Lake Bunyonyi is a charming river valley dotted with islands in southwestern Uganda. The lake is surrounded by terraced hills with vibrant color patterns from the fragmented farmlands/gardens. The lake is Uganda’s deepest lake and the second deepest in Africa after Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.
The word “Bunyonyi” literally translates to “Place of little birds”, and is one of Uganda’s loveliest places and if you have a chance, a must-see. It is a great waterfront chill-out venue between the districts of Kabale, Rubanda, and Kisoro. For visitors to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks, it is a perfect place to recuperate after the gorilla trekking excursions.
Lake Bunyonyi is a lava-dammed lake, 25km long and 7km wide. Its depth is expected to be between 144ft and 2952ft and is one of the lakes in the southwest that is Bilharzia free and free from aquatic predators like hippos and crocodiles. The lake is beyond just cruising around islands but also learning about great history.
The Lake Decades was not as famous as its counterpart Lake Victoria in the central part of Uganda. The lake is almost superseding these because of its accessibility and is easily visited in tandem with gorilla-tracking trails of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The lake has a great elevation around it and a temperate climate.
Island tour
Of the 29 islands on the lake, a few are famous. They include Bushara, Akampene (Punishment Island), Kahungye Island, Bwama and Njuyera (Sharp Island), and Bucuranuka Island (upside-down island). Visitors to the lake can take on motorized canoes ride the islands and learn about the history around the lake like how the punishment island is. This is the most visited and most famous because of the stories of how the baking girls who got pregnant before marriage would be brought here and left to starve. The sharp island was established in 1921 by Dr. Leonard Sharp as a leper colony and now it accommodates 2 schools. A visit with a local guide gives an in-depth history of the lake and the region around it.
Canoes rides
The lake connects people from both ends and dugout canoes are the most common means of transport. Locals (women, school children, men) use these to cross the lake and also take their produce to markets. You can rent this and explore the lake in a dugout canoe. It offers a completely different experience and a local perspective of the lake and community.
Swimming
Bilharzia free, crocodile free, hippo free. This makes Lake Bunyonyi safe for swimming. If you visit during the warm weather, you can take a dip in the lake. Its depth is the only threat and if you are an inexperienced swimmer you need to take caution.
Community visits
The setting of the communities around is a typical setting of African village life. You can explore the community and learn about the everyday life of the locals around the lake, meet playful kids, explore the farms, and also the Batwa tribe (pygmies). These are one of the oldest and original inhabitant tribes of Uganda, these were disposed from Echuya Forest before coming to settle around here. They perform to guests their traditions and culture.
Hiking and walks
A local guide will lead you on hiking trails through the terraced islands with the mosaic patterns created by the colors of the differences in the gardens (fragmented farmlands with different crops) to areas that reward you with spectacular views of the lake.
Bird watching
The area around the lake and on the shores has over 200 species of birds. For bird lovers and avians, you can tick off some species for the over 200 recorded species that include herons, weavers, grey crowned cranes, Egrets, raptors like Harrier hawks, sunbirds, ibises, shrikes, and kingfishers among others.
There are the latest developments at the lake like zip-lining, flat water tubing, high ropes, and an adventure park. So don’t miss them while you are having a stay at the lake.
Getting to the lake
To get to Lake Bunyonyi, one needs to get to Kabale town. The town is an 8-hour drive from Kampala. The lake is then 8km off the Kabale-Kisoro Road which is about 25 minutes from Kabale town to the lake with a taxi or a boda boda (motorcycle taxis). You can also access the lake from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Kisoro’s Mgahinga National Park.
