Activities to do in Lake Bunyonyi from Bwindi

Activities to do at Lake Bunyonyi from Bwindi: This combined gorilla trekking adventure with a visit to Lake Bunyonyi may be of interest to tourists planning to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Well, before you go to Lake Bunyonyi, you could have the gorilla trekking experience. You can take part in a variety of events hosted on and around Lake Bunyonyi from Ruhija while you are there. Visits to local communities, riding, cycling, kayaking, birdwatching, and zip-lining are some of the activities that are planned.

Gorilla trekking in Ruhija sector

Ruhija Sector is one of the pristine and famous locations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where mountain gorillas can be found. The Ruhija sector is home to a large number of habituated mountain gorillas that belong to various families. The Ruhija region is home to a number of gorilla families, including the Bitukura, Kyaguliro, Mukiza, and Oruzogo families.

Gorilla trekking is the famous activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is done within four different sectors of the park, including Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Each of these has habituated gorilla families. Gorilla trekking in this region starts early in the morning and is only open to those with valid permits. You have to follow a variety of trekking trails under ranger guides’ supervision in order to witness a gorilla group. The hikers get to spend an hour with the gorilla family after they are located. They can take pictures, observe the family going about their daily life, and learn about their behaviours throughout this period.

What to know about Lake Bunyonyi

This lake is the deepest in Uganda and among the safest in Africa. This is attributed to the depth of the water, which makes it unsuitable for aquatic giants like crocodiles and hippos, which could endanger the nearby communities. It is situated between the districts of Kisoro and Kabale in the southwest of the country. Tourists are drawn to the 29 islands that encircle Lake Bunyonyi, especially Akampena Island, where young women who got pregnant before marriage were condemned to starvation death. Terraced hills of greenery surround the lake, as do various homesteads, some of which are inhabited by the Batwa Pygmies. The lake is the perfect place to relax while enjoying the deepest lake’s cool, fresh waters, seeing a variety of birds, and obtaining a good perspective of the surroundings.

Activities to do in Lake Bunyonyi after gorilla trekking

Birdwatching

After gorilla trekking in Ruhija, tourists can visit Lake Bunyonyi and take a boat to Nyombe Swamp, which is situated at the lake’s extremity. A trip to Nyombe Swamp will allow you to witness most of the birds that live in the vicinity of Lake Bunyonyi, including several that are exclusive to the country. Among the birds that can be spotted at Nyombe Swamp are Hadada ibis, Black Heron, Great Cormorant, Malachite Kingfishers, Pied Kingfisher, Bronzy Sunbird, Fan-tailed Widow Bird, Streaky Seed Eater, Golden-backed Weaver, Grey Crowned Crested Crane, and African Harrier Hawk.

Along the lake’s shores and in the surrounding forests, one can go bird watching at Lake Bunyonyi where birdwatchers can explore the lake with their waterproof shoes, binoculars, and camera in hand to search for various bird species such as the Grey-crowned Cranes, African Harrier Hawk, Levillant Cuckoo, Cardinal Woodpecker, Golden-backed Weaver, Pin-tailed Whyder, Egrets, Slender-billed Baglafetch, and Malachite Kingfisher, which are some of the notable birds that may be seen near Lake Bunyonyi.

Batwa community visit

Following the activities to do in Lake Bunyonyi from Bwindi, travellers can visit the Batwa tribe, who were forced by the government out of the national parks and moved close to Lake Bunyonyi. Your guides will point out several plants that are used as traditional medicine as you pass through an Echuya forest on the Batwa culture tour around Lake Bunyonyi. You visit some of their homes as part of the tour, where you may socialise with them, try some of their specialities, watch plays and dances, and take in some breathtaking views of the lake.

Cycling

Riding a mountain bike in Lake Bunyonyi gives you the opportunity to visit a range of cities, farms, and suburbs.The purpose of the activity is to provide visitors with an opportunity to explore the region and engage with the locals who can be found in the settlements and along the side of the road. Biking gives guests the opportunity to experience Kigezi’s many hills with the help of a guide who is familiar with the routes.

Swimming

Swimming is one thing to do at Lake Bunyonyi following a hectic mountain gorilla trekking experience in the Ruhija area of Bwindi. There are no dangerous animals in the lake, such as crocodiles or hippos, nor bilharzia. Swimming is allowed in gated parts of Lake Bunyonyi that are not extremely deep and are safe for people to enter.

Zip lining

Ziplining at Lake Bunyonyi is one of the famous activities for tourists from Ruhija after gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort offers zip-lining, an activity that allows guests to dangle over the water. While the strong ropes are tied to trees on both shores, participants swing from one side of the lake to the other. Engaging in the zip-lining activity allows travellers to take in breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes, the residents, and the serene waterways.