Lake Bunyonyi

In the far southwest of Uganda, near the borders of the Congo and Rwanda, is one of the more beautiful panoramas we’ve seen. Lake Bunyonyi, a large lake nestled in the mountains, is actually a former valley that was dammed by a lava flow eons ago. The lake’s islands are the former hilltops. The hills now lie beneath the surface and form a beautiful collection of bays, islands, and channels. Bunyonyi is reportedly the second-deepest lake in Africa. Some say it reaches a depth of several hundred meters.

Lovely Lake Bunyonyi

Good views of the lake can be found all around its shores, and we had a particularly nice one from our safari tent at a lakeside lodge.

A brew with a view

“Safari” tent with king-sized bed and electricity

The best view, however, was from the top of a nearby hill which is reached after a one hour hike from the lakeside.

Farms cover the hillsides around the lake

Lake Bunyonyi plays a major role in the lives of the locals. It is used for transport from villages across the lake. It is also the source of the freshwater crayfish that are the area’s main export. Two days a week, the town’s lively market takes place on the jetty. Dugout canoes arrive from near and far carrying piles of beans, onions, potatoes, and more.

Boats bringing goods to market

The lake has more than twenty islands. Some of the islands have campsites or resorts. One island, however, has a darker past. Punishment Island is an tiny island in the middle of a large expanse of the lake. In recent centuries, the island was used a punishment for unwed mothers. Offenders were tied to the island’s solitary tree and left for dead. If she was lucky, though, a man who couldn’t afford a bridal dowry might come and claim her.

The ominous Punishment Island

Angie and I spent our time at Lake Bunyonyi hiking and paddling around the lake. The dugout canoe proved to be finicky and difficult to control. But two days of practice gave us the skill to maintain an even keel on this beautiful lake.