Boat rides

Why visit Lake Bunyonyi and not go on a boat cruise? Lake Bunyonyi offers countless boats for hire along the banks, ready to take tourists inland all day. click here to see mountain gorilla trekking safaris 

Lake Bunyonyi waters are safe, so travelers can move from one corner to another while enjoying the scenic views. With the help of a local guide, travelers can learn about the 29 islands and the tribes that live around Lake Bunyonyi. click here to view our recommended gorilla trekking tour

Community visits and hikes

Relaxing at the amazing resorts is just enough to experience Uganda’s Switzerland of Africa, although hiking in the surrounding hills is so exhilarating and refreshing. Tracks within the terraces, banana plantations, and lush green vegetation also offer a clear view of the 29 islands.

A community walk is an enriching experience that opens your eyes to the Bakiga traditional way of living, cultural beliefs, customs, history, and mythical stories that have been there for many generations. The local people are calm and welcoming.

Bird watching

Bunyonyi means ‘Place of Many Little Birds', which is for a good reason. Lake Bunyonyi protects more than 250 bird species, including grey-crowned cranes, white-tailed blue monards, red-chested sunbirds, flycatchers, egrets, slender-billed baglafetch, weavers, herons, and woodpeckers, among others, along the banks of the lake. If you love bird watching, don’t miss visiting Lake Bunyonyi.

Swimming in Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi is filled with fresh water that is Bilharzia-free, but with no shore, safe structures have been constructed to allow easy deep dives into the open, clear waters.

A change from the swimming pools is just what a traveler may need on holiday to Lake Bunyonyi, which is open for swimming the whole day. Take your time as you chill on the banks of this beautiful lake, sunbathe, rewind, and dive deep at any time of the day.

Canoe ride

Canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi is the most common mode of transportation. Kabale locals constantly cross from the lake to the island and on different sides of the lake to do their business.

Lake Bunyonyi is the second-deepest lake in Africa and is located in southwestern Uganda's Kabale district. Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda’s iconic natural attraction with very many small birds, is where it derived its name “Bunyonyi”. 

Lake Bunyonyi was formed as a result of a lava flow that came from the Virunga chained mountains and managed to occupy the Indego River and block the River Marko, which ended up creating a dam.

Lake Bunyonyi is famous because of its five islands: Bwama island, Kyahugye Island, Bucranuka, and Njuyeera. However, the 29 islands are dissipated across the lake. Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by a garden hill terraced that ranges from 2200m to 2478m above sea level.

 Each of the Bunyonyi Islands has a history attached to it that is why it would be for travelers to learn and discover when you travel to lake Bunyonyi. 

 Lake Bunyonyi vegetation cover adds beautiful scenery across the lake and also known as the hidden African Jewel. 

Lake Bunyonyi is a habitat for some rare wildlife species such as 250 bird species where the Lake Bunyonyi name originates, meaning a place with very many small birds, lake Bunyonyi forest and tea plantations is home for monkeys.

Lake Bunyonyi can be visited anytime of the year but the best time to tour is in the long dry season in the months of June to August and in the short dry season which last from December to March because in the dry season there is less or no rainfall therefore walking and hiking trails are dry and passable compared to the wet season.