Lake Bunyonyi ("Place of many little birds") lies in south western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale close to the border with Rwanda. Located at 1,962 m above sea level, it is about 25 km long and 7 km wide. The depth of the lake is rumored to vary between 44 m and 900 m, which if true would make the lake the second deepest in Africa. It is one of the few lakes in the region that is free of bilharzia and safe for swimming. The lake appears on the 5,000 Ugandan shilling note under the title "lake bunyonyi and terraces".

Towns on its shores include Kyevu and Muko, while its 29 islands include Punishment Island and Bushara Island. It is a popular location for watersports and is known for the surrounding terraced hillsides. It is popular with both foreign and domestic tourists and there are a wide variety of tourist accommodations.

Lake Bunyonyi is a body of water seven kilometres west from Kabale Town, southwestern Uganda. It is 25 km long and 7 km wide, covering an area of 61 square kilometres. The lake's altitude is 1,950 m, and it is surrounded by hills that are 2,200 to 2,478 m high and intensely cultivated.

Its 29 islands are concentrated in the central part. These islands have few settlements, they are mostly used for tourist facilities and for a secondary and a primary school.

The data on the lake's maximum depth varies, from 44 m to 900 m in parts. If the latter is true, Lake Bunyonyi is the second deepest lake in Africa. The temperature on the surface rises to 25 degrees Celsius. In the beginning of the 20th century, fish were introduced to the lake and in the 1930s fishing became profitable. Unfortunately in the 1960s the fish died massively as a result of a violent shallow mixing, likely caused by wind. Subsistence fishing prevailed in the lake, people mostly caught clarias species - the lake's depth and stratification makes it difficult for the breeding of the common Ugandan species Nile Perch and Tilapia. Nevertheless, 300,000 Nile Tilapias and Clarias fish were released in the lake at the end of 2002. Also present in the lake are Mud fish, Cray fish and Mirrowcarp - and plenty of their predators, otters.

The lake's main centre is Bufuka Village. The area's inhabitants are from the Bakiga and the Batwa tribes.

 Main islands

 Akampene = Punishment Island

Punishment Island in Lake Bunyonyi

The Bakiga used to leave unmarried pregnant girls on this small island with a tree - to die of hunger or while trying to swim to the mainland (swimming skills were rare). This was to educate the rest, to show them not to do the same. A man without cows to pay the bridewealth could go to the island and pick up a girl. The practice got abandoned in the first half of the 20th century. Although this practice has been abandoned, it is still possible to find women who were picked up from punishment island today.

 Bushara Island

This island is the home of Lake Bunyonyi Development Company, an organisation with strong links to Church of Uganda, the main church of the lake area. They use tourism to generate funds for several development projects around Bunyonyi. The island has many luxury tents, chalets, and also campsites for tourists to stay on. It is also possible to rent out canoes and sailboats with a view to paddling to one of the other islands.

The striking feature of the island is its forest, a demonstration of the most appealing attribute of the eucalyptus tree: an exceptionally fast growth rate. The hills around Bunyonyi used to feature many forests but overpopulation led to them being cut down to create land for agriculture needs. Eucalypti have been imported to improve the situation. But eucalyptus plants may also have a negative effect: they can soak everything useful in the soil, leaving it more or less barren.

 Kyahugye Island

Kyahugye Island is approximately 30ha in size and also the nearest to the mainland - a mere 5-minute boat ride away. It is surrounded by a 1-2m wide strip of reeds interspersed with papyrus. The Island has many tree species including Eucalyptus sp., Pinus sp., Alnus sp., and Cuprssus sp., these forming a wide perimeter around it. The vegetation on the Island falls into four categories namely bush, open fallows, tree plantations and natural vegetation. The hilltop is flat and has been developed for tourists. There are chalets and campsites for accommodation, and a well stocked bar and restaurant. From the top of the Island, there are spectacular views of the surrounding terraced hillsides, the calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi, and the neighboring Islands. On a clear day, Mt. Muhabura can be seen in the distance. Tourist activities like Nature walks, Birding walks, Dugout Canoe Treks, Community visits, Mountain Climbing, etc can be organized.

 Bwama and Njuyeera (Sharp's Island)

In 1921, an English missionary called Dr Leonard Sharp came to this part of Uganda and in 1931 established a leprosy treatment centre on the then uninhabited Bwama island [1]. 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.[2].

The buildings of the hospital are now used by a boarding secondary school which attracts students from the entire region. There is also a primary school but no village on the island.

 Bucuranuka = Upside Down

The legend says that this island killed many people. About twenty were once brewing local sorghum beer there. An old woman was passing by and she said: "Can you give me some local beer?" They wrongly thought that she was a beggar they knew. They refused her: "Get lost, beggar! Get lost!!!" The old woman asked: "So you will not even give me a sip? Can I at least get somebody to take me to the mainland?" They answered: "Yes, because we are fed up with you!" They chose a young guy to take her over. When they reached the shore and the guy was just beginning to return, the island turned upside down. All died, only a chicken flew away and survived.

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Gorilla Safari Information

Although Uganda is rich in nature and culture, the country is particular known for the mountain gorilla safaris. It is the largest living primate, world’s most endangered ape and without a doubt the most fascinating creature that speaks to your imagination!

Find out more about these gentle giants and our mountain gorilla safaris!

 while preparing to treck 

Early morning after breakfast, you will go for the Gorilla briefing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. You will be given a guideline booklet which you will go through and know how you have to behave while in the forest with or near the Gorillas. Bwindi Rain forest is so spectacular and it offers a dramatic steeply forested landscape which is incredibly dense, crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access to tourists to see the Gorillas. Besides Mountain Gorillas, other mammals in the forest include the rare golden monkey, buffaloes, elephants, black-fronted duiker, bushbuck, leopard, giant forest hog and a lot of bird species. You are reminded to take with you your packed Lunch and water because the time taken to see the Gorillas varies according to the movements of the Gorillas. The experience got from seeing the Gorillas is so exciting and unforgettable.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA SAFARI UGANDA AND RWANDA

No African safari tour is complete without seeing the Mountain Gorillas. Go on gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda! Experience an unforgettable meeting with these gentle apes yourself! A gorilla safari is easy to book and we would be happy to provide you with a suitable itinerary. Please check our sample itineraries to obtain ideas for your safari or contact us to create a tailor-made tour.
GORILLA PERMITS

For this once in a lifetime gorilla trekking experience, Travel africa uganda Safaris will need to buy your gorilla trekking permit in advance. Only 8 people per group are allowed to trek each day. It is therefore necessary to book permits as early as possible. We strongly advise you book at least 3 months in advance to ensure that you can track on the requested date, especially if you plan to trek during the peak season (school holidays) or you are in a large group.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda

Uganda gorilla trekking permits cost USD$ 500 per person, inclusive of park entry fees, and must be paid for in full in advance. Prices may increase in 2013. Uganda gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda

Rwanda gorilla trekking permits increased to $750 in June 2012. They include park entry fees and must be paid for in full in advance. Rwanda gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board and will be purchased on your behalf by travel africa uganda safaris.
Sale conditions of the gorilla permit

Any visitor who shows signs of a communicable illness (such as a cold or flu) will not be allowed to join the gorilla tour. If a visitor is declared unfit to trek due to illness, 50% of the gorilla tracking fee will be refunded, subject to the discretion of the UWA warden-in-charge. The cancellation policy will apply to visitors who fall sick prior to their travel to the parks.
Permits are non-refundable. However, visitors who track the Mountains Gorillas for the whole day and are (in the highly unlucky 2% of visitors who don’t see them), for whatever reason, will be refunded 50% of the gorilla trekking fee.
Purchasing a gorilla permit is not a guarantee that Mountains Gorillas will be clearly seen.
The minimum age limit for visiting the gorillas is 15 years old.

By following these rules and through the purchase of the gorilla trekking permit, YOU too are contributing to the conservation of the mountain gorilla. The wildlife authorities use the funds generated from the sale of your gorilla trekking permit to manage the national parks. Twenty per cent of park entrance fees are invested in local community projects for people living adjacent to the parks – across Uganda. Contributing to these communities’ development helps improve natural resource management and gives local people a direct and positive link to conservation and tourism.

Lions at Kidepo Valley National Park

Only a few months after being awarded by CNN Travel for being the third best wilderness park in Africa, Kidepo Valley National Park has another reason to celebrate. This year the protected area marks its 50 years of National Park status!

Kidepo Valley National Park was gazetted in 1962, soon after Uganda got her independence. With its rugged savannah, split by the Narus and Kidepo River, and Mount Morungole in the background, the park is famous for its unique scenery.

It is one of very few wilderness parks in the world enclosing a wide variety of wildlife. Of its over 80 mammal species, 28 are endemic to the region. Also unique bird species are in abundance. Kidepo is shaped like a bowel as a result of its terrain and this offers natural protection from encroachment hence reserving its eco-system. Hot springs, rivers and lush valleys are part of this very well reserved diverse habitat.

The name of the park derives from the word ‘Kidep’ which means ‘to pick’ in the local language. It was taken up by the first colonialists who transformed it into ‘Kidepo’.

Sharing borders with Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo National Park was once the playground of the late president Idi Amin. With only a few safari lodges and a handful of tourists that take time to visit this protected area, you will feel privileged to explore the hidden secrets of Kidepo Valley National Park!

Read more about Kidepo National Park or contact us for a tailor-made safari proposal!

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