Lake Bunyonyi is a small-sized precious lake located in western Uganda, Kabale, within a close proximity to the iconic Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. The two Parks are famous for inhabiting the endangered mountain gorillas which after trekking, you can go and visit this beautiful lake.
The Lake has a length of 25 kilometers and a width of 7 kilometers. Besides its smallness, Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most visited lakes in Uganda by tourists on their vacations and holidays.
Contrary to most of other lakes which were formed from volcanicity, faulting and warping, Lake Bunyonyi is a sub result of lava damning. It is claimed that magma from a nearby hill blocked a river channel which later caused the reversal of the water to form a lake.
The point where lava blocked the river channel can be seen on main road from Kabale to Kisoro district. Due to the fact that Lake Bunyonyi is surrounded by tall hills, it makes it one of the few lakes in Uganda that have no or very weak waves.
Due to lack of big waves, it makes this lake ideal for everyone to ride a canoe regardless of his/her canoe-riding prowess; you will even find children, women and many tourists with no experience of riding the canoes enjoying the activity on this ever-calm lake. This is the deepest lake in Uganda and also said to be the third deepest in the world.
What to do:
There are quite a lot to enjoy when you visit this one-of-a-kind Lake and the popular activity here is of course boat or canoe rides where you get to explore the many islands on Lake Bunyonyi; each having its own amazing history.
On the boat rides, you are escorted by an experienced and professional local guide who will be telling you the amazing history of this touristic lake as you cruise to its various islands.
The island known as Bwama is the largest out of the 29 islands situated on this charming Lake. Lake Bunyonyi really has a rich history when it comes to the native people or local people commonly known as the Bakiga.
This boat or canoe ride is about 2 hours and among the highlights include visiting the historical “Punishment Island” which is claimed that women who could produce children outside the official cultural marriage would be dumped there and left to starve till death, as the island is nestled in the middle of the lake yet they had no swimming skills at all.
Sometimes they would be rescued and married by fishermen who also couldn’t afford to pay the cultural bride price; so they could easily go and get the free wives from the Punishment Island.
Lake Bunyonyi is free from water borne diseases like bilharzias and it is hence a safe lake to swim in as there are also no water predators like Crocodiles and hippos.
A boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi will also introduce you to the ridiculous history of the Bakiga people; you really don’t have a single reason restricting you from visiting this beautiful lake with such an amazing history after your gorilla treks in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Parks.
The lake has very many bird species that will come to your sight as you cruise on it, and it is for this reason that the lake is called so – Bunyonyi, simply because the word ‘Bunyonyi’ means many small birds.
Accommodations within Lake Bunyonyi:
Since it is a very sought after lake by tourists, Lake Bunyonyi has several accommodations to accommodate its yearly visitors.
Among the accommodations, include; Arcadia Cottages, Sharps Island Gorilla Lodge, Birdnest, Amasiko Home-stay, Ruhondo Beach Resort, Bunyonyi Safaris Lodge, Paradise Eco Hub, Bunyonyi Overland Resort, and many others.