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LAKE BUNYONYI - AFRICA'S SECOND DEEPEST LAKE


         LAKE BUNYONYI 

Lake Bunyonyi is said to vary between 44m to 900m deep, this makes it the second deepest lake in Africa situated in South Western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale.  The name Lake Bunyonyi is borrowed from a Rukiga word which literally means "small birds" hence Lake Bunyonyi becomes a destination for birds. The lake appears on the 5,000 Ugandan shilling notes under the title "Lake Bunyonyi and terraces". It is suitable for water sports like swimming, water aerobics, triathlon, rescue swimming, etc.

Lake Bunyonyi has towns on its shore like Kyevu and Muko its main centre Bufuka village commonly inhabited by Bakiga and Batwa tribes. Lake Bunyonyi has 29 islands concentrated in the central part used mainly for tourist facilities, and for community development i.e. secondary and primary schools though most islands have limited settlement; like Akampene Punishment Island said that Bakiga used to leave unmarried pregnant girls on this small island with a lone tree - to die of hunger or while trying to swim to the mainland (swimming skills were rare). This was to educate the rest, to show them not to do the same. A man without cows to pay the bride wealth could go to the island and pick up a girl. The practice got abandoned in the first half of the 20th century. Although this practice has been abandoned, it is still possible to find women who were picked up from Punishment Island today. Other islands include Bushara, Kyahugye Island, Bwama, Njuyeera (Sharp's Island), and Bucuranuka islands among others.
There are also a number of various accommodation facilities at Lake Bunyonyi during your Uganda-Rwanda safari ranging from luxury to budget like Lake Bunyonyi Safari Lodge, Acardia cottages, Supreme Adventure park etc.  some of which offer other services like bar and restaurant, among others.


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