Top activities to do in lake Bunyonyi-
Top things to do in lake bunyonyi
Top activities to do in lake Bunyonyi : Lake Bunyonyi also known as “Place of many little birds” is a relaxing travel destination in Uganda located in South – Western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabala and close to the border of Uganda and Rwanda.
Lake Bunyonyi is a perfect destination to visit for a relaxing retreat after mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and game viewing safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Lake Bunyonyi is the second-deepest lake in Africa with a depth varying between 44 m (144 ft.) and 900 m (2,952 ft), the lake lies at 1,962mters (6,437 ft) above sea level and is about 25 kilometers (15.5 mi) long and 7 kilometers (1.35 mi) wide.
Geographically, Lake Bunyonyi is situated seven kilometers or 4.3 miles west from Kabale Town, southwestern Uganda and it is 25 kilometers long and 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) wide covering an area of 61 square kilometers.
Lake Bunyonyi has moderate temperatures year-round and it is cool even on sunny days and this is attributed to its high elevation of 1962 meters above sea level.
Lake Bunyonyi is dotted with 2 islands and the most prominent of them include the Akampene island “punishment island”, Bushara island, Kyahugye island, Bwama island, Njuyeera island and Bucuranuka Island. Lake Bunyonyi is framed by lush, green terraced hill providing the most magical views that are comparable to that of the mystical scenes in the “Lord of the Rings” movie.
Lake Bunyonyi is a magical destination offer many activities to keep you entertained during your Uganda safari and these include
Activities in lake Bunyonyi
Swimming
Lake Bunyonyi is one of the few places in Uganda with no bilharzia, no crocodiles and hippos making it a perfect spot for swimming
Canoe Ride
Canoes rides are the most common mode of transport on Lake Bunyonyi by the locals across the islands found in the lake, canoe rides on the lake Bunyonyi are done in a traditional dugout canoe and can be done at any time of the day. Morning canoe rides are the most exciting as there is a lot of mist over the lake which is a great sight often compared to one of the mystic scenes in the famous movie of “lord of the rings”.
On the canoe ride, you get to explore the scenery and some of the major island found in the lake and learn more about the traditions attached to them. However, the Lake has a depth of 900 meters which why, you should take caution while swimming to avoid swimming. Inexperienced swimmers should not attempt swimming in the lake.
Hiking and Nature Walks
Hiking to the top of the highlands surrounding Lake Bunyonyi is an exciting experience to enjoy during your Uganda safari visit, nature walks allows visitors an opportunity to access stunning viewpoints of the lake and its magical islands. There are also treks through local communities and terrace offering you a chance to meet and learn about the local people, their traditions and culture.
Bird watching
Lake Bunyonyi is also known as “place of many little birds” and this is because it is home to abundant birdlife, there are over 200 bird species which you can enjoy during canoe rides and nature walks on the islands. Some of the birds you will spot include grey-crowned cranes, red-chested sunbirds, flycatchers, white-tailed blue Monard, slender-billed baglafetch, weavers, egrets, herons, woodpeckers among others.
Visting the local Market
There are a number of local markets around Lake Bunyonyi selling a lot of amazing items ranging from African crafts, fresh vegetables and fruits, local made shoes and clothes made out of local fabric among others which you can purchase at a relatively cheaper price.
Mountain Biking
There are several tracking around Lake Bunyonyi and uphill on the surrounding on which mountain biking is done, the rides provide visitors with stunning views of the magical island and up-close and personal with the local people.
Ziplining
Ziplining is a thrilling activity most especially more adrenaline junkies and is a recent addition to activities to do in Lake Bunyonyi, the activity is done on sturdy ropes connected in the opposite banks of the Lake. On this experience, you get to swing over the calm waters of the lake and it possible to make half somersaults and touch the water and feel the breeze on your face.
Discover the Islands
Lake Bunyonyi has a total of 29 islands which are fascinating to visit, visitors can connect to these islands using a canoe ride. Some of the islands to lookout to visiting include Akapene Island, Kyahugye Island, Bushara Island, Bwama Island and Bucuranuka Island among others.
Accommodation in lake bunyonyi
Where to stay at Lake Bunyonyi
There is a diverse range of accommodation options in Lake Bunyonyi, some located on the islands and others located on the shores or in town before the lake. The accommodations are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget and they include
- Bird Nest @ Lake Bunyonyi Resort
- Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
- Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
- Arcadia Lodge Lake Bunyonyi
- Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort
- Byoona Amagara
- Bushara Island Camp
- Crater Bay Cottages
- Gorilla View Backpackers
How to Get There
Lake Bunyonyi is located approximately 439 kilometers southwest of Kampala and 199 kilometers west of Mbarara by road, the best route to use to get there is Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale road. It takes 7-8 hours of driving to reach Kabale town from Kampala and about 30 minutes from Kabale Town.
There is also an option of flying from either Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip and them connect to Lake Bunyonyi.
