Things to do around Lake Bunyonyi
Things to do around Lake Bunyonyi; Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest fresh water lake located in south western part of Uganda in Kabale district. Lake Bunyonyi also known as a place of little birds is an amazing place to relax and chill out for honeymooners and tourists from a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park and wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth national park. The fresh water lake is known for its beautiful scenery and 29 islands including Akampene island, Bwama island, Kyahugye island, Bucuranuka island, Bushara island among others. There are a number of interesting activities that tourists can do during the safari in Lake Bunyonyi including,
Things to do around Lake Bunyonyi
Boat cruise/canoeing
Boat cruise is an amazing activity where you will be able to explore the lake in an engine boat or dugout canoe. During the boat ride which can either be done in the morning, afternoon or evening, you will be accompanied by an experienced guide who will give you a brief history about the lake and the 29 islands, enjoy the beautiful scenery, landscape, views of the sunrise or sunset, views of the terraced farmlands. During the boat cruise, you will also be able to spot different water birds, animals among others.
Bird watching
Bird watching is one of the interesting activities that you can engage in during the safari around Lake Bunyonyi. The lake is a home of over 205 bird species including water and migratory bird species. during bird watching, you will be able to spot different bird species including Grey Crowned Crane, Red-chested Sunbird, Slender-billed Baglafetch, Levillant Cuckoo, African Harrier Hawk, Great Cormorant, Black Crake, Hadada Ibis, Malachite Kingfisher, Black Heron, Black Headed Weaver, Swamp Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Grey Shrike, Cardinal Woodpecker among others.
Swimming
Swimming is another interesting activity in Lake Bunyonyi that tourists can engage in during the safari. Lake Bunyonyi is a fresh water lake that is free from bilharzia and dangerous animals like hippos and crocodiles which makes it a good place for swimming however you should take caution or be an experienced swimmer as lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in Africa.
Nature walk
Nature walk is an exciting activity where you will be able to explore areas around the lake with an experienced guide. During the guided nature walk, you will be able to view terraced farmlands, beautiful landscapes, views of the lake, visit the bamboo forest, spot some animals like zebras, antelopes among others.
Community/ batwa tour
Community or batwa cultural tour is an interesting activity around lake Bunyonyi where you will get an opportunity to interact with the batwa and Bakiga people who live in the neighboring communities. During the community tour, you will be able to learn about the local people’s culture, way of living, visit their farmlands, homesteads, local market, local schools, taste their local dishes, learn how local beer is made from bananas, enjoy their traditional performances, listen to their ancient stories among others.
Lake Bunyonyi has other activities that you can engage in during the safari such as zip lining, chilling and relaxing along the lake shores, cycling/ mountain biking where you will be able to explore areas around the lake and communities with a bicycle.
Best time to visit Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is an amazing destination that can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less rainfall therefore access roads to lake Bunyonyi and nature walk trails will be dry and passable.
Where to stay during your safari in lake Bunyonyi
There are a number of accommodation facilities around lake Bunyonyi where you can stay during your safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Arcadia Cottages Lake Bunyonyi, Bunyonyi View Resort, Byoona Amagara Island Retreat, Bunyonyi Safaris Resort, Paradise Eco Hub, Birdnest Resort, Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort, Amasiko Homestay, Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort, Hawks Eye Lodge Bunyonyi, Bushara Island Camp, Crater Bay Cottages among others.
How to get to Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is located in south western part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where you will drive from Kampala via masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and then connect to Lake Bunyonyi which takes about 7 to 8 hours’ drive.
Lake Bunyonyi can also be accessed from Kigali Rwanda where travellers will fly to Kigali international airport and then cross to Lake Bunyonyi via Katuna border in Kabale which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.
You can also access Lake Bunyoyi from Queen Elizabeth national park which takes about 4 to 5 hours’ drive and Bwindi impenetrable national park which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive.
Lake Bunyonyi is an interesting place that can be combined with game viewing, lion tracking experience, boat cruise on Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, guided nature walks among others in Queen Elizabeth national park. For more information about the things to do around Lake Bunyonyi, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website for combined safari packages.
