Kanungu Town

Kanungu Town is found in Kigezi region of Uganda with an area of about 1,234 kilometers squared, its bordered by Kabale, Kisoro, Congo, and Rukungiri district. The people of Kanungu district practice subsistence farming and the main crops grown are bananas, tea, and coffee. Kanungu district is home to one of the most visited national parks in Uganda that is Bwindi, the town is not much developed giving you an insight into area African traditional countryside. Kanungu district was initially part of Kabale distrust but was made separate in 2001.

Kanungu district is also one of the most scenic places you can visit in Uganda with its rising rolling hills and beautiful valleys, the terrain is simply panoramic with views of plantations along the way.

The Kanungu Massacre
There is a story told of Kibwetere Joseph in Kanungu district, he had over 30,000 followers in the year 2000. Around the month of March, Kibwetere prophecized to his members that the world would come to an end and about 1000 members were burnt from his church Restoration of the

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is just 45 kilometers drive from Kanungu, the park is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world, the Uganda wildlife had habituated over ten gorilla groups and each can be visited by a maximum of 8 tourists in a day. 20% of income earned from gorilla trekking is allocated of the people of Kanungu. Gorilla trekking costs $600 per person this gives you an opportunity of observing the great apes for an hour.

Gorilla habituation can also be done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park costing only $1,500. This involves the process of joining researchers and scientists in the process of making gorillas get used to human presence. This is much more better than gorilla trekking because you spend more time with the apes than in trekking f that is four hours.

Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi also known ad the lake of little birds is located just in Kabale district neighboring Kanungu district, this is the best place to chill from after hectic gorilla trekking safari. The lake is renowned for being the second deepest in Africa and its offers a lot of tourists activities like bird watching, boat cruises, swimming, sport fishing, canoeing, guided nature walks, biking and hiking. Its made up of 29 islands you can explore with both having a fascinating history that is interesting g to hear.

The people
The inhabitants of Kanungu district are the Bahororo people, they are a small nomadic Bantu tribe tracing the origin to the Cush kingdom modern day Ethiopia. They are related to the Tutsi of Rwanda and value cattle so much. On the other hand, the Bakiga migrated to the area from Kigezi and Rukungiri districts, the Bakiga people are agriculturalists who depend in subsistence farming. Both of this tribes have unique lifestyles and ways of living you can explore by visiting the locals homesteads and get entertained with local traditional dances and learn more on how they live their day to day lives.

Tea factories
There are two main tea factories in Kanungu that is Kigezi development tea factory and Kayonza tea factory. You can visit one of these factories and see how tea is being proceeded from the garden to cup experience. The Kanungu tea is one of the best in the world, you can as well buy some at a cheaper price and take home for your loved ones.

Visit the Kisiizi waterfalls
The Kisiizi waterfalls are not exactly in Kanungu but also not far from it, the waterfalls are found at the Kyabamba river cascading on a 27 meter escarpment the sad history of the waterfalls is that in the ancient days girls who got pregnant out of Wedlock were brought to the waterfalls BH their father and brother then would be thrown off the cliff of the falls and died. Today the sight is a good place for photography, bird watching, and forest walks

Where to sleep
There are some accommodation units you can sleep in while in Kanungu this includes; Ruhija gorilla lodge, Bwindi backpackers lodge, gorilla mist camp, chameleon hill lodge. Gift of nature lodge, Ruhijja community rest camp, and Gorilla safari lodge among the rest.

Best time to visit
Kanungu district can be visited all year round but if your visiting for gorilla trekking the best time is in the drier months of June to September and December to February when the roads to the park are easily accessible and the hiking trails are not muddy and slippery.

How to get there
Kanungu can be reached from Kampala within 8 hours drive, alternatively, you can fly into Rwanda and then drive for about 5 hours to Kanungu. You can also fly to Kihihi Airstrip.