Lake Bunyonyi & Mgahinga National Park

These two destinations work beautifully together—Lake Bunyonyi for rest and relaxation, Mgahinga for action.

Lake Bunyonyi is often called Uganda’s most beautiful lake—and we can’t argue. Dotted with islands and ringed by hills, it’s a place to slow down. Paddle out in a dugout canoe, hike through villages, or simply watch the sun slip behind misty ridges from your lodge balcony.

Stay at one of the lovely lakeside lodges at Lake Bunyonyi, where you can soak up the charms of this exceptionally scenic region.

“Bunyonyi” means little birds, and with good reason: kingfishers, weavers and herons are everywhere. So it offers the perfect pause between gorilla trekking and the bustle of Kampala.

Mgahinga National Park - Golden Monkeys & Gorillas

Tucked into the Virunga Volcanoes on Uganda’s border with Rwanda and the DRC, Mgahinga National Park may be Uganda’s smallest park, but it’s big on experiences.

The Mountain Gorillas of the Virungas don’t care about international borders and so gorilla families do roam here, though unpredictably. (Sometimes they also wander over to Congo without so much as a border stamp). So gorilla tracking is quite unpredictable here.

Luckily, there’s plenty else on offer: golden monkey tracking, scenic volcano hikes, and the unforgettable Batwa Trail, where you’ll walk with the forest’s original guardians.

There’s a chance to summit one of the three volcanoes (Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Muhabura).

The Batwa Trail

The Batwa are the former residents of the high mountain forests. For millennia, they have co-existed peacefully with the mountain gorillas and other forest inhabitants. But their hunter-gatherer lifestyle has been devastatingly impacted by 20th century development and conservation.

So to find a new way to remain the 'keepers of the forest' the Batwa have introduced the Batwa Trail. Here they explain, demonstrate, and share their low-impact culture and heritage with visitors. The Batwa Trail is just a walk: it’s a living story of resilience, both moving and enlightening.

Unwind by Lake Bunyonyi, then lace up your boots for Mgahinga’s primates and volcanoes. Let’s tailor this southern Uganda adventure for you.