Lake Bunyonyi, sometimes referred to as a “place of several little birds,” got its name from the existence of several small birds known as “obunyonyi,” in the local language. Though its exact depth is still unclear, Lake Bunyonyi is clearly the second deepest fresh water lake on whole African continent. Situated in the hills of Kabale district in Western part of Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi is the pearl of Africa most known by tourists due to its exciting nature of unique vegetation cover and varied wildlife species plus several small birds that provide amazing view of the entire lake and the hills ahead since it is situated in a hilly area. Lake Bunyonyi thrills with 29 islands each with their own history but the most visited island is Punishment Island, where the young girls who wound conceive before getting married were always looked as cursed hence taken and abandoned on the island until they die or sometimes the fishermen would rescue them and marry them off thus the name Punishment Island. Among the other islands on Lake Bunyonyi are Bwama Island, Njuyeera, Bucuranuka, Bushara Island, and Kyahugye Island.
There are several interesting tourism activities in Lake Bunyonyi where visitors on a Uganda safari might spend a day or more exploring on an excursion; these include;
One of the most exciting activities available at Lake Bunyonyi is a canoe trip, in which visitors sail on a dugout canoe to explore some of the islands or even all depending on the time one wants to spend on the ride. Using a local guide who is aware of the nature of every island and the corresponding background will help you to appreciate this canoe voyage. Depending on the tourist’s option, canoe rides—which last several hours to a whole day—can even be completed at night. You may choose to be paddled as you savor the breathtaking view of several attractions around you and capture those striking pictures to preserve your memories, or you might paddle yourself from one island to another.
Birding: Since Lake Bunyonyi is known as the area of little birds with over 200 species of birds recorded, birding is probably another exciting activity done at the lake and the best way to enjoy this activity is by either combining it with a canoe ride where you need to ride along with a birder where you will visit several islands while seeing plenty of these little birds that reside along the islands and some migratory birds that visit the lake seasonally.
Swimming in Lake Bunyonyi is among the fresh water lakes; Bilharzia free from crocodiles makes swimming in its fresh waters an interesting experience. But given its great depth, only experienced swimmers are advised to swim for safety. Actually most lodges along the beaches of Lake Bunyonyi have properly marked swimming pools where visitors may swim and lounge admiring lake Bunyonyi and the surrounding hills, terraces and exciting wildlife and flora species.
Spend at least half a half day or full day on a nature walk along several paths both on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi and the surrounding towns. Walking in the villages where the local bakiga and batwa are encountered in their farms since farming is the main activity done by the locals. This walk is more interesting when done alongside a local tour guide while exploring along the island areas where a history about each island can be told while watching little birds, along the shores of the lake filled with several species of fauna and vegetation with beautiful flowers and green vegetation whit hot forgetting. This suggests that the walking safari can be readily combined with the cultural visit whereby visitors have the chance to interact with the locals and even participate in some activities including learning how to dig, how to prepare local food, and listen to fascinating stories from old women who have lived near lake Bunyonyi for a long time and close the day with exciting entertainment from the bakiga and batwa.
One may choose to tour the island on a bike, on a canoe, or on foot. Whichever way, try to explore the 29 islands with a local guide who will explain everything you need to know about these lovely islands with the most common island known as “Akampene,” basically known as “Punishment” island where several bakiga girls who would get pregnant before marriage were taken and abandoned in the middle of the island to starve and die from there. Some lucky women, however, would be saved by underprivileged men and other impoverished people who accept them as free spouses without anybody requesting bride fee. Every island has a unique name; take your time to investigate them and find more about them. The islands are also wonderful places for bird viewing; so, birders may mix island exploring with birding to kill one bird with two stones.
Mountain bike: choosing for Still the easiest approach to visit various parts of Lake Bunyonyi is mountain riding. A guided mountain riding safari lets visitors go far into the villages, interact with the local population, and see many species including mammals, birds, and the whole panorama of the surrounding terraced hills at a quick glimpse. Though you can never get enough of this experience, visitors may choose to ride for a few hours around the lake’s shoreline to discover the islands or spend an entire day to thoroughly explore various sites on a bike.
Leisure & Relaxation: For visitors wishing to spend some time at leisure, Lake Bunyonyi is the ideal location. While experiencing the cool breeze from the lake and overlooking the hills, it provides wonderful ground for book reading. Apart from your house, it’s the ideal location for a honeymoon safari to experience the actual meaning of love and also the perfect location for picnics.
Enjoy Crayfish: Remember to sample the most often offered food at Lake Bunyonyi, the Crayfish dish. Those who enjoy this fish species find the meaning of a great and flavorful dinner. Other dishes are available, nevertheless, should one not eat the crayfish.
While those interested in wildlife viewing safari in savanna parks usually combine Lake Bunyonyi with Queen Elizabeth national park or Lake Mburo national park, several visitors mix Lake Bunyonyi with a visit to Bwindi impenetrable national park for a gorilla safari. Because of its close proximity to Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Lake Bunyonyi is readily paired with a safari from Rwanda and visited at any given period of time.
At East Africa Gorilla Safaris, under All In Africa Safaris, we specialize in unforgettable gorilla trekking experiences and diverse wildlife safaris.
Our expertly guided tours provide intimate encounters with gorillas and rich African wildlife, ensuring an unparalleled adventure in the heart of East Africa.
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