Things to do at Lake Bunyonyi; Lake Bunyonyi is definitely one of the most beautiful water bodies in Africa. Nestled between the Kigezi islands in Kabale district, the lake owns amazing beauty awaiting to be taken in while on a Uganda safari in the southwest of Uganda, with pretty much enjoyable activities from canoe ride to cycling. Not far from Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi is always a good option to wrap up your trekking adventure. Out of the 29 islands on the lake, you can enjoy picturesque views when you visit and explore some of them.
Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Uganda and second deepest in Africa after Lake Tanganyika. It happens to be the safest natural water body for swimming since it is bilharzia free and does not host dangerous animals such as hippos and crocodiles.
In this article, we highlight the activities that are available for travelers add on their itineraries when planning to visit Lake Bunyonyi;
Canoe ride/ boat trip
Sitting in a dugout canoe to sail on Lake Bunyonyi is a thrilling experience of exploring the lake in a local way. The trip offers beautiful views of the conical Virunga volcanoes at a distance. You can choose to do the ride for a few hours if it is an additional activity to a gorilla safari or go for a whole day trip and explore some of the islands to learn more about their history. There is an option of using a motorized boat to get around Lake Bunyonyi.
Bird watching
The word Bunyonyi is translated as “small birds” and the lake got this name because of the presence of many birds of this kind around the islands and the locality. Lake Bunyonyi is home to about 200 bird species including sunbirds, kingfishers, cormorants and weavers among others. Whether you want to go birding on the islands or the mainland, moving with an expert local site birder will do you wonders.
Cycling tours
The surrounding hills have trails that you can cycle through and delight in the scenery, meet the locals and enjoy the adventure itself as you ride on the landscape. You can hire the mountain bikes in Kabale.
Relax along the lake shores
After routines for months in offices and other fields, the shores of Lake Bunyonyi would be one of the best places to chill out, relax and rejuvenate yourself. The tranquility, fresh air and the views here are just what you need, to get back to work with great energy, ideas and excitement after the short break. You can choose to chill out and relax along the lake shores or sail to one of the islands.
Zip lining
Most destinations for zip lining have this adventure done through forested areas and participants swing through trees. You can go zip lining over Lake Bunyonyi and touch the waters as you slide from one point to the other. It is a thrilling experience that could also come along with climbing high ropes which require some minimum level of experience, patience and focus.
Hiking and Nature walks
Whether you are on the main land or island, you can take a nature walk to closely explore this fascinating space. Hikes around the hills offer scenic views of the surrounding, take you through the villages of the Bakiga and you can meet and interact with them.
Cultural experience
We organize for cultural visits to the local peoples’ homes, local markets, schools and project facilities like women’s groups and associations under tourism. Entertainment groups of the Bakiga will hype you up you with their energetic dances that involve jumping and shaking the ground.
Regardless of Lake Bunyonyi’s remote location, far from Uganda’s capital Kampala, this lake is a gem worth visiting while on a Uganda safari or looking for a fascinating place to chill out at and make beautiful memories. It is commonly added on gorilla safaris but can also be visited as a standalone destination since it as quite a lot of things tourists can engage in. from adventure to relaxation, Lake Bunyonyi is magical.
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