Lake Bunyonyi
An hour from Bwindi's southern sectors, and the single best use of one extra day on this trip.
The case for one more day
The most common regret we hear about short gorilla itineraries is flying out on the afternoon of the trek. You come out of the forest tired, muddy and still processing an hour that is difficult to describe, and then you are in a vehicle heading for an airstrip.
Lake Bunyonyi is what that extra day is for. Roughly an hour from the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors, it is a deep lake set among terraced hills, dotted with small islands, and quiet in a way that suits the day after.
What it is
A steep-sided lake in Uganda's south-west, at altitude. It is bilharzia-free and has no hippos or crocodiles, which is unusual for the region and means swimming is genuinely possible — something you cannot say of most East African lakes.
The islands each carry their own history, some of it difficult. Local guides tell those stories properly rather than as attractions.
What to do, or not
- Dugout canoe — the traditional way to move between islands, and slower than you expect.
- Swimming — cold, at altitude, and safe.
- Village and island walks — the terraced hillsides around the lake are intensively farmed and the walks are good.
- Birding — the name translates roughly as "place of many little birds", and it earns it.
- Nothing — a legitimate and frequently the correct choice.
The alternative use of the day
A second gorilla trek. Another permit at USD 800, or USD 600 in April, May and November, and you will usually be allocated a different family. Travellers who do two almost always say the second was better, because the first is spent absorbing the shock rather than watching.
Bunyonyi or a second trek is the main decision on the 8-day itinerary, and we will talk it through when we quote.
Getting there
About an hour by road from the southern Bwindi sectors, and roughly the same from Kabale. It also sits on the route between Bwindi and the Rwandan border, which makes it a natural stop for travellers combining both countries.
Altitude and weather
Bunyonyi is high, and evenings are cold — considerably colder than most visitors expect after the forest. The warm layer on the packing list earns its place here more than anywhere else on the trip.
This page needs expansion before launch
Owned photography needed: the lake, dugout canoes, the terraced hillsides. Named accommodation to be added once confirmed.
Plan your Kenya and gorilla safari
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and how long you have. We will send a written itinerary and a quotation.