Lake Bunyonyi isUganda’s deepest lake formed as a result of Volcanicity in the western part of Uganda, it is situated along the foothills of Kigezi island, this region of the country is a hilly mountainous area commonly termed the “Switzerland of Africa”. It is decorated with 29 islands some of which have animals and others human settlements, the land scape of the region is picture perfect attracting many travelers, the name “Bunyonyi” is a local word to mean many birds in the African setting many places are named according to what they have and hence because the lake is characterized with birds, the locals name it the land of many birds, it is a relaxing point after a long gorilla hike as well. The beautiful lake is located approximately 1,950m above sea level.
Bird watching in Lake Bunyonyi is an intriguing breath-taking activity, many bird lovers are into the region because species fly over the whole area, it does not take much effort to search for them because they are everywhere it is a convenient area, it has about 200 birds that have been recorded here to date some of the common species include African harrier hawks, herons, pelicans, egrets, sunbirds, martial eagles, great cormorant, Hadada ibis, swamp flycatcher, black-headed weaver, pied kingfisher, fan-tailed widow bird, speckled mouse bird, black heron, golden-backed weaver, cardinal wood Peaker, grey crowned cranes, pin tailed why Der, malachite kingfisher, black herons, goose ducks, among other bird species.
Birdwatching in LakeBunyonyi is done on motorized canoe boats around the islands and on guided nature walks, despite the island not being on the map as other tourism destinations in Uganda it is undeniably one of the best places to be on your Uganda safari to enjoy a once in a lifetime experience, other things to do while at the lake include a Lake Bunyonyi boat trip to the many islands, the animal island for example, will give you excellent of views of this paradise together with animals like waterbucks, zebras, bushbucks and birds. Cultural experiences with the Batwa and a hike to them will give you an insight into the people of Kigezi. Swimming is possible on the lake as it is bilharzia-free, over due to its depth it is important to take caution. Ziplining across the lake is such a thrilling thing not to miss when considering your trip to Lake Bunyonyi.
The Lake is located approximately 7kilometers from Kable town, and it takes 8 hours drive to arrive at the destination, trips here are combined with Uganda gorilla trekking safaris in the Bwindi impenetrable national park the conservation area is one of the few places to see the critically endangered mountain gorilla species. To enhance on your Lake Bunyonyi birding experience, it is wise to pack right, here are a few checks list, long-sleeved trousers and shirts, insect repellants, warm clothes, waterproof hiking boots, and any other items of a personal nature.
In conclusion, almost every traveller wonders where they will stay while at the Lake, there are available accommodations ranging from the best budget to Luxury, Examples of facilities include Acarida Cottages, Birds Nets, Lake Bunyonyi Resort, Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Hawks Eye among other facilities.