Touch of Bunyonyi (2-Hour Canoeing)

Lake Bunyonyi activities start in a dugout canoe
photo: Gorilla Highlands archives

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

photo: Miha Logar

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.

photo: Marcus Westberg

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.

photo: Alenka Čebular

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.

Congratulations, you are at one of our region’s Top 5 Prettiest Lakes!

Please schedule a call or leave us a message to learn more about this itinerary, express your needs and share your wishes.

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Gorilla Highlands Experts.

featured photo: Miha Logar