Touch of Bunyonyi (2-Hour Canoeing)

A sweet taster of Lake Bunyonyi activities: Slide in a dugout canoe over the Lake Bunyonyi surface to visit its lushest island, Bushara, and enjoy a nature walk there. From Bushara you will be able to clearly see Punishment Island, the most notorious islet, and Bwama Island that used to serve as a leper colony. Last but not least, Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi is an attraction too.

Highlights

• ride in a traditional dugout canoe
• listen to the tales from the lake
• walk through the beautiful nature of Bushara Island
• appreciate great views of Punishment Island and Bwama Island
• step into the peculiar life at Edirisa

Facts

duration: 2 hours; difficulty: easy
area: east coast + Bushara Island
departures: daily from 7am to 5pm

Price: USD 25 per person (USD 45 when one person only)
Includes guiding, dugout canoeing, tips and a glass of juice.

Itinerary

Our canoe will collect you from your resort any time of the day. Your first stop will be Edirisa, a picturesque site that mixes simple life with advanced technology, the birthplace of the Gorilla Highlands initiative.

A short tour around the forested peninsula will show you an ingenious submerged swimming pool built for teaching life-saving skills, grass-thatched huts erected for volunteers, a rural primary school and many other things.

You will then canoe to Bushara, a notable island covered with a eucalyptus forest. Nowadays it accommodates travellers but once upon a time it was home to doctors working at the Bwama leprosy colony.

There is a path loop next to the island shore, an inviting route for nature walk around Bushara, with interesting vegetation and birdsong in the air. You will learn a lot about how the Bakiga used to utilise – and still use – the herbs and other fruits of nature. Knowing which plants to pick for brushing teeth or personal hygiene may actually be handy, right?

The walk will give you a nice view of Bwama Island where secondary students learn in the old leprosy colony structures, and of Akampene or Punishment Island, the notorious destination to dump pregnant yet unmarried girls.

At the beautiful circular restaurant at the top of the island you will enjoy a glass of fresh passion juice and perhaps shop a little bit, impressed by the crafts and clothes ladies of Lake Bunyonyi make.

If you happen to be in a hurry, we will then return to the mainland. If not, we can take it easy and use an extra hour for relaxing at Bushara.

Culture on the Crest (Half-Day Canoe Trek)

On the ridge of Kyabahinga peninsula, from which both sides of Lake Bunyonyi can be admired, reside two cultural stars. Mrs Annah beautifies ladies and spaces with her crafts while Mr Barara heals people with herbs. You will visit both, using a dugout canoe and climbing a short steep slope. There’s also a nursery to make you smile!

Highlights

• take in spectacular views and island stories
• have fun at a nursery school
• get anything healed by a traditional healer
• learn how to make crafts
• step into the peculiar life of Edirisa

Facts

duration: 5-6 hours; difficulty: medium
area: east coast
departures: daily at 9am and 2pm

Price: USD 55 per person (USD 95 when one person only)
Includes guiding, dugout canoeing, a snack, water, all activities, tips and contributions.

Itinerary

If you have opted for our free night offer, you will wake up at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi and be treated to a substantial breakfast at 9am. If you have chosen a less basic accommodation elsewhere, we will collect you by a dugout canoe and bring you to Edirisa in time for breakfast (if you of course wish to take it with us).

A short tour around the forested peninsula will show you some pretty interesting things. Grass-thatched huts were erected for volunteers decades ago, an ingenious submerged swimming pool was later built to teach life-saving skills, a tree house was constructed by an Israeli lady, and there is more!

After a detailed briefing session the paddling will begin at 10am. Under the auspices of young skippers who have grown up on the lake, this will be a piece of cake. The first program item on the terraced hillsides of the Kyabahinga peninsula will be a dancing and singing presentation by nursery school pupils. At a trading centre above the school you will be invited to a cup of the local brew, obushera. (It is gonna be … unforgettable.)

The prize for your next activity, a relatively intense climb of about 30 minutes, will be tremendous lake vistas. Kyabahinga is uniquely located to give you an outlook over most of Lake Bunyonyi, its 29 islands and the distant Virunga volcanoes. You will hear the colourful tales, legends and historical facts related to the islands.

On the ridge of the peninsula you will meet Mr. Barara, a traditional healer, who will share some  carefully chosen secrets of tropical highland flora. Finally, Mrs. Annah, a craftmaker, will show you how local crafts are hand produced, and give you ample opportunity to make some for yourselves. And, no, this is not for ladies only! Gentlemen can attempt a banana leaf elephant or a photo frame, for example.

You will then descend to the water and enter the dugouts again …

Islands of Miracles (1-day Canoe Trek)

Make friends with a traditional healer and a craftmaker as you admire superb views of Lake Bunyonyi from a central peninsula that few travellers ever visit. Jump into a traditional dugout canoe and have a closer look at the lake’s most famous and unusual islands. [Culture on the Crest+ island visits]

Highlights

• take in spectacular views and island stories
• have fun at a nursery school
• get anything healed by a traditional healer
• learn how to make crafts
• have delicious lunch with a local family
• get close to Punishment Island
• visit Bwama Island, a former leper colony
• do a walking safari on Kyahugye Island
• enjoy a hearty final meal at Edirisa

Facts

duration: 1 day; difficulty: medium
area: east coast + major islands
departures: daily at 9am

Price: USD 110 per person (USD 180 when one person only)
Includes guiding, dugout canoeing, 3 meals, water, juice, all activities, tips and contributions.

Itinerary

If you have opted for our free night offer, you will wake up at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi and be treated to a substantial breakfast at 9am. If you have chosen a less basic accommodation elsewhere, we will collect you by a dugout canoe and bring you to Edirisa in time for breakfast (if you of course wish to take it with us).

A short tour around the forested peninsula will show you some pretty interesting things. Grass-thatched huts were erected for volunteers decades ago, an ingenious submerged swimming pool was later built to teach life-saving skills, a tree house was constructed by an Israeli lady, and there is more!

After a detailed briefing session the paddling will begin at 10am. Under the auspices of young skippers who have grown up on the lake, this will be a piece of cake. The first program item on the terraced hillsides of the Kyabahinga peninsula will be a dancing and singing presentation by nursery school pupils. At a trading centre above the school you will be invited to a cup of the local brew, obushera. (It is gonna be … unforgettable.)

The prize for your next activity, a relatively intense climb of about 30 minutes, will be tremendous lake vistas. Kyabahinga is uniquely located to give you an outlook over most of Lake Bunyonyi, its 29 islands and the distant Virunga volcanoes. You will hear the colourful tales, legends and historical facts related to the islands.

On the ridge of the peninsula you will meet Mr. Barara, a traditional healer, who will share some  carefully chosen secrets of tropical highland flora. By 1pm Mrs. Annah, a craftmaker, will have prepared lunch for her family — and you! Beans, sweet and Irish potatoes, ground nuts and dodo (local spinach) will make for a filling meal.

But Annah is more than just a good cook; she is a master of craftmaking. She will show you how local crafts are hand produced, and give you ample opportunity to make some for yourselves. And, no, this is not for ladies only! Gentlemen can attempt a banana leaf elephant or a photo frame, for example.

By now you will have had your dose of tremendous views and feel ready for a couple of islands. You will be led to the lake at 2:30pm and enter the dugouts.

The destination: Akampene or Punishment Island with its incredible story – pregnant unmarried girls used to be left here to die. After that another bit of Lake Bunyonyi’s history will be revealed: Bwama Island, a former leper colony. It is now an impoverished boarding secondary school that we love to support. The island also hosts a regional medical centre often run by Slovenian medical students and doctors.

On the way to the mainland you can check on Bunyonyi Eco Resort, Kyahugye Island, provided you haven’t seen enough impalas, water bucks or zebras elsewhere in East Africa… Yes, you have read it right — there are unexpected animals on this island!

At 6pm a buffet dinner will be served at Edirisa, including the lake specialty, crayfish, and complete your program.

Mama Bena’s Bonus (2-Day Canoe Trek)

Mama Bena is a remarkable woman who will welcome you at her astonishing grass-thatched home in the southern part of Lake Bunyonyi. You will reach her by dugout canoe, checking out all major islands on the way. After you spend a night camping (all gear provided) on her compound, you will trek back over Karembe Hill (2,478 m/8,130ft).

Highlights

• spend a full day dugout canoeing on a phenomenal lake
• partake in the homely hospitality of Mama Bena
• island-hop through flora and fauna, history and legends
• feast at a mountaintop picnic with volcano views
• admire exceptional cultural dancers high in the hills
• experience a field craft shop open just for you
• enjoy a hearty final meal at Edirisa

Facts

duration: 2 days; difficulty: hard
area: west coast + major islands
distance: 29 km/18 mi (55% by dugout canoe)
departures: daily at 9am

Price: USD 320 per person (USD 490 when one person only)
Includes guiding, dugout canoeing, meals and snacks, water, juice, all activities, tips and contributions, tented accommodation.

DAY 1 (Edirisa — Bunyonyi Islands — Mama Bena’s Home)

If you have taken up our offer of a free night before and after the trek, you will wake up at Edirisa and be treated to a substantial breakfast at 9am. If you have opted for a less basic accommodation elsewhere, we will collect you by boat and bring you to Edirisa in time for breakfast (if you wish to take it with us of course).

The paddling will begin at 10 in the morning, following a detailed briefing of about 30 minutes.

Your first stop will be Bushara, an island campsite. After our guide shows you its beautifully wooded shore, a glass of passion fruit juice will refresh you.

You will move to Bwama Island next, a former leper colony, and canoe past Punishment Island, an islet where pregnant unmarried girls used to be left to die, to the slightly bigger Sharp’s Island.

Dr Sharp was a British missionary doctor, the founder of the leper colony. His beautiful island home is now a lodge – the site of our light fruit-based lunch.

A couple of hours in the dugouts will bring you to our Day 1 destination. Opposite Kyevu market lives Mama Bena’s friendly family who will receive us at 5pm. They happily allow us to pitch our tents close to their fantastic grass-thatched home, and will serve you excellent local food.

The guide will finally invite you to climb to the top of the peninsula, to see one of the humblest primary schools of the Bunyonyi area that enjoys a priceless view.

Daily Estimates
distance: 10 km/6 mi (90% by dugout canoe)
minimum altitude: 1,960 m/6,430 ft • maximum altitude: 2,020 m/6,720 ft

DAY 2 (Mama Bena’s Home — Karembe Hill — Edirisa)

After breakfast at 7:30am you will be paddled to Kyevu. Here you will bid a temporary farewell to our canoe captains (and most of your luggage) and embark on a day of trekking.

The first hour will be spent walking alongside a pretty and extensive swamp. You will meet the Batwa (‘Pygmies’) who will show you some traditional dances and try to teach you how to use the bow and arrow.

Some metres before the Rwandan border you will find a steep slope that rises into Karembe Hill (2,478 m/8,130ft). One needs approximately an hour to deal with the most challenging part. Afterwards the climb is much more gentle and enjoyable – in 30 minutes you will reach the top and have a lavish picnic there, enjoying the view of Muhavura, a volcano shared by Rwanda and Uganda.

The gradual descent back to Bunyonyi will take three to four hours. You will be entertained by a top-quality performance of Bakiga dances and encounter a makeshift craft shop that local women open just for us.

Our dugouts will be waiting at the beginning of the Bufundi peninsula, to take you to Edirisa for a tasty buffet dinner at 6pm.

Daily Estimates
distance: 19 km/12 mi (35% by dugout canoe)
minimum altitude: 1,960 m/6,430 ft • maximum altitude: 2,480 m/8,130 ft

Mother of All Treks (3-day Precursor of Lake Bunyonyi Activities)

Get floored by local hospitality as you paddle, hike and camp around Lake Bunyonyi. In three days you will touch on all major islands and both coasts of the lake. The two nights will be spent with amazing families in the villages, in fully-equipped tents pitched on their compounds. [Mama Bena’s Bonus + Tom’s Homestay island overnight and a craftmaker visit]

Highlights

• spend a full day dugout canoeing on a phenomenal lake
• camp at two unforgettable village homestays
• island-hop through flora and fauna, history and legends
• feast at a mountaintop picnic with volcano views
• admire exceptional cultural dancers high in the hills
• experience a field craft shop open just for you
• try traditional craft making
• enjoy a hearty final meal at Edirisa

Facts

duration: 3 days; difficulty: hard
area: west coast + east coast + major islands
distance: 39 km/24 mi (43% by dugout canoe)
departures: daily at 9am

Price: USD 390 per person (USD 600 when one person only)
Includes guiding, dugout canoeing, meals and snacks, water, juice, all activities, tips and contributions, tented accommodation.

DAY 1 (Edirisa — Bunyonyi Islands — Mama Bena’s Home)

If you have taken up our offer of a free night before and after the trek, you will wake up at Edirisa and be treated to a substantial breakfast at 9am. If you have opted for a less basic accommodation elsewhere, we will collect you by boat and bring you to Edirisa in time for breakfast (if you wish to take it with us of course).

The paddling will begin at 10 in the morning, following a detailed briefing of about 30 minutes.

Your first stop will be Bushara, an island campsite. After our guide shows you its beautifully wooded shore, a glass of passion fruit juice will refresh you.

You will move to Bwama Island next, a former leper colony, and canoe past Punishment Island, an islet where pregnant unmarried girls used to be left to die, to the slightly bigger Sharp’s Island.

Dr Sharp was a British missionary doctor, the founder of the leper colony. His beautiful island home is now a lodge – the site of our light fruit-based lunch.

A couple of hours in the dugouts will bring you to our Day 1 destination. Opposite Kyevu market lives Mama Bena’s friendly family who will receive us at 5pm. They happily allow us to pitch our tents close to their fantastic grass-thatched home, and will serve you excellent local food.

The guide will finally invite you to climb to the top of the peninsula, to see one of the humblest primary schools of the Bunyonyi area that enjoys a priceless view.

Daily Estimates
distance: 10 km/6 mi (90% by dugout canoe)
minimum altitude: 1,960 m/6,430 ft • maximum altitude: 2,020 m/6,720 ft

DAY 2 (Mama Bena’s Home — Karembe Hill — Tom’s Homestay)

After breakfast at 7:30am you will be paddled to Kyevu. Here you will bid a temporary farewell to our canoe captains (and most of your luggage) and embark on a day of trekking.

The first hour will be spent walking alongside a pretty and extensive swamp. You will meet the Batwa (‘Pygmies’) who will show you some traditional dances and try to teach you how to use the bow and arrow.

Some metres before the Rwandan border you will find a steep slope that rises into Karembe Hill (2,478 m/8,130ft). One needs approximately an hour to deal with the most challenging part. Afterwards the climb is much more gentle and enjoyable – in 30 minutes you will reach the top and have a lavish picnic there, enjoying the view of Muhavura, a volcano shared by Rwanda and Uganda.

The gradual descent back to Bunyonyi, will take three to four hours. You will be entertained by a top-quality performance of Bakiga dances and encounter a makeshift craft shop that local women open just for us.

Our dugouts will be waiting at the Bufundi peninsula and the ride to Habukomi Island and Tom’s Homestay will be just some minutes long. A late evening swim will cool down your body, a night meal with a local family will pacify your stomachs. And then … a campfire with a chat about traditional beliefs (ghosts included)!

Daily Estimates
distance: 22 km/14 mi (10% by dugout canoe)
minimum altitude: 1,960 m/6,430 ft • maximum altitude: 2,480 m/8,130 ft

DAY 3 (Tom’s Homestay — Annah’s Home — Edirisa)

After breakfast Tom will take you for a walk to the top of Habukomi and hear about the island’s history. A canoe route close to Upside Down Island will be a good excuse to hear its unbelievable story.

The rest of the morning will be spent at Kyabahinga peninsula, where Mrs Annah will demonstrate how local crafts are made. By lunch time you will be back at Edirisa for a tasty buffet lunch that will complete the experience.

Daily Estimates
distance: 7 km/4 mi (80% by dugout canoe)
minimum altitude: 1,960 m/6,430 ft • maximum altitude: 2,100 m/6,900 ft