Apart from the beautiful scenery, several other amazing attractions in Lake Bunyonyi/things to see when you visit on a Uganda safari vacation.

Here are the top/best things to see in and around Lake Bunyonyi on your adventure safaris in Uganda:

1. Akampene also called Punishment Island

The significant aspect of this Island is that the Bakiga locals used to leave unmarried pregnant girls on this small island with a lone tree so that they could die of hunger or while trying to swim to the mainland (swimming skills were rare).

The purpose of the act was to educate the rest of the young girls and also show them a practical example of what would happen to anyone who could become pregnant before marriage.

To the young man who had no cows to pay for the bridewealth, the Island was the strategic place he could pick up a girl left to die in the Island. However, the backward practice was abandoned in the first half of the 20th century.

Although this practice has been abandoned, it is still possible to find women who were picked up from Punishment Island today and these give authentic stories of what could happen on the Island.

2. Bushara Island

This Island is the home of Lake Bunyonyi Development Company, an organization with strong links to the Church of Uganda which is the dominant church of the lake area. They use tourism to generate funds for several development projects around Bunyonyi.

The island has many luxury tents, chalets, and also campsites for tourists to stay on. It is also possible to rent out canoes and sailboats with a view to paddling to one of the other islands. The striking feature of the island is its forest, a demonstration of the most appealing attribute of the eucalyptus tree characterized by an exceptionally fast growth rate.

The hills around Bunyonyi used to feature many forests but overpopulation led to them being cut down to create land for agricultural needs. Eucalypti have been imported to improve the situation. But eucalyptus plants may also have a negative effect such as soaking everything useful in the soil, leaving it more or less barren.

3. Kyahugye Island

Kyahugye Island covers an area that is approximately 30ha (74 acres) in size and also the nearest to the mainland which is just a mere 5-minute boat ride away.

It is surrounded by a 1-2m (3-6.5 ft.) wide strip of reeds interspersed with papyrus. The Island has many tree species including Eucalyptus species as well as Pinus species, and Species Alnus plus Cupressus species, and all these tree species form a wide perimeter around the Island.

The vegetation on the Island is mainly divided into four types namely bush, open fallows, tree plantations, and natural vegetation. The hilltop of the Island is flat and has been developed for tourists.

There are chalets and campsites for accommodation, and a well-stocked bar and restaurant.

From the top of the Island, there are spectacular views of the surrounding terraced hillsides, the calm waters of Lake Bunyonyi, and the neighboring Islands. On a clear day, Mt. Muhabura can be seen in the distance.

Tourist activities like Dugout Canoe Treks, Nature walks, Mountain Climbing, Birding walks, Community visits, etc. can be organized for the tourists to experience.

It is the only Island with wild animals which include the Impalas, Zebra, Water bucks, the Kobs, and the only Debrasa Monkey. It also housed Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort.

4. Bwama and Njuyeera (Sharp’s Island)

In 1921, an English missionary called Dr. Leonard Sharp came for safaris in this part of Uganda and in 1931 established a leprosy treatment Centre on the Island then uninhabited Bwama Island.

A church, patient quarters (model villages), and a medical facility were built, while Sharp settled on Njuyeera Island (probably meaning ‘white cottage’, after the similarity of the doctor’s small white house to Sharp’s father’s house in Shanklin, now The White House Hotel).

The rationale of the leprosy colony was that of ‘voluntary segregation, where the provision of a happy community to live in would attract leprosy sufferers, so removing them from the communities where they might infect others.

The buildings of the hospital are now used by a boarding secondary school which attracts students from the entire region.

There is also a primary school but no village on the island.

5. Bucuranuka or Upside Down Island

The legend expressed that this Island killed many people. About twenty were once brewing local sorghum beer there. An old woman was passing by and she said: “Can you give me some local beer?” They wrongly thought that she was a beggar they knew.

They refused her: “Get lost, beggar! Get lost!” The old woman asked: “So you will not even give me a sip? Can I at least get somebody to take me to the mainland?” They answered: “Yes because we are fed up with you!” They chose a young guy to take her over.

When they reached the shore and the guy was just beginning to return, the island turned upside down. All died, only a chicken flew away and survived.

6. Birds Of Lake Bunyonyi

As it stands as the place of little birds, Lake Bunyonyi features over 200 species of birds among which include weaver birds, grey crowned cranes, and herons.

The Nyombi swamp is home to a range of bird species in the area. International Migratory birds can also make it to Lake Bunyonyi in periods of winter.

7. Lake Bunyonyi

Literally translated as the place of little birds, Lake Bunyonyi is 1,962m above sea level stretching to 25km in length and 7km in width while the depth is anticipated to be between 44m and 900m and if proven correct, the lake would stand as the second deepest on the African continent.

Noted to be Bilharzia-free, Lake Bunyonyi has been a darling to many who find it easy to swim in its natural waters though very discouraged because of its depth.

Lake Bunyonyi is remarkably known for its range of 29 Islands some of which are not inhabited.

The adjoining hills of Kigezi also present a magnificent adjoining landscape. The lake features a rich history including the introduction of fish around the 1930s though they massively died during the 1960s due to shallow mixing resulting from the wind.

The lake now features species like crayfish, Mudfish, and Mirror carp.

8. Lake Bunyonyi People/Communities & Culture

The Islands of Lake Bunyonyi and the close lake surroundings feature the settlement of two tribes – the Bakiga and Batwa.

The Batwa people were introduced to the area following their eviction from the forests of Bwindi, Echuya, and Mgahinga. The Batwa are indigenous inhabitants of Uganda, and their heritage is rich and worth exploring.

Though they were evicted from their homes – forests, the Batwa still possess the last of their fading culture.

Their music dance and drama will definitely mesmerize whoever attempts to incorporate them into his/ her Uganda safari tour package or draw the same into the sorrowful imagination of how their tradition is steadily fading away.

The Bakiga are part of the Bantu group that has tilled the hills of Kigezi for centuries past. They are popularly known for their strength and unmatchable hard work when it comes to cultivation. They have rich traditions too which are worth exploring.

Their energetic dance is impressive while their ancient stories on how the pregnant girls would be dumped on the Punishment Island and left to die will open you to understanding their extreme wrath.

9. The Beautiful Scenery Of And Around Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi is enclosed by the magnificent green hills of Kigezi with terraces rising to a height of 2,200 – 2,478m.

The range of 29 Islands straddling the waters of this beautiful lake form one of the great sightseeing admirations that one can ever encounter.

The beautiful sight appears fresh for the great part of the day due to abrupt weather changes along with the direction of the sun.

The morning presents beautiful mist covering the myriad of Islands while the afternoon is marked by the warm tropical sun cover. The dim sky appears as the evening draws close. At times, the clouds can soak the entire island out of sight.

The view of Lake Bunyonyi is perfectly explored from the panoramic hill which shelters Arcadia Lodge.

A meal or a drink at the terrace overlooking Lake Bunyonyi offers a lifetime memory that is worth exploring while on safari in Uganda.