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Lake Bunyonyi – Uganda Safari
Lake Bunyonyi is undoubtedly Uganda’s loveliest lake. Its winding shores encircle 29 islands, surrounded by steep terraced hillsides reminiscent of parts of Nepal. The morning mist rising off the placid waters makes it such an enchanting place to be. Lake Bunyonyi’s supplanted Ssese Islands are a popular hub for travelers to relax on their way to or from other parks in the western safari circuit.
In this guide, therefore, we have shared every important detail to help you plan a thrilling safari in Lake Bunyonyi.
About Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is situated in south-western Uganda, between Kisoro and Kabale, not far from the border with Rwanda. It is encircled by steep terraced hills, exotic rural landscapes, and the Virunga Mountains as a backdrop. The lake’s contorted shore is 25 km long and 7 km wide encircling at least 29 islands, including the popular punishment island.
The name Bunyonyi means many little birds, and so it’s most likely that this lake is a great habitat for numerous bird species. Some of these species include African harrier hawks, gray-crowned cranes, herons, egrets, levillant cuckoo, slender-billed baglafetch, African kingfisher, white-tailed monad, and cardinal woodpecker.
Although Lake Bunyonyi’s depth is debatable, scientific literature generally quotes a maximum depth of 40 m (130 ft), but some tour guides and locals insist that it is much deeper, about 900 m (3,000 ft), making it the second deepest lake in Africa.
Lake Bunyonyi is the largest of the lakes in Uganda’s far southwestern tip just opposite the similar-sized Lake Burera in Rwanda. It is popular with day trips out of Kabale. Thanks to the proliferation of entertainment, dining, and lodging options nearby. Many budget lodges, campsites, and resorts float around the small fishing village of Rutinda and nearby islands.
Attractions in Lake Bunyonyi
1. Akampene (Punishment Island)
Punishment Island is the most interesting and smallest island in Lake Bunyonyi. It’s barely big enough to hold even one tree! This impressive name comes from an old tale where women who got pregnant out of wedlock were banished here. They were to starve to death on the island or drown trying to swim to the shore given swimming skills were rare.
This act was intended to deter the rest of the young girls from committing a similar offence. However, legend dictates that only one woman ever survived by luring a group of young men to the island in a canoe, which she capsized, killing them all. She then rode the canoe back to shore.
In reality, a number of women escaped the island by marrying men who couldn’t afford a typical bride price. The practice was discontinued in the first half of the 20th century.
2. Bwama and Njuyeera (Sharp's Island)
Leonard Sharp was an English missionary who arrived in Uganda in 1921. He later founded a leprosy treatment facility in 1931 on the then-uninhabited Bwama Island. Sharp built his home on Njuyeera Island (white cottage) and went on to construct a church, patient quarters (model villages), and a medical center which came be to known as a leprosy colony.
The leprosy colony was intended to provide a happy community to live in and attract other leprosy sufferers, therefore removing them from the communities where they might infect others.
3. Tourism
Lake Bunyonyi is popular for lush and green terraced hills, punctuated with over 200 bird species including water birds and migratory birds. This makes it an ideal destination for bird enthusiasts to explore a variety of assorted birds.
Apart from bird watching, the place also presents other opportunities, such as swimming and boat cruises. Various hikes and nature walks offer more than just nature and pleasure. The community walks, which include stops at the Blacksmith and the Bakiga Cultural Museum, also evoke a sense of traditional culture.
Visitors can explore Bufuka village for more cultural adventures, such as the Batwa and Bakiga experiences.
Activities in Lake Bunyonyi
1. Swimming
Lake Bunyonyi is one of the safest waters for swimming because it is free of the three biggest nuisances to freshwaters on the continent (hippopotamuses, crocodiles, or bilharzia). Taking a dip in this lake is one of the best activities. However, inexperienced swimmers are cautioned to watch out for the lake’s depth.
Most resorts and guesthouses have docks where visitors can swim. Some have diving boards, rope swings, small beaches, and other amenities. The water is surprisingly warm. It offers convenience to most travelers who’ve just come from gorilla trekking, where they can ‘wash the dust off’.
2. Canoe Ride
Paddling around in a dugout canoe is the most iconic experience on a Lake Bunyonyi safari given it is the most common mode of transportation on these waters. It offers a completely different perspective of the lake as visitors can explore the beautiful islands and enjoy the scenery all around.
The canoe ride takes up to 2 hours to explore most of the corners of the lake. Visitors can ride any time of day, but the morning experience is so impressive that all the mist and tranquil atmosphere feel mystical, to say the least. The evening ride is also good to catch the spectacular sunsets.
3. Birding
Lake Bunyonyi’s enormous assemblage of bird species makes bird watching a key activity and an ultimate birders’ haven. This lake hosts over 200 species of birds, such as Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Crested cranes, African broadbills, weaver birds, egrets, levillant cuckoos, herons, grey-crowned cranes, and the slender-billed baglafetch, among others.
4. Community/cultural tour
A tour around Itambira Island allows you to connect with the local community by simply walking around on your own. Itambira Island is a particularly good option where you will follow hiking trails that lead to the village on top of the hill. You’ll meet locals you can interact with along the way.
All the guesthouses around the lake can hook you up with a village walk or community tour if you want something a little more structured. These range from one hour to all day, depending on whether you stay around the lake or head further into the surrounding hills. Some Lake Bunyonyi tours take you to local shamans to learn about spiritual practices.
5. Nature walk
Nature walks offer visitors the opportunity to explore surrounding areas on foot in the company of an experienced guide. During the guided nature walk, you will visit different communities around, pass through the terraced farmlands, listen to sweet melodies of birds singing, explore different Islands like Punishment Island, enjoy the cool breeze, and take beautiful pictures, among others.
Best time to Visit Lake Bunyonyi
The best time to visit Lake Bunyonyi is during the dry seasons (the peak seasons) from June to September and December to February. There is less or no rainfall in these periods and the trails are relatively dry. This makes it easier to follow the trails or hikes compared to the wet seasons, which are always wet, muddy, and slippery.
The wet seasons of March to May (the long rainy season) and October to November (the short rainy season) offer excellent bird watching opportunities with both resident and migratory birds present. The long rainy season supports breeding, and so birders have an abundance to explore in this rich habitat. Butterflies are also seen almost everywhere at this time.
Getting to Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is located in southwestern Uganda and can be accessed by road from Kampala or Entebbe via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale, and then connected to Lake Bunyonyi in a 7–8-hour journey.
Those coming from a safari in either Queen Elizabeth National Park or Kibale National Park will have to travel for about 5 hours on the road before reaching the lake. Lake Bunyonyi is closer to Kigali, Rwanda, than Kampala. It takes about 3 hours to drive to the lake.
You can also get to Lake Bunyonyi by charter flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro airstrip, or from Kajjansi airstrip and Garuga airstrip to Kayonza airstrip. You will be transferred by road to your reserved lodge at Lake Bunyonyi for your adventure, all arranged by your tour provider.
Where to stay in Lake Bunyonyi
- Byoona Amagara, Itambira Island.
- Arcadia Cottages.
- Africa Explorer Eco Village.
- Lost Paradise Beach (Kirangara).
- Bunyonyi View Resort.
- Bugombe Island Gateway.
- Lake Bunyonyi Overland Camp.
