Lake Bunyonyi | Africa’s second deepest Lake

Far in the south-western corner of Uganda, there’s beauty and magic down in the valleys of the Virunga Mountains, Lake Bunyonyi.  Without any doubt this is Uganda’s most beautiful and loveliest Lake among them all and it’s known for so many little birds that call it home.

Locally “Bunyonyi” means little birds and it is from this Lake where you can see plenty of them enjoying the sights and sounds of the environment.

Dotted with 29 different islands, there’s arguably no other lake in the whole of East Africa with usch magnificent raw beauty and taking on a boat trip to explore all of them is something that stays with you for quite some time.

Lake Bunyonyi is located in Kabale district about 10-20 minutes of driving from the main town ad it is seated at 1962m above sea level. From Kampala or Entebbe going to this gem takes about 8-9 hours of driving through the scenic landscapes of the western part of Uganda.

Only second to Lake Tanganyika which is shared by 4 different countries, Lake Bunyonyi is Africa’s second deepest Lake and it’s actually the only one in Uganda which is free from Bilharzia and swimming from here is completely allowed for expert swimmers and you won’t expect to get sick from any disease from here.

Where to sleep at Lake Bunyonyi | Accommodations in Kabale

On a visit to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district, there are plenty of accommodation facilities to choose from ranging from any budget that you like and some of them are listed below for you to choose from:

Arcadia Lodges-Lake Bunyonyi.

Arguably one of the best safari lodges around this Lake if not the best, this well built facility is nesttled up on the hill which gives its vistors with splendid views of the Lake and a stay from here is one of those you won’t easily forget in your life.

It doesn’t matter if you are sleeping here or not, a stop to get a drink or a meal while viewing the Virunga mountains and the beautiful islands is all that matters.

Lake Bunyonyi Overland Resort

For budget travelers who wants to sleep in clean and well furnished cottages, Lake Bunyonyi Overland resort is the one for you. Located just on the shores of the lake with both luxury and budget cottages. You are free to choose what you like and ofcourse swimming from here is available.

Birdnest Resort

Could be the best high-end facility at Lake Bunyonyi and not so many will disagree, it is nestled just on the shores of this lake with a luxurious setting to make your stay spiced. They offer boat trips to explore the hidden gems of the lke and just like many facilities around here, swimming is available.

Crater Bay Cottages

One of the best budget accommodations at Lake Bunyonyi if not the best, Crater bay cottages is also built on the shores and with its clean cottages and organized management, it is one place that you need to check on when you are traveling on a budget.

Lake Bunyonyi Eco-Resort

Located on an island just in the middle of the lake, this eco lodge is wone of the best when it comes to a sleeping on an island experience. A stay from here gives tourists wiwth plenty of opportunities to see Zebras, Impalas, Monkeys etc. Boats to take you there are always managed and organized by the lodge.

How to choose your destination for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda?

If you desire to do chimpanzee trekking, Uganda offers the best chances than any other place in East Africa. Because, there are four places which you can visit to see chimpanzees.

Where to see chimpanzees in Uganda

1. Kibale Forest National Park

Home to over 1400 chimpanzees and 12 primate species, Kibale forest is regarded as the primate capital of the world. There are more than 10 troops of chimps that have been habituated since 1993. They are accustomed to humans which means the chance to see chimps is almost 100% guaranteed. Chimpanzee trekking permit is $200 per person. Chimpanzee trekking can be done during the morning at 8:00am or 2:00pm afternoon. Visitors spend up to 1 hour with chimps. It’s great and definitely one of your must do activities in Uganda. Besides chimp trekking, Kibale forest offers chimpanzee habituation experience where you observe chimps for full day at $250 USD per person. Optional activities to view more primates in Kibale include Bigodi community swamp walk and night walk.

2. Budongo Forest Reserve

This eco-tourism spot is home to over 700 chimpanzees including 6 troops that are habituated for tourism. The chance to see chimps in Budongo forest is high because of there are no reports of visitors missing to see chimps despite the time of the year. Chimpanzee trekking at Budongo is done in the morning session starting 08:am or afternoon at 2:00pm. This forest reserve is located south of Murchison Falls Conservation Area which presents an opportunity to view more wildlife in Murchison falls national park. Options also include visiting Ziwa Rhino sanctuary.

3. Kalinzu Forest Reserve and Kyambura Gorge

The two central forest reserves located in Queen Elizabeth, Uganda’s most visited National Park. Kalinzu forest is the most popular for chimp trekking than Kyambura gorge because of the following reasons Kyambura gorge also known as the valley of apes has a rough terrain that make it difficult to locate chimps. On the other hand, the terrain of kalinzu forest is gentle and undulating making it relatively easier to search for chimps. The chance of seeing chimps is high like 80% and while in Kyambura its 50% thus the price to see chimps is $50 USD per person.

4. Toro-semuliki Wildlife Reserve

The number of days you wish to spend on safari in Uganda will determine where to see chimps. Sample itineraries for chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.

For shorter trips less than 4 days, you can still see Chimps and view Wildlife.

This is suitable for travelers with less than a day in Entebbe or Kampala and includes a boat cruise on Lake Victoria.

What is the difference between Chimpanzee Trekking and Habituation Experience?

The two offer visitors a chance to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat. However, chimpanzee tracking provides the chance to observe chimps for 1 hour. At Kibale forest, it is done in 2 secessions. The morning secession starts at 8:00am and the 2:00pm in the afternoon.

On the other hand, chimpanzee habituation experience involves watching chimpanzees for a full day starting between 6 to 6:30am in the morning when chimps leave their nests up to 7:00pm. There’s much more to learn about chimps and their behavior because visitors can observe chimps leaving their nests as they begin their day to hunt for food. Chimpanzee groups allocated for habituation are less accustomed to humans than those for tracking. In East Africa, the other places to see chimps include Nyungwe Forest National Park Rwanda, Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.