Lake Bunyonyi and her islands are undisputedly some of the most beautiful parts of Uganda. Located in the hills six kilometres above the town of Kabale, in the extreme southwest of the country, this picturesque, irregularly shaped lake shares its shores with Rwanda. The surrounding hillsides, as elsewhere in this region, are intensively cultivated in terraces.
Lake Bunyonyi is around 6 500 feet above sea level and is the deepest crater lake in the country; it started life a few million years ago as a volcano. It’s also one of the few lakes in Uganda that is bilharzia-free – though watch out for leeches when swimming.
The forest groves, gardens, and farms attract a wide diversity of bird life. There are over 200 species and 50 can be seen within the first hour or two. Otters are frequently seen fishing in the lake, and night time brings with it a deafening chorus of frogs.
You are likely to find yourself here en route to gorilla tracking at Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks, and it’s a very scenic spot to relax, swim, and canoe. There are a number of campsites and accommodation on the lake shore, but one place you won’t find a bed for the night is in the old hotel where Idi Amin used to stay. It still sits on the Bunyonyi lakeshore but nothing remains besides a broken shell – he reputedly bombed it after a spat with the manager.