BEN| A bold headed silverback gorilla in Rwanda.
November 10, 2023The Great Apes
November 13, 2023Lake Bunyonyi | Relax after your Gorilla Trekking.
Lake Bunyonyi is the most beautiful lakes in Uganda. Visitors from near and far are simply awed by its mystical, magical beauty.
Bunyonyi – means the “place of little birds,” not only is it a place for birds but a restorative place, a place of solace, of rest, of quietness, reflection, and tranquility. After days of being on safari, traversing the hills and valleys of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of the Mountain Gorillas.
What make Lake Bunyonyi jaw dropping is as you approach it, you see it snaking along the Ugandan landscape. It is dotted by 29 islands of various shapes and sizes, surrounded by a ring of terraced farms, their greenery accenting this mystical lake like a lovely frame and is no wonder that Lonely Planet called it “A scene from Lord of the Rings.”
How lake bunyonyi was formed?
The lake was formed about 18,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption blocking a valley in the Ruchiga mountains near the present day village of Muko on the north-west tip of the lake. The lake’s current outlet is a small stream also by Muko which flows into the Ruvuma swamp (this in turn flows into the Ruhezaminda river that ends at Lake Mutanda). The lake is about 22 km long and 6 km at its widest and at a height of about 1973 m. It is surrounded by mountains that reach heights of 600 m above the lake.
Lake Bunyonyi – is one of the best places in Uganda to relax and chill out after a safari, gorilla tracking, volcano climbing, hiking, and other activities that call for relaxation chilling out on an island or along the shores of Lake Bunyonyi.
Amazing Birds and bird watching on Lake Bunyonyi
The word Bunyonyi – means place of little birds, and Lake Bunyonyi is home to over 200 species of birds. One can do a magnificent bird boat safari from the water, on some of the various islands the surrounding shores of the lake.
You can go birding on one of the 29 islands on Lake Bunyonyi and combine it with a dugout canoe or motorized boat adventure.
You can also explore the excellent birding Site, which is a swampy area at the end of the lake. It is best reached by boat.
The Place of Little Birds – Lake Bunyonyi is an excellent birding destination in Uganda where you will see some gray-crowned cranes, red-chested sunbirds, and many flycatchers.
Animals found in Lake Bunyonyi
Except for water birds, few aquatic animal species are naturally present in this isolated highland lake. Its water is highly stratified with the oxygen limit placed at a depth of about 7 m (23 ft).
Native vertebrates include the De Witte’s clawed frog, Lake Victoria clawed frog (“bunyoniensis” form), African clawless otter and spotted-necked otter, but only the first frog is still common in the lake. Four endemic species of Caridina shrimp are found in the lake.
There are indications that they might also occur in Lake Mutanda. Originally, there were no fish or crayfish in the lake, but the catfish Clarias liocephalus, Nile tilapia, Singida tilapia, haplochromine cichlids of Lake Victoria origin and red swamp crayfish have been introduced.
Swimming in Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is bilharzia free, and there are no hippos nor crocodiles found here, it is safe to swim here
and enjoy.
It is a deep lake – the second deepest in Africa, so you ought to be a good swimmer, but it is something to be enjoyed while staying here. Take a swim in one of Africa’s most beautiful lake.
You can hike, take nature walks both on the Islands and around the Lake – your backdrop, for the most part, will the scenic Lake Bunyonyi.
Nature walk and hikes around Lake Bunyonyi
The walks are not strenuous and can be taken at your pace, and guides go with you that you do not get lost and do not miss one of the highlights of your walk.
Your hike will mostly be scenic. Some will lead you through small villages where you will meet Ugandans up close and personal, while others might be on an island that you came to with a dugout canoe.
Your hike can also include some of the idyllic hamlets and villages with their terraced gardens that surround the lake. Keep your camera handy and enjoy Lake Bunyonyi.
Quad biking around Lake Bunyonyi
You can ride around the lake on a mountain bike and enjoy the scenery, the people, villages, hamlets, the people and get a feel for authentic Africa in Uganda as you ride along Lake Bunyonyi with its idyllic villages and hamlets.
The temperature and weather are pleasant here due to the elevation, and a bike ride will be most enjoyable, and the Equatorial sun will not beat you down
Cultural interaction on Lake Bunyonyi
Interactive cultural visits in villages ,hamlets on one of the islands, or in the surrounding countryside, including the Batwa Pygmy People who were the original people of the forest and today struggle in their quest of survival away from their beloved forest.
We can also arrange for a homestay in a village for you, along with a visit to a school, local market. Learn how to cook traditional and tend to the garden where things are grown and harvested.
It can be the most enriching time. If it is market day in Rutinda, that is something to see and gives you an insight into life along and on the Lake.
Lake Bunyonyi Island Exploration
There are 29 Islands to discover. Below are just two examples of what you can find.
Dr. Leonard Sharp was a Medical Missionary who established a leprosarium center in 1931 on Bwama Island. He, in turn, lived with his family on Njubeera Island, which as a barren place when they arrived but turned into a small Tropical paradise. Those with Leprosy were brought to the island. Here they lived and were treated by Dr. Sharp and his associates. It remained open until into the 1950’s Today there are two schools on the island and the students arrive by boat since there is no village on the actual island
Akampene (Punishment Island)
The Bakiga People would take unwed pregnant girls to Punishment Island and abandon them there to nature. It would be a big event meant to frighten other girls into abstaining from sex outside of marriage and causing the loss of the Bride’s Price for the family.,
Many boats would come, people, shouting, calling names, shaming the frightful girl even more. Some tried to swim back to the mainland but often died.
A man without cows to pay the bride price could go to the island and pick up a girl.The practice got abandoned in the first half of the 20th century.
Bwama and Njuyeera (Sharp’s Island)
In 1921, English missionary Leonard Sharp came to this part of Uganda and in 1931 established a leprosy treatment centre on the then uninhabited Bwama island.A church, patient quarters (model villages), and a medical facility were built, while Sharp settled on Njuyeera Island (probably meaning “white cottage” after the similarity of the doctor’s small white house to Sharp’s father’s house in Shanklin, now The White House Hotel). The rationale of the leprosy colony was that of “voluntary segregation'”, where the provision of a happy community to live in would attract leprosy sufferers, so removing them from the communities where they might infect others.
Today Nature seems to destroy Punishment Island slowly. It is good to have us arrange a boat ride here with a guide who knows the story and history of the Island.
Best hotels and Resorts on Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is the perfect place to put it all into perspective. Take in the beauty of Lake, to relax and chill out and partake in one of the fun-filled things to do and see such swimming, boating, canoeing, nature walks, biking, hiking, market place, and village visits.
Arcadia Lodge Lake Bunyonyi
Arcadia lodge is a five star luxury lodge with the best panaromic view of the lake and all the islands.
Patched at the top of the mountains, its dinning deck offers one of the best scenery in country Uganda.
Bird Nest resort
One of the top rated hotels just at the edge of Lake Bunyonyi. Bird nest offers a luxury stay with beach view of the lake and swimming pool with fresh Lake waters.