Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda : Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most natural lakes in Africa attracting tourists, and honeymooners who wish to get away from the busy city life and enjoy the cool weather on the beautiful lake islands. Visiting Lake Bunyonyi is highly recommended for visitors who finish their Uganda Safaris experience and are looking for a place to just relax before returning home or continuing to their next destination.
Lake Bunyonyi is also called “Place of many little birds” located in the south western part of Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale close to the border with Rwanda. Lake Bunyonyi is located at 1,962 meters above sea level and it is surrounded by hills that are 2,200 to 2,478 m high and intensely cultivated and it is about 25 km long and 7 km wide. Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest lake in Africa after Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.
The depth of the lake is said to vary between 44 m and 900 meters which if true would make the lake the second deepest in Africa. The temperature on the surface rises to 25 degrees Celsius. In the beginning of the 20th century, fish were introduced to the lake and in the 1930s fishing became profitable. Unfortunately, in the 1960s the fish died massively as a result of a violent shallow mixing, likely caused by wind. Subsistence fishing prevailed in the lake, people mostly caught clarias species – the lake’s depth and stratification makes it difficult for the breeding of the common Ugandan species Nile Perch and Tilapia. Nevertheless, 300,000 Nile Tilapias and Clarias fish were released in the lake at the end of 2002. Also present in the lake are Mud fish, Cray fish and Mirrowcarp – and plenty of their predators, otters.
Lake Bunyonyi is one of the few lakes in the region that is free of bilharzia and safe for swimming found in about 7 kilometres west from Kabale Town, south-western Uganda covering an area of about 61 square kilometres. The lake’s main centre is Bufuka Village. The area’s inhabitants are from the Bakiga and the Batwa tribes and the towns on its shores include Kyevu and Muko.
Lake Bunyonyi is made up of about 29 islands among which include Bushara, Akampene, Kyahugye, Bwama and Njuyeera among others. It is a popular location for water sports activities and is known for the surrounding terraced hillsides. The lake appears on the 5,000 Ugandan shilling note under the title “lake Bunyonyi and terraces”. It is popular with both foreign and domestic tourists and there are a wide variety of tourist accommodations. Its 29 Islands are concentrated in the central part and have few settlements, they are mostly used for tourist facilities and for a secondary and a primary school.
Main islands
Akampene (Punishment Island)
The Bakiga used to leave unmarried pregnant girls on this small island with a tree – to die of hunger or while trying to swim to the mainland (swimming skills were rare). This was to educate the rest, to show them not to do the same. A man without cows to pay the bride wealth could go to the island and pick up a girl. The practice got abandoned in the first half of the 20th century. Although this practice has been abandoned, it is still possible to find women who were picked up from punishment island today.
Bushara Island
This island is the home of Lake Bunyonyi Development Company, an organisation with strong links to Church of Uganda, the main church of the lake area. They use tourism to generate funds for several development projects around Bunyonyi. The island has many luxury tents, chalets, and also campsites for tourists to stay on. It is also possible to rent out canoes and sailboats with a view to paddling to one of the other islands.
The striking feature of the island is its forest, a demonstration of the most appealing attribute of the eucalyptus tree: an exceptionally fast growth rate. The hills around Bunyonyi used to feature many forests but overpopulation led to them being cut down to create land for agriculture needs. Eucalypti have been imported to improve the situation. But eucalyptus plants may also have a negative effect: they can soak everything useful in the soil, leaving it more or less barren.
Kyahugye Island
Kyahugye Island is approximately 30ha in size and also the nearest to the mainland – a mere 5-minute boat ride away. It is surrounded by a 1-2 meters wide strip of reeds interspersed with papyrus. The Island has many tree species including Eucalyptus sp., Pinus sp., Alnus sp., and Cuprssus sp., these forming a wide perimeter around it. The vegetation on the Island falls into four categories namely bush, open fallows, tree plantations and natural vegetation. The hilltop is flat and has been developed for tourists. There are chalets and campsites for accommodation, and a well-stocked bar and restaurant. From the top of the Island, there are spectacular views of the surrounding terraced hillsides, the calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi, and the neighbouring Islands. On a clear day, Mount Muhabura can be seen in the distance. Tourist activities like Nature walks, Birding walks, Dugout Canoe Treks, Community visits, and Mountain Climbing can be organized.
Bwama and Njuyeera (Sharp’s Island)
In 1921, an English missionary called Dr Leonard Sharp came to this part of Uganda and in 1931 established a leprosy treatment centre on the then uninhabited Bwama Island. A church, patient quarters (model villages) and a medical facility were built, while Sharp settled on Njuyeera Island (probably meaning ‘white cottage’, after the similarity of the doctor’s small white house to Sharp’s father’s house in Shanklin, now The White House Hotel). The rationale of the leprosy colony was that of ‘voluntary segregation’, where the provision of a happy community to live in would attract leprosy sufferers, so removing them from the communities where they might infect others.
The buildings of the hospital are now used by a boarding secondary school which attracts students from the entire region. There is also a primary school but no village on the island.
Bucuranuka (Upside Down)
The legend says that this island killed many people. About twenty were once brewing local sorghum beer there. An old woman was passing by and she said: “Can you give me some local beer?” They wrongly thought that she was a beggar they knew. They refused her: “Get lost, beggar! Get lost!!!” The old woman asked: “So you will not even give me a sip? Can I at least get somebody to take me to the mainland?” They answered: “Yes, because we are fed up with you!” They chose a young guy to take her over. When they reached the shore and the guy was just beginning to return, the island turned upside down. All died, only a chicken flew away and survived.
Tourist activities to do in Lake Bunyonyi
Apart from admiring at the beautiful scenery of the lake, there are a lot of interesting tourist activities to do in Lake Bunyonyi.
Canoeing on the lake
Canoes are the only way to get around the lake and its islands. The local people residing around the lake make the canoes by digging into large trees to create a depression using axes. The canoes are moved using rowing sticks or motor engines. These are rented by people at the shores at a fee of about 60,000 Uganda shillings. The ones with engines can go for 120,000 Uganda shillings. Using these locally made canoes offers a completely different experience for travellers and the best time for canoeing is early in the morning when the lake is covered with mist. This is a beautiful sight to behold for anyone with a love for nature and adventure. Night canoeing can also be arranged to experience the cool night breeze and sounds from night crickets, frogs and birds.
Canoeing for 2 or more hours allows you to hop from one island to another while learning about their history. For example, visiting the “punishment island”, then also visit Bwama and learn about its history of hosting lepers. Thus, this is called Island hopping.
Relaxing and Chilling out with loved ones
The beautiful scenery and cool weather is perfect for relaxing after tiring activities like gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park or mountain climbing in Mgahinga national park or game viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park which are the closest national parks to the lake. While relaxing, you can consider carrying along your desired books to read while in a cool and serene environment on one of the quiet island resorts. Food is plenty and consists of local vegetables and fruits as well as international dishes. The crowning moment is watching the Lake Bunyonyi sunset and the setting of the sun provides an opportunity to take beautiful photos of the sun’s rays reflecting on the lake waters.
Swimming on the lake
Lake Bunyonyi is a clean lake with clear waters that are free from pollution due to the absence of fishing sites on the lake shores. The lake waters are free from crocodiles, hippos and parasites that cause Bilharzia. Bilharza is a common disease in some of the water bodies in East and Southern Africa. The only disadvantage with swimming on the lake is the depth. Lake Bunyonyi is believed to be the second deepest lake in Africa. Those who are not good swimmers should take caution and instead use the hotel swimming pools.
Community and Cultural Visits
One of the most popular activities is taking a walk to observe how the local people go about with their daily lives near the shores of the lake. It is great to mingle with the locals and try out tasks like digging the garden with local hoes or visiting one of the local schools to interact with the school children. The Bakiga people love taking marwa and obushera which are the two potent drinks made from bananas and millet/sorghum. If you feel intimidated trying the local stuff, you can go for the factory made and bottled Uganda Waragi.
The local market of Rutindo attracts residents of the island every Monday and Friday. On these two days, the market is filled with people. It is a perfect place to observe how locals go about with their daily life while also mingling with them and buying fresh fruits.
Batwa people; Another alternative is to go and visit the Batwa people. The Batwa in this part of Uganda where removed away from the Echuya Forest and allocated land near the lake. Like their relatives in other areas like Bwindi forest and Mount Mgahinga. The Batwa have failed to adjust to life outside the forest and are still struggling to make ends meet considering that they are former hunters and gatherers. They earn a living is by entertaining tourists and demonstrating their cultural heritage through dance, songs and storytelling.
Nature Walks
If one is not interested in the community walks, they can hike through established trails accompanied by a guide to explore and marvel at the terraced hills which give majestic views of the lake and towering landscapes. Visitors can also visit the ancient bamboo forest of Echuya or the other small ones surrounding the lake and spot small primates and zebra.
Mountain Biking
One of the best ways of discovering the lake is taking on mountain biking and ride to the spot the beautiful landscape while passing by human settlements. Although most lodges do not provided bikes, you can organise with your tour company to make the necessary arrangements to have a bike at your disposal.
Birdwatching experience
Lake Bunyonyi is a birders paradise and one of the best places to go birding in Uganda. The name Bunyonyi suggests a place with little birds. There are over 205 species of birds registered to be spotted in the lake. The small islands in the lake act as sanctuaries and breeding grounds for many water birds. The species include both resident and those that migrate from Europe during the harsh winters. One of the best birding spots is the swamp of Nyombi. The best way to see the birds is by acquiring a boat, a binoculars and moving to the water with a birding guide. Some of the species include egrets, slender-billed baglafetch, weaverbirds, herons, grey crowned cranes and the levelling cuckoo among many others.
Zip lining experience
Zip lining on Lake Bunyonyi is one of the best experiences of adventurous travellers. This involves swinging on top of the calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi on high ropes connected between trees on the opposite shores of the lake. The visitor has to swing from one point to the other over the waters. This experience offers fresh breeze and excellent views of local communities, islands and rolling hills of Kigezi region. Travelers are reminded to keep mentally alert and enjoy this memorable adventure.
Accommodations in Lake Bunyonyi
There are many accommodation options in Lake Bunyonyi, a great testament to its popularity with tourists. Some of the hotels are built in the islands while others on the lake shores or in the towns before the lake. There are moderate and luxury accommodation facilities as well as campsites. The budget hotels are Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Bushara Island Camp, Byoona Amagara and Crater Bay cottages. The Mid-range options are Arcadia Lodge, Bunyonyi Safari Lodge and Bird’s Nest.
Bunyonyi Bird’s Nest
This is a luxurious lodge located in Lake Bunyonyi. Birds Nest contains single and double luxurious rooms. This is one of the higher end accommodation facilities and is reflected in the services offered. The rooms are laid out perfectly with a beautiful swimming pool outside.
Arcadia Cottages – Lake Bunyonyi
Arcadia is built on the side of one of the hills offering great views of the beautiful lake and its numerous islands. All the twelve rooms have great views of the lake and have rooms that are self-contained with electricity and hot water.
Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
This Eco resort is located in a forested area giving a feeling of being near nature set high on the saddle of a tree-clad ridge above the banks of Lake Bunyonyi while offering panoramic stunning views of the lake and islands.
The resort has been styled to offer a showcase of cultural performance, heritage, and traditional art. Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort offers just 10 cottages, each of which stands on its own, each with a spectacular view of the forest, lake Bunyonyi and the surrounding community – here you can enjoy the sounds of the surrounding jungle, the floating waters, and the relaxing atmosphere. The resort also offers the exclusive Bunyonyi suites and Bunyonyi Deluxe, which offers facilities, private balcony, wooden floors, big windows, and perfect craftwork of woven
Among the facilities include hot showers, a bar, restaurant and a swimming pool. The resort is perfect for family retreats. Other activities organized by the resort are canoeing, nature walks and camping. The resort organizes cultural performances and traditional dances for clients.
Bunyonyi Rock Resort
This lodge is located on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi, Bunyonyi Rock Resort is your comfortable, affordable, eco-friendly and best place to stay on your Uganda safari to south western Uganda. Whether you travel for gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest or Mgahinga gorilla national park for Golden monkeys, Batwa community visits, visiting Lake Bunyonyi or touring any other tourism site in south western Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort offers you exceptional food and sleeping services at affordable rates.
We have a total of 12 rooms 9 of which are luxury (self-contained) while three are basic (not-self-contained). Five of our luxury rooms are in the family cottage three rooms upstairs and two rooms down stairs. Each of these rooms has a private balcony, private showers, clear views of the lake and neighbouring communities.
The restaurant serves travellers with all kinds of local and international foods to serve all our travellers interests. The bar is fully stocked with all local, international all served as complementary except the premium drinks. The arrangement of the rooms can be single, double, twin and triple depending on the number of visitors received and the choice of their sleeping arrangements.
Besides food and sleeping services, Bunyonyi Rock Resort offers travellers with additional activities such as gorilla trekking, swimming, boat cruising, mountain hiking and airport transfer to reward travellers with memorable experiences. Having served in the tourism industry for over 10 years, Bunyonyi Rock Resort guarantee travellers exceptional services worth the penny with professional staff (chefs, waiters, waitresses, housekeepers) ensure smooth service delivery.
Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort
This resort is locally owned and built with material got from surrounding villages. The resort provides single and family cottages as well as safari and mobile camping tents. The rented tents are mobile and come with or without bedding. The safari tents are built on raised platforms with great views of the lake and surrounding islands. The safari tents are self-contained with chairs, a table, twin beds and electricity. The resort arranges activities like swimming and badminton. If one is interested in going for village walks or learning about the economic activities of the locals, a guide can be identified to escort them.
How to access to Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is located in the far southern part of Uganda in Kabale district. If you are driving from Kampala by car, it takes about 8-9 hours’ drive to Kabale town then to another 30 minutes’ drive to reach the lake from Kable town. Since the lake is closer to Rwanda, it takes about 4-5 hours by car to drive from Kigali capital of Rwanda via the Katuna border of Rwanda-Uganda. Visitors coming to Uganda can also combine their visit of Lake Bunyonyi with Bwindi Impenetrable national park which takes about only 2 hours to drive, Queen Elizabeth national park takes about 5-6 hours to reach, Lake Mburo national park takes about 5 hours and Mgahinga national park about 2-3 hours.
Lake Bunyonyi cannot be accessed by air given that the area is hilly however, there are neighbouring airstrips where visitors can land to avoid the 8-9 hours’ drive from Entebbe/Kampala. These include; Kihihi airstrip which is a 2 hours’ flight and from Kihihi airstrip, it’s another 3-4 hours’ drive to reach Lake Bunyonyi. Alternatively, Kisoro airstrip which is also a 2 hours’ flight only operated in the morning time due to the changing weather conditions in Kigezi areas, and then take another 2-3 hours’ drive to Lake Bunyonyi.
