Bushara island camp Lake Bunyonyi – Activities and attractions around Lake Bunyonyi
Bushara island camp – Are you on your way to see the mountain gorillas, or just looking for a retreat on your journey? Come to Bushara Island Camp, a popular resort on Lake Bunyonyi (“Lake of the Little Birds”). The first of its kind, the camp is a stopover to and from Gorilla treks, a bird watcher’s haven, and a private place for retreats. This small island is peaceful, safe, natural, intriguing to day-visitors and families and a sanctuary for the weary traveler. The perfect location to get away from it all is Bushara Island which is a wonderful place to relax in comfort surrounded by nature. The green hills and papyrus swamps offer many opportunities for bird watching and Eucalyptus trees and shady nooks along private paths provide quiet places to sit and read a book.
Environmentally- and Community-focused
Bushara Island Camp is a sustainable eco-tourism resort focusing on raising awareness and promoting protection of the environment. The camp evolved in response to the needs of the people of Lake Bunyonyi. Bushara Island Camp is one arm of a locally managed non-profit organization called the Lake Bunyonyi Development Company (LBDC). Profits from the campground assist local communities around the lake through activities like agro-forestry, small livestock distribution, craft co-operatives, and hospitality internships for local college students. Your enjoyable stay on Bushara Island directly helps the local communities.
That said, Bushara Island is an interesting place to visit because it is the headquarters of the “The Lake Bunyonyi Development Company”, a Ugandan registered NGO that supports sustainable farming in the Lake Bunyonyi area as well as raising funds for orphans and providing workshops for local women to earn through the making and selling of handicrafts and use of the camp by tourists helps generate revenue to support these projects.
Visitors to Bushara Island will enjoy its dense forestry as well as activities such as swimming and canoeing. It’s also an excellent place to stay for those who enjoy bird watching as it’s a natural haven for birds because of its quiet and peaceful surrounding.
Friendly, high quality service and comfortable facilities
The volcanic lake is bilharzia-free and safe for swimming, canoeing, and for the more adventurous jumping off our rope swing. The facility as well offers cultural tours, night-time canoe tours, several bird watching tours on the island and around the lake, and walking trails and benches for quiet moments. Besides the natural setting, the facility offers a friendly high-quality service and a good selection of delicious and affordable meals at Swallow’s Nest Restaurant. Our luxury safari tents and range of cottages provide a variety of comfortable self-contained accommodations, each in a private setting with a view of the lake.
Many species of birds
The Eucalyptus trees, papyrus swamps, and flowery plants of Lake Bunyonyi are home to over 200 species of birds, some of which include; the Harrier Hawk, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Pin-tailed Whydah, Red-chested Sunbird, Tropical Boubou, Grey-capped Warbler, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Paradise Monarch Flycatcher and the Red-billed Fire finch.
Activities on Lake Bunyonyi Kabale.
Boat Rides
Visit Lake Bunyonyi and enjoy a boat cruise through the amazing islands on the Lake. There are countless boats for hire on the banks of the lake ready to take you inland all day.
Community Visits and Hikes
Lounging at the amazing resorts is relaxing enough but to experience the Switzerland of Africa, a hike in the surrounding hills is exhilarating and refreshing. Trails along the terraces, banana plantations and lush green vegetation give a clear view of the 29 islands. It gives quite a great picture-perfect spot from all angles.
Bird Watching
Bunyonyi simply means ‘many little birds’, so bird lovers visit Lake Bunyonyi for a very good reason. It is a home for over 200 bird species like the Grey-crowned cranes, Red-chested sunbirds, Flycatchers, White-tailed blue Monad, Slender-billed baglafetch, weavers, Egrets, Herons, Woodpeckers among others all over the banks of the lake. If you are a bird lover but also in dire need for a quiet getaway, Bunyonyi is the perfect place experience for this experience.
Swimming
The Lake is filled with fresh waters and is Bilharzia free. There is no shore but safe structures have been put in place to allow easy deep dives into the open waters. A change from the swimming pools is just what you need on holiday and Lake Bunyoyi is open for this all time of the day. Take time to chill on the banks of the lake, sunbathe and deep dive any time of the day.
Local Market
The African Market experience is something you should. Markets around Lake Bunyonyi have about anything you can think of ranging from African crafts, vegetables, shoes, clothes, and electronics. The people move around swiftly as they haggle for cheaper prices, others stand around and catch up with each other and others riding in with more merchandise to sell. A local market is a place where people come to connect and catch up with others.
Canoe Riding
This is the commonest mode of transport on Lake Bunyonyi. The locals are constantly making trips across the lake from island to island and different sides of the hills to do their personal business. To have a better feel of what it feels like to live the way they do, a canoe ride is a perfect option, giving you extra time on the lake, a chance to stop right in the middle for a little serenity and panoramic view. You can choose to be paddled or even do the paddling yourself as long as you have a guide with you.