neighboring Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park. The lake is known as the safest in Africa since there are no hippopotamus, crocodiles and no risk of bilharzia. While on the lake, swimmers have nothing to worry about Bilharzia because the lake has clean water. Lake Bunyonyi is dotted with some islands that are beautifully viewed and these include punishment island known as akapene island, Bwana, Kyahugye, Njuyeera, Bucuranuka, Busharaand many more since there are 29 islands on lake Bunyonyi.
Birding.
Kabale is the best destination for birding due to lake Bunyonyi which is neighboring Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park forest. Despite the fact that lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by islands, they harbor many birds like kingfishers, the grey crowned crane, the white tailed blue monard, the herons, the African Harrier Hawk, the egrets, slender-billed baglafetch, levillant cuckoo, levillant cuckoo, and the cardinal woodpecker, and many more. However much lake Bunyonyi is not advertised just like other activities, bird lovers will still spot it since it’s a birding paradise for bird lovers. as you view the bird species in the sky, Lake Bunyonyi is the most convenient place for visitors since one gets to sit and relax on the lake shores.
Farming.
With the many Islands and mountains, they make it even more convenient to stay around even for those that are homeless and are fond of taking refuge. Kabale people known as Bakiga are locally into farming of irish potatoes, maize, cassava and onions.swiss of Africa is the best relation place due to beautiful view of their crops on terrace hills and mountains with a cool breathe within. Bakiga are known to be strong and energetic because of hiking mountains for farming, the way of communication and traditional dance.
Zip lining.
While on lake Bunyonyi, there are spiced activities to do like zip lining which more enjoyed and is memorable in Swiss of Africa. The zip lining is a rope-tighted crossing of lake bunyonyi from the other side where visitors take nice photos of touching water during the activity. It is a such memorable activity that is not for cowards but for fun and relaxation.
Boat cruise.
Since Lake Bunyonyi is a waterbody, a boat cruise is the best activity done on it to explore the islands as well as the swiss of Africa which are beautified by mountains and cool breathe. Due to the islands, bird lovers spot most of the bird species during the boat cruise on lake Bunyonyi. While on the boat, visitors can also spice the activity by doing sports fishing to have the best time in swiss of Africa.
Nature walks and hiking.
Due to the fact that swiss of Africa have got various places to visit, visitors explore more during nature walks and hiking by visiting Kabale town, visiting local communities sounding lake bunyonyi, involving themselves in a traditional dance known as “kikiga dance “. Visiting farmers who are digging in the mountains and hills. The exploration of swiss of Africa on nature walks and hiking is more done by foot where they are guided to various beautiful places with cool breath and relaxation.
During this activity, bird lovers will definitely spot various bird spcies since there are over 200 birds on lake Bunyonyi.
How to access Kabale?
Swiss of Africa can be accessed by either road or flight from Kampala. By road , the visitors will take over 6-7 hours to reach Kabale which might look long distance but is worth it due to spotting beautiful attractions on the way like lake Mburo national park, mountains and terraced hills. However, those using a flight will fly from kajjasi or Entebbe international airport to kihihi airstrip and then after have a drive to swiss of Africa.
Where to stay?
While visitors are in swiss of Africa, worry not where to stay because it has luxurious hotels, mid-range lodges and budget lodges. These different classes of hotels are all there for different class of visitors to have their best time in swiss of Africa. These hotels have professional chefs who will make for u delicious meals during your stay , fluent English speaking workers who will make communication easy and many more. These hotels include paradise Eco-Hub, Bunyonyi safari lodge, supreme Adventure park Bunyonyi, acardia hotel, crater Bay cottages and many more.
Despite the fact that swiss of Africa is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, visitors can spice their safari with Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Maghninga national park.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is an activity that is commonly done and is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. Mountain Gorillas are known to be a close relative of humans due to 98% DNA. Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park inhabits half of the population census compared to Virunga national park and volcano national park. While in Bwindi they are spotted in four sectors that are Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Rushaga sector and mgahinga park inhabit one gorilla family Nyakagezi.
The gorilla permits cost $700 cheaper than the permits in Rwanda which costs $1500. Although congo gorilla permits are cheaper than those in Uganda, the country is less visited due to insecurity which may affect visitors.
Before trekking, visitors are briefed to pack camera, raincoat, water $snacks, wear comfortable hiking boots, long t-shirts, long trousers and long stocking and hiking sticks.
Golden monkey tracking.
In Uganda mgahinga national park is the best destination for golden monkeys where you can’t afford seeing gold meeting with silver. Just like gorilla trekking is accessed by permits so are golden monkeys, where visitors pay $50 to get golden monkey permits in Uganda. However during the tracking, the visitors number is limited to 8 individuals and they are briefed to always go with cameras, raincoat, comfortable hiking boots, long trousers, long t-shirts, long stocking, water $snacks and hiking sticks. During the tracking, fauna and flore will be spotted and with various bird species.
However pearl of Africa has got a lot to offer apart from the above activities like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls national park, kidepo valley national park, lake Mburo national park, Semuliki national park, kibale national park, Mt Rwenzori national park, Mt Elgon national park mgahinga national park and bwindi impenetrable national park.
