LAKE BUNYONYI

Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most romantic and adorable lakes in Uganda located in the south-western of the country. Bunyonyi which means small birds hence the origin of the name and this has made it a good birding site. The lake has over 29 islands that offer great scenery view, plus hundreds of terraced hills like those of Nepal.

Lake Bunyonyi we see today was formed by volcanic eruptions that occurred 8000 million years ago that blocked what is now the River Kabaga creating effectively a dam and the waters from the river then filled the valley to form the lake.

Lake Bunyonyi is calculated to be 900m deep hence being the second deepest lake after Tanganyika and the third deepest in the world. This lake is Bilharzia, crocodile and hippo free and this has enabled swimming to be possible in the lake.

The lake is a gateway for tourists who visit Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable national parks for primate watching / trekking. It has good resorts well positioned for relaxing, leisure and adventure.

Activities on Lake Bunyonyi.

Bird watching; as the lake homes over 200 bird species, it has attracted birding around the lake and among others, the birds that are spotted here include, the African fish eagle, grey-crowned crane and Red-chested sunbird. Birding is done by either boat or walking around the lake.

Batwa trail walk; the nearby communities are inhabitants of Batwa pygmies. These are short people and a visit rewards you with the best memories of fun and learning. They entertain you through music and drama; you taste their traditional food among others. Their culture is charming and worth to explore while on your safari to Uganda.

Zip lining; is a new activity that was recently introduced in Lake Bunyonyi. Swing on the top of the water. High ropes are connected between trees on the opposite shores of the lake and travellers swing from one point to the other over the waters. An activity you need not miss while on your safari to Africa

Canoeing; the use of local boats and a pedal to thrive on the lake, the canoe takes you to visit the 29 islands with their beautiful terraces, coffee plantations and the Batwa communities. Sometimes it is one way of watching birds around the lake.

Biking; sport biking is the way to go here, as you discover the beauty of this lake, enjoy doing exercise as you ride the bike in the mountain and valleys. This enables us to visit the community and meet local people.

Fishing; fishing is possible because some fish types like Tilapia have been introduced from Lake Victoria. Fishing is done by the use of hooks and nets but is more fun when using hooks. An option of frying, boiling or roasting fish is provided to make the experience more enjoyable.

Hiking/Nature walk; the hike to arcadia is challenging and enjoying and this creates beautiful scenery while on the top of the hills. It is also amazing as you pass through the plantations and gardens for the locals. You are accompanied by beautiful sounds of birds

Swimming; as the lake is bilharzia, crocodile and hippos though swimmers need to be experienced or good in swimming and this I because the lake being the deepest in Uganda and the third in the world.

Getting to Lake Bunyonyi.

Lake Bunyonyi can be accessed by road. While in Kampala the capital city of Uganda, it takes about 8-9 hours’ drive covering a distance of about 420km. You can also access the lake from Kigali Rwanda which can take about 3hours drive to reach.

Best time to visit Lake Bunyonyi.

It can be visited all year round but as you know rainy season hinders activities, the dry season is the best option you can make. This happens in January and February and also, June to august.

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