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ISUNGA CULTURAL COMMUNITY.

Isunga cultural community is an organization in Isunga Community. This beautiful
community is located at the verge of Kibale national park, 22km from Fort portal town,
Uganda’s tourist city. What more could this location mean than a place full of wonders
plus lovable and hospitable people
‘Isunga’ is a local word from Batoro people meaning watching. A perfect proof that the
community is flourished with a number of attractions to behold. Let me briefly take you
through what I experience each day that catches me up in Isunga.
Nyabikere Crater Lake, a 69m deep and 1km wide lake. Nyabikere means a lake of
frogs, you will sleep to frog lullabies as they make a lot of noise at night. Here you will
spot 2 hippos which recently migrated from kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth
national park, Bird watching, canoeing and fishing with the commonest type of fish
caught as tilapia.
Isunga cold springs is another amazing feature to see, as water comes up from
underground bubbling but very cold. Though this is an infamous attraction, Isunga
community furnishes an opportunity to explore this bewildering water spot, watch how
cold water bubbles out of the ground, whichever the force behind, we don’t know yet.
Kibale forest. Part of the primate capital of the world lies in the community. The forest is
a home to over 70 mammals including 13 primate species, more than 370 bird species
and 351 tree species. Kibale national park headquarters are also found in the
community which helps many travelers acquire chimp permits on ground to track and
habituate our near cousins in the forest. Here you can still pay for other activities like the
swamp walk in Bigodi wetland.
Tea plantations; the community is blessed with fertile acidic soils that favors tea
growing. Walk through the huge tea plantations that were commonly known to the
Canadian prairies. Have amazing scenic views especially during sunset hours.
Unique bird species like the great blue turacos, cardinal wood-pecker, red chested
cuckoo, Deidrick cuckoo, double toothed barbet, crowned hornbill among others these
will give you a chance for bird watching in the community. One might call Isunga a bird
community.
The Local market in the trading center that offers tourists a chance to glance on how our
local market economy runs in Isunga. Locals merge together to sell and buy their
products like crops, domestic animals, crafts, and other imported products like cloths;
both second and first hand. Its sporadic not to get a thing in this local market. Note the
day for market is once a week (On Saturdays).
Cultural encounters. It’s one beautiful thing to expand our horizons and venture into new
cultures. At Isunga cultural community, engage with the locals, see how they prepare
their meals, listen to old tales, and experience the local way of life of the people that live
here. Traditional dances are a guarantee, the dance is called ‘kinyege dance’ and

typically local with instruments such as engoma (drums), trumpets, rattles among
others. You don’t forget to taste the local meals here, I can never have enough.
The community is chocking-full different tourism activities. From chimpanzee tracking
and habituation, Camping, cultural encounters, nature walks, birding, community walks,
canoeing, hiking, cycling, scenery viewing and Boda-boda adventure among others.
How to get there
You can access Isunga cultural community from Kampala using Kampala-Mityana
highway and connect to Fort portal tourism city a journey taking 4-5hours depending on
your speed. Cross Mpanga River and take the next junction heading Kamwenge road a
drive covering 22km taking 25mins. Then reach at Kibale national park headquarters
(Kibale Conservations Area headquarters in Isunga).