After gorilla trekking in Uganda and the great emotion of that moment, there is no better destination than Lake Bunyonyi. It’s a corner of peace and quiet, where you can look back on your trip through Uganda and at the same time get to know one of the most tranquil and idyllic places in the country. That’s why I think Lake Bunyonyi is a highly recommended stop towards the end of a route through the Pearl of Africa.
Where is Lake Bunyonyi?
Lake Bunyonyi lies at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres in south-western Uganda. It is a freshwater lake of volcanic origin, 25 kilometres long and almost 7 kilometres wide. In places the lake is up to 900 metres deep, which makes it the second deepest lake in Africa.
One of the distinctive features of Lake Bunyonyi is its natural islands. There are 29 of them. Many of these islands are inhabited by local communities. This makes it a culturally fascinating place, above all because of the local market, which is a meeting point for people who live on the different islands and on the shore of the lake.
How to get to Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is in a rural part of Uganda, and to get there you need a car, preferably a 4×4. Most travellers reach Lake Bunyonyi on safaris with a local Uganda tour operator. Some people also decide to travel around Uganda on a self-drive safari and rent a 4×4. Either way, it isn’t difficult to reach the lake if you have your own transport.
Here are some distances and driving times from places that are commonly visited before or after Lake Bunyonyi:
- From Kampala, the capital of Uganda, the journey to Lake Bunyonyi is 450 kilometres and takes about 9 hours.
- From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park it is about 140 kilometres and the journey takes about 4 hours.
- From Mgahinga Gorilla National Park the distance is 130 kilometres and the drive takes about 3.5 hours.
- From Lake Mburo National Park the route is 205 kilometres and takes about 4 hours.
Where to stay at Lake Bunyonyi
On a trip to Uganda most days are long and you spend little time at your accommodation. At Lake Bunyonyi, however, you usually spend one afternoon and one morning, and although there are things to do on the lake, it’s one of the places in the country where you really have time to enjoy your accommodation and its surroundings.
The best choice is a lodge located on one of the lake’s islands. You get there by boat, and once you arrive everything invites you to switch off: silence, tranquillity, paths for walking, good views and a great diversity of birds that make this corner a very special place.
Some of the most recommended places to stay are:
- Heritage Lodge Habuharo. This is where I stayed. It’s a beautiful lodge on a private island. I really liked the path that goes around the island, where I spent the afternoon photographing many species of birds.
- Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort
- Paradise Eco-Hub
- Bird Nest Resort
What to do at Lake Bunyonyi
For me Lake Bunyonyi is the ideal place to enjoy a short break, soaking up the calm the lake gives off and enjoying the scenery and the birds. However, for those who want a bit of activity, there are also some very interesting things to do at Lake Bunyonyi:
1. Visit the local market
The whole Lake Bunyonyi area in Uganda is very rural, which is why the market in the village of Kachwekano is important. There, small local farmers sell their produce to the people who live on the lake and around it.
It’s a fairly lively market and it’s interesting to wander around. That said, I recommend going with your guide, so you move around the most suitable areas.
2. Photograph and watch birds
Bunyonyi means “place of little birds“, so with a name like that it’s easy to imagine that the lake is an area with a great variety and number of birds. In fact, more than 200 bird species have been recorded around this lake.
The easiest way to see birds is to stroll around the part of the lake where your accommodation is. You just need to pay attention to spot the frantic movement of small birds among the vegetation.
You can also book additional birdwatching activities with a guide. This is usually a good way to see more species and identify them.
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3. Swim in the lake
Lake Bunyonyi is one of the few lakes in Africa where, in theory, it is safe to swim. There are no dangerous animals in its waters, such as hippos or crocodiles, and the water is also free of the parasite that causes bilharzia.
Some people swim, and many lodges have a set of steps giving direct access to the water to make getting in easier. However, I always feel wary about swimming in freshwater in tropical countries, and I see more risks than reasons to swim. That’s why I didn’t swim… but I decided to mention it on the blog so everyone can weigh it up and pack swimwear for the trip to Uganda if they want to swim.
4. Go boating or canoeing on the lake
Most travellers sail on Lake Bunyonyi at least to reach their accommodation, as long as it is on one of the lake’s islands, which is quite common. However, another activity you can do at Lake Bunyonyi is spend a longer time on the water.
For a more relaxed plan, the best thing is to book a trip on a motorboat. You can also hire a wooden canoe to get around the lake independently and quietly, using only a paddle. Many lodges rent canoes, so it’s easy to arrange this activity on the spot.
5. Walk and watch wildlife on Kyahugye Island
For those who want to get to know the Lake Bunyonyi area a little better, you can also easily visit Kyahugye Island, the island where the Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort is located. It is an island anyone can visit, and you don’t need to stay at the resort. However, you have to pay a fee of 8 dollars per person.
The appeal of Kyahugye Island is walking the path around it, which lets you see a great variety of birds and also some mammals, including zebras, Uganda kobs, impalas and waterbucks.
Is Lake Bunyonyi a must-see in Uganda?
Lake Bunyonyi appears as a regular stop on many Uganda itineraries. However, from my point of view, it isn’t a must among the things to do in Uganda. The scenery is beautiful and quite different from other parts of Uganda, but on a route of fewer than ten days it’s one of the stops I would skip.
That said, if you have more time, after the experience of seeing gorillas, it can be a good option to head to this lake. Sleeping at Lake Bunyonyi lets you rest in the afternoon before the long drive to Kampala, of about nine hours. The lake offers an ideal setting to relax, do some of the activities I’ve mentioned and slow down. But there isn’t much more to do. For that reason, I don’t think it’s worth spending more than one night.
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My experience visiting Lake Bunyonyi
I arrived at Lake Bunyonyi in the early afternoon, knowing that my 10-day trip to Uganda was starting to come to an end. After a magical morning watching golden monkeys in the Virunga Mountains, I had lunch in Kisoro and then met up with my guide to start the journey to Lake Bunyonyi.
When we reached the lake, a boat from Heritage Lodge Habuharo was already waiting for us to start the boat trip to the lodge’s private island. It was a pleasant ride of about fifteen minutes. Once I reached the lodge, I settled into a small cabin, and then spent the afternoon walking around the island, looking for and photographing birds. To be honest, I felt like having a quiet afternoon rather than doing any of the other things to do at Lake Bunyonyi.
The next morning I had an early breakfast and then took the boat, together with my guide, to where the car was parked. The fifteen minutes on the lake in the early morning were a delight, as it was drizzling a little and misty, so the atmosphere was very different from what I had seen on arrival.
Once in the car, a good nine hours’ drive to Kampala awaited me. The end of my trip had arrived. On this last day, the two most notable moments were crossing the equator, a symbolic spot where it’s very common to stop and take a few photos, and also the ferry ride across Lake Victoria, to reach the city sooner.
Once there, the guide dropped me at the Frontiers Hotel, which I had booked, to spend one last night in Uganda before flying to Kenya, where I continued my Safaris by Locals adventure in East Africa.
