Bunyonyi SafarisResort · Safaris · Institute
The sun setting over Lake Bunyonyi with the ridges silhouetted against the water

Destination guide

Lake Bunyonyi

A deep, quiet lake in the highlands of south-western Uganda: twenty-nine islands, terraced hills, more than 200 recorded bird species — and no crocodiles, hippos or bilharzia.

The lake

Why people come here

Lake Bunyonyi sits high in the hills of Kabale District. The shoreline folds in and out around steep terraced slopes, and the water is calm enough that the main sound is birds. It is one of very few African lakes where swimming is a highlight rather than a risk: no crocodiles, no hippos and no bilharzia.

  • 29 islands

    Some farmed and inhabited, some holding schools and churches, and Akampene — Punishment Island.

  • 200+ bird species

    “Bunyonyi” means “place of many little birds”, and the shoreline earns it.

  • 2,200–2,478 m

    Terraced highlands rise steeply from the water, which is why nights are genuinely cool.

  • Kabale District

    South-western Uganda, close to Bwindi and Mgahinga and the Rwandan border.

The 29 islands

Including Akampene, Punishment Island

Island-hopping is the classic day on Bunyonyi, by motorboat.

Some of the twenty-nine islands are farmed and lived on, some hold a school or a church, and one carries the lake's hardest story: Akampene, or Punishment Island, where unmarried pregnant girls were once abandoned. Guides from the villages tell it properly, and it is worth hearing.

Most guests combine the islands with a sunset cruise, and birders add an early morning along the shoreline.

Lake experiencesSafari packages
A papyrus islet on Lake Bunyonyi with terraced farm hillsides and scattered homesteads rising behind it

Getting here

How to reach Lake Bunyonyi

Tell us your arrival details and we will arrange the transfer — transport has been part of this company since 1996.

  • From Kampala

    A long day's drive south-west through Masaka and Mbarara to Kabale, then a short climb over the ridge to the lake. Guests either self-drive, take a coach to Kabale and transfer from there, or let us collect them.

  • From Kigali

    Kigali is the nearest international airport by road, via the Cyanika or Katuna border. Many guests fly into Kigali, cross the border and reach the lake the same day.

  • From Entebbe

    Fly into Entebbe and drive south-west, usually with an overnight stop, or arrange a transfer with us. We run 4x4 hire, airport transfers and group transport ourselves.

Transport & transfers

When to come

Best time to visit, weather and altitude

The drier months — roughly June to August and December to February — give the clearest views and the easiest hiking, and are the best windows for gorilla trekking in nearby Bwindi. The green seasons are quieter, beautiful and excellent for birding, with afternoon rain.

The terraces above the lake rise to roughly 2,200–2,478 m. Days are mild and often bright, mornings are misty, and nights are genuinely cool — bring a warm layer even in the dry season.

Packing

What to bring

  • · Walking shoes
  • · A warm fleece or jacket
  • · A light rain shell
  • · Sun hat and sunscreen
  • · Binoculars for the birds
  • · A swimsuit
  • · A torch
  • · A power bank

Laundry can be arranged at the resort, so pack lighter than you think.

Questions

Lake Bunyonyi FAQs

Anything else, ask us directly — +256 782 187 892.

Where to stay

Stay on the shore

Bunyonyi Safaris Resort is a 4-star property certified by the Uganda Tourism Board, on the lake itself — cottages, rooms, suites, dormitories and camping.
See accommodationEnquire about dates