Day 3: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

After a relaxed breakfast, depart Rushaga for Lake Bunyonyi, a drive of about two to three hours through the Kigezi highlands — often called the “Switzerland of Africa” for its terraced hillsides and layered valleys.

Lake Bunyonyi (“place of many little birds”) is one of Uganda’s most beautiful lakes, dotted with 29 islands and ringed by steep, cultivated hills. It’s also one of the few lakes in the region considered free of bilharzia and crocodiles, making it safe for swimming.

Arrive at your lakeside lodge by early afternoon and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Options include:

• A dugout canoe or motorized boat ride across the lake, stopping at islands with local legends — including Akampene, the so-called “Punishment Island,” once used to banish unmarried pregnant women.
• A swim directly from your lodge’s shoreline.
• A guided nature walk through the surrounding hills and terraced gardens, home to the Bakiga and Batwa communities.
• Simply relaxing on a lakeside deck, taking in the cooler highland air after the humidity of Bwindi.

Dinner is typically taken at the lodge, many of which are built on the lake’s islands or peninsulas with excellent sunset views over the water.

Overnight: Lodge on Lake Bunyonyi

Day 4: Lake Bunyonyi to Kigali (via Katuna/Gatuna Border)

Depending on your flight schedule, you may have a couple of free hours in the morning for a final canoe paddle or lakeside breakfast before departure.

The return route to Kigali runs via the Katuna (Uganda side) / Gatuna (Rwanda side) border crossing, generally a smoother and more direct route than Cyanika for reaching Kigali. The drive from Bunyonyi to the border takes about one to two hours, followed by border formalities, and then approximately two and a half to three hours onward to Kigali through Rwanda’s Northern Province.

You’ll arrive back in Kigali in the afternoon or early evening, in time for an international flight out or an overnight stay before departure the next day.

Practical Notes

• Permits: Gorilla habituation permits are limited (typically four per group per day) and should be booked well in advance through Uganda Wildlife Authority or a licensed tour operator, ideally several months ahead.
• Fitness: The habituation trek can be physically demanding; a reasonable fitness level and sturdy hiking boots are recommended.
• Border documents: A valid passport, Uganda/Rwanda visa (the East Africa Tourist Visa covers both countries plus Kenya), and yellow fever vaccination certificate are typically required.
• Packing: Waterproof hiking boots, gardening gloves (for grabbing vegetation on steep sections), a rain jacket, and insect repellent are essential for the forest days.
• Currency: Both Ugandan shillings and Rwandan francs are useful; US dollars are widely accepted for permits and lodges.