Have breakfast and your guide will drop you off at the shore of the lake and start off with the thrilling canoe ride along the lake. Expect to see different islands, beautiful scenery, birds, terraced hills, homesteads and other things during the ride.

After the ride, have lunch at the lodge and that afternoon, go for a cultural tour guided by a local guide thereby getting a chance to interact with the Bakiga and Batwa people who live in the area. The cultural tour introduces you to amazing tales, culture, beliefs and traditions of the locals. In the tour, also visit some of the local markets, buy something from there as a way of supporting their work, and also enjoy entertainment from these people through music and dances. Later, have diner and an overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation Options;

• Budget: Bunyonyi Overland Camp
• Moderate: Arcadia Cottages
• Luxury: Bird Nest Lodge

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, and after check out and drive back to Kampala with your guide, enjoy lunch en route, you could also have a stop at Igongo Cultural Centre to see the country’s most exotic culture then continue with the drive reaching Kampala in the evening. You will either be dropped-off at the Airport or in Kampala at your hotel.

Swimming

Bunyonyi is among Uganda’s cleanest lakes. It is bilharzia free, free from dangerous animals such as the hippos and crocodiles and also pollution free since there are no fishing sites along the shores. So while on holiday, just take a break from the usual swimming pools and swim in these fresh waters. However caution is given to the inexperienced swimmers since this is a very deep lake.

Canoeing

Canoeing is the popular means of transport used on this lake. The residents constantly make canoe rides on this lake as they move from shore to shore and island to island going on with their day to day lives. So to be able to experience what they do, you could get on a locally made canoe and ride along the lake, make a number of stops to enjoy the spectacular views of the islands and hills as you listen to amazing stories about the lake. The best time to go for this activity is in the morning hours when the lake is still covered with fog. But for the travellers interested in night canoeing, it can also be organized for them.

Zip lining

For the adventurous tourist, this is an activity to do. Zip lining is done on Safe and secure ropes which are tied between trees standing on the opposite shores of the lake. Safe and well tested equipment is used in this fun and exciting experience and all you need to do is to get to the rope, swing over the calm waters, the splash them as you drift form one point to another.

Visit the Islands

With 29 islands, this makes the lake beautiful but also every island offers a special story that takes tourists through the cultural beliefs and local history. Some of the islands include; Akampene Island; popularly known as the punishment island, Bwama Island, Bacuranuka Island and Kyahugye Island. So, during the canoe ride; you can use two or more hours to visit some of the islands.

Cultural and Community Visits

Going for a walk in the surrounding communities away from the lodge can be very rewarding since you get to see how people get along with their day to day life. You can visit those digging in their gardens, or visit a local school and interact with the children there. Also, you can try out the locally brewed drink known as “Bushera” made from Sorghum by the Bakiga people.

You could also opt for a visit to the Batwa community. The Batwa are an indigenous tribe found in this region and they stay near the lake, they are the same as those found in Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks. They still find it hard to make a life in this area since originally they used to stay in a forest and lived as gatherers and hunters. Visit them, learn more about them and also be entertained by them as they demonstrate their cultural heritage through storytelling, music and dance.

Mountain Biking

Explore lake Bunyonyi well by going for mountain biking. Ride through to see picturesque landscapes, in case you are interested in this activity, make arrangements with your tour operator who will readily avail the bike because most hotels and lodges may not offer motorbike rental services.

Birding watching

Of course the lake is a place for many little birds, this means that birds will be spotted everywhere around the lake. It hosts over 200 species hence a good place for birders. Some of the birds that can be seen include; the weavers, herons, egrets, cranes, re-chested sunbirds, woodpeckers, flycatchers and many more.

Other activities include; nature walks through the terraced hills and in Echuya forest. Also visit a local market where you can buy various things like the African crafts. The local markets also sell other things like vegetables, clothes, shoes and electronics.

One has to first get to Kabale town to able to access the Lake. Tourists from Kampala can drive for about 8 hours to Kabale and use like 25 minutes to get to the Lake. Also from Kabale town one can hire a taxi or use a motorcycle to get to Bunyonyi. But what most tourists do is they book a safari fully packaged and visit other National Parks in the West such as Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth and then finish their safari with Lake Bunyonyi. It is easier that way since all transport costs are catered for and you are driving along with our skilled safari guide/driver.

Also note that, it is easier to access the Lake as you come from Kigali, Rwanda than from Kampala, Uganda. This is because from Kigali, the journey is 3 to 4 hours to get to the lake using a car