Lake Bunyonyi & Kabale
Southwest Uganda's 'Little Switzerland': terrace-ringed Lake Bunyonyi is dotted with 29 islands, perfect for canoeing, island stays and as a stop en route to Bwindi and Mgahinga.
Lake Bunyonyi lies in the Kigezi Highlands at Uganda's far southwestern tip, about 8 km from the town of Kabale and close to the Rwandan border. The lake sits at about 1,960 m, surrounded by hillsides carved into tier upon tier of terraced fields, which have earned it the nickname Uganda's 'Little Switzerland'. The lake is about 25 km long and reputedly more than 40 m deep at its deepest point, with 29 islands scattered across it. With no crocodiles or hippos, it's one of the few lakes in East Africa where you can swim and canoe without worry. 'Bunyonyi' means 'place of many little birds', and you can spot crowned cranes, kingfishers and many species of weaver. The main activity is touring the islands by dugout canoe or motorboat: Punishment Island (Akampene) with its sad legend, Bwama, a former leprosy island, Kyahugye Island, where you can walk among zebras and impalas, and eco-camp islands such as Bushara and Itambira. You can also hike the lakeside terraces and visit villages and schools. Kabale town is the area's transport and supply hub, with a market, banks and a long-distance bus station. The area is a popular stopover for resting up on the way to gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, or to Kisoro and Mgahinga (for Bwindi, Lake Mutanda, Echuya Forest, Mgahinga and other sights, see the 'Bwindi' destination). The climate is cool year-round, around 10–15°C at night, and the dry seasons in Jun–Aug and Dec–Feb are the best times to visit. Getting there: about 7–8 hours by bus from Kampala, or fly to Kisoro and continue by road; from Kabale to Rutinda landing on the lakeshore takes about 20 minutes by boda-boda (motorbike taxi) or taxi. Allow 2–3 days.
Top sights
- Akampene (Punishment) Island – A small lake island with only a single tree. In the past, unmarried women who became pregnant were abandoned here. It is the best-known sto…
- Bushara Island – An eco-camp island in the middle of the lake, with tents and wooden cabins among the eucalyptus trees. Visitors can swim, paddle canoes and…
- Lake Bunyonyi – A highland lake surrounded by mountains near Kabale, with 29 small islands scattered across it and terraced fields around its shores. It is…
- Kyahugye Island – A small island where zebras, eland, and waterbuck have been introduced, offering a chance to see wildlife up close on foot.
- Arcadia Viewpoint, Lake Bunyonyi – A classic viewpoint on the hillside east of the lake, offering a panorama of terraced fields and more than twenty islands scattered across…
- Itambira Island – A quiet ecological island in the southern part of the lake, home to the Byoona Amagara island camp, a favorite of backpackers.
- Bwama & Njuyeera Islands (former leper colony) – A former leprosy isolation island founded by missionaries in the 1930s, now a school, bearing witness to a century of the lake region’s his…
- Kisiizi Falls – A waterfall about 30 meters high in the mountains about 40 kilometers north of Kabale, with a suspension bridge, zip line, and forest trail…
- Kabale Central Market – A distribution hub for highland farm produce, piled high with potatoes, sorghum, and bananas, offering a glimpse into the daily life of the…
Where to eat
- Byoona Amagara Island Restaurant – The open-air restaurant at this eco-resort on Itambira Island, serving lake crayfish, the signature flavor of Lake Buny…
- Café Barista – The highest-rated café in Kabale town, featuring locally roasted coffee from the Kabale highlands and freshly made ligh…
Itineraries
- Uganda Waterfalls, Primates & Lakes Classic Loop – A classic loop connecting Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Lake Bunyonyi from north to south.
- Kigali Cross-Border Bwindi Gorilla & Lake Bunyonyi – Cross the border from Kigali to Rushaga for gorilla tracking, then canoe on Lake Bunyonyi before returning.
- Rwanda & Uganda Double Gorilla & Lake Bunyonyi – Track gorillas once in each country, ending with a relaxing stay at Lake Bunyonyi via Rushaga.
- Western Uganda Backpacking Route by Public Transport – Take long-distance buses and shared minibuses through Fort Portal, Kibale, and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains…