Lake Bunyonyi Activities and Canoeing
Considered one of the deepest lakes in Africa, Lake Bunyonyi is a freshwater body located about 400kms south of Kampala and a 4hrs drive from Kigali, Rwanda. Located in the present-day Kabale and Rubanda districts, Lake Bunyonyi lies in the Kigezi highlands’ valleys. Several terraced hills add up to the scenic beauty of this famous lake.
Lake Bunyonyi is a renowned tourist destination because of its exquisite proximity to Bwindi forest national park, the home of the mountain gorillas. Lake Bunyonyi is also a few kilometers away from the Uganda/Rwanda border. The closest Uganda/Rwanda border is the Katuna border crossing and the Kyanika land border.
Lake Bunyonyi is locally known as “a place of little birds” that offers refreshing experiences ranging from canoeing, swimming, and bird watching. Visiting Lake Bunyonyi is a “must do” for most travelers visiting southwestern Uganda to track the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
How to get to Lake Bunyonyi from Kampala and Kigali
Lake Bunyonyi is accessible by both road and air transport. Kampala’s drive to Lake Bunyonyi takes between 6 and 7 hours, whereas Kigali’s 4hrs drive away. There are plenty of public buses traveling between Kampala and Kabale town daily.
There are taxis from Kabale town to the shore of Lake Bunyonyi, which is 5kms away. For those who prefer flying, AeroLink Uganda offers daily flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airport. Kisoro town is about 40kms from the southern shores of Lake Bunyonyi in the Rubanda district and about 70kms to Lake Bunyonyi central peninsular at Bunyonyi Overland Resort.
The most popular activities and tours at Lake Bunyonyi are:
- Dugout canoe trekking
- Bird watching
- Visiting the many islands of the lake
- Community visits
- Walking and hikes
- Biking
- Zipline and bungee jumping
Several budgets and mid-range accommodation options are available around Lake Bunyonyi and in the nearby Kabale town. Whether you are on your way to visit the mountain gorillas in Bwindi forest national park or Rwanda, Lake Bunyonyi is a recommended stop-over.