Population: 471,800
Economy: Agriculture, Tourism
Distance from Kampala: 430km
Nearby Towns: Mbarara 147km, Kisoro 80km
Nearby Airport: Kabale Airstrip
Top Attractions: Lake Bunyonyi, Gorillas trekking, Rolling hills, Virunga Mountains
Kabale is located 430km by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. Kabale town is biggest town in Kigezi District, which once covered the present day districts like Kabale, Kanungu, Kisoro and Rukungiri which lie in the southwest corner of Uganda. The Katuna border post lies 12km from Kabale on the Rwanda- Uganda border.
This beautiful area is wrapped up with cultivated terraces and rolling hills, forest and lakes, thus has a distinctive character. Popularly known as the Switzerland of East Africa in some books and magazines, Kabale is one of the highest towns in Uganda at 2000m above sea level, with pretty cool temperatures at nights falling up to 10°C (50°F). Average monthly temperatures are around 18 °C (64 °F).
Top Attractions:
- Kabale is a popular gateway to gorilla tracking trips at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga gorilla National Parks.
- It is one of the best destinations in Uganda to explore superb mountain hiking.
- Kabale is a gateway to Lake Bunyonyi (Africa’s second deepest lake), one of perfect relaxation spots in southwestern Uganda.
- The Virunga Mountains which lie along the Rwanda-Dem Rep of Congo border are visible from the town Kabale
- Ihimba Hot Springs situated on Kabale-Katuna Road, 8km, south of Kabale town. These springs are popularly known to local residents for healing joint pains and illnesses.
Banking:
Popular banks like those in Kampala have their branches in Kabale. These are scattered along the Kabale-Kisoro Road. They include; Centenary Rural Development bank, Barclays bank, Stanbic bank, Crane bank, DFCU bank, Equity bank, KCB, National Bank of Commerce, Post bank and Bank of Uganda. Several micro-finance banks also operate in this town.
Shopping:
Royal Supermarket and Jamali Supermarket located along Kisoro Road are far the best and offer wide range of consumer goods and drinks
Kabale central market is the largest source of fresh food in Kabale
Internet:
Amagara Café located next to little Ritz restaurant charges Ush25 per minute. Voice of Kigezi Radio (Mbarara-Kabale Road) also operates and internet café at its reception.
Where To Eat:
Little Ritz Restaurant
White Horse Inn
Nightlife:
Club Cheers (Nyerere Road) is the only club in Kabale
Accommodation:
Lodges and hotels are scattered along the hills and Main Street. Other accommodation options are concentrated along the Lake Bunyonyi area. Below is a list accommodation deals in Kabale:
Greenhill Hotel,Tel: 04864 24442/ 0784 600381. Website: http://www.greenhills-hotel.com
Cephas Inn (plot 7 Achers Road) Tel: 0392 821667/ 0773 240946. Email: cephasinn@yahoo.com
Crater Bay Cottages (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: 04864 26255/ 0712 2701207. Email: craterbay@yahoo.com
Bunyonyi Safari Resort (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: 0414 347460. Email: info@bunyonyi.com Rates start from US$34
Arcadia Cottages (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: 04864 26231/ 0772 981155. Email: arcadiacottages@yahoo.com Rates start from US$50
Nature’s Prime Island (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: 04864 626129 / 0772 423215. Email: naturesprimeisland@yahoo.co.uk
Kalebas Camp (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: 0312 294894. Email: booking@naturelodges.biz
Heritage Lodge (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: 0782 962633 / 0772 357424. Email: reservations@tangazatours.co.ug
Edirisa Museum Hostel, Tel: 0772 558083. Website: http://www.edirisa.org/travels Rates start from US$6
Byoona Amagara Island Retreat (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: 04864 26273 / 0752 652788. Website: http://www.lakebunyonyi.net
Bunyonyi Overland Resort (Lake Bunyonyi) Tel: +256 (0) 772 409510. Website: http://www.bunyonyioverland.com
Getting There:
Gateway & Horizon are the popular bus companies and they leave Kampala to Kabale daily. The Post bus leaves at 08 :00 from the main post office Monday to Saturday.
Other buses are available in the Baganda bus and the new Nakivubo Bus Terminal next to Nakivubo Stadium. They charge Ush 20,000 and above depending on the season of the year.