Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi, in the far southwestern corner of Uganda, is widely regarded as the most beautiful lake in the country, a still expanse of water about 22 kilometres long at some 1,970 metres, dammed by a volcanic eruption around 18,000 years ago, whose name means place of many little birds; it appeared on the 5,000-shilling note from 2004 to 2009, and its depth is usually given as about 40 metres. Cradled by steeply terraced, misty green hills and dotted with twenty-nine small islands, each with its own character and stories, it is a tranquil, temperate and peaceful place, ideal for relaxing, swimming, canoeing between the islands, and unwinding after the exertions of gorilla trekking nearby.

Highlights

• The terraced hills - the misty green terraced slopes around the lake.
• The islands - the twenty-nine small islands, each with its story.
• Canoeing and swimming - the dugout canoe trips and the swimming.
• The tranquil setting - the peaceful, temperate lakeside calm.

When to go

The drier seasons, June to September and December to February, are best for the clearest weather and views; the high-altitude lake is temperate and pleasant, cooler than the lowlands, and often beautifully misty in the mornings. It is a perfect place to relax before or after gorilla trekking.

Things to know

It is remote, in the far southwest near the Rwandan border, so reaching it takes a long journey, but it is perfectly placed as a restful stop around gorilla trekking at Bwindi. It is a place to relax, swim and canoe rather than a site of major attractions. People swim in it. Its serene, terraced beauty is a genuine highlight.

Nearby

Bwindi and its gorillas, the town of Kabale and the Rwandan border are within reach.

Key facts