A swimmer’s paradise, a bird-watchers dream come true, and a great place for those who like to be outdoors. Lake Bunyonyi is a great get-away destination.

Lake Bunyonyi is the deepest lake in Africa and the second-deepest in the world,with locals saying the greatest depth is 900m in some places. It is one of the lakes in Uganda where swimmers are considered not at risk of bilharzia, a diseased caused by a parasite carried by snails.

The surrounding hillsides are said to look like the landscape described by JR Tolkien in his book The Lord of the Rings. The rolling hills have different shades of green, depending on what crop has been planted on them. Terraces of banana plantations, Irish potatoes and cassava dot the landscape.

With the beauty and availability of accommodation and food, Bunyonyi is fast becoming the destination for many backpackers and honeymooners. And these people on vacation are helping the local population.

But not all is good. There is shortage of land, especially for people living on the islands across the lake. Cutting down of trees to make charcoal has left many farmers with problems such as soil erosion and loss of soil nutrients.

Until recently, many people drowned on the lake. Canoes would overturn and people who did not know how to swim, would die. However, swimming lessons have helped increase safety on the lake.

There was a significant turning point and now nearly every resort, campsite or hotel on the lake is attached to a project to make its local community better.

For example, Byoona Amagara, a tourist resort on Itambira island, asks guests to donate sh1,000 each, before touring the island. The money goes to the Itambira Island Medical fund. Since many of the walking trails cross local residents’ property, the Byoona Amagara staff wanted to use the money to help the community.

Across the lake, Bwama Island, the largest of all islands, is home to the widows’ garden project, an arm of the Lake Bunyonyi Development Company. The widows’ gardens allow 85 widows from several sub-counties to farm, to get enough food for their families. Lake Bunyonyi Development Company hires land on behalf of the widows. The company also supports many projects using finances from Bushara Island Camp.

Other programmes include a school sponsorship programme, orphan care centres, agro-forestry, give-a-goat project, hospitality training, HIV/AIDS workshops, arts and crafts workshops and swimming lessons.

Originally a partnership between the Church of Uganda and ACTS, a Canadian aid organisation, Lake Bunyonyi Development Company began by giving tree seedlings to farmers to stop soil erosion. Currently, nearly all the hospitality workers at all the resorts around the lake owe their training to the company.

The first resort to benefit from hospitality training was Bushara Island Camp, which was began as just a place to pitch a tent with a small canteen providing simple meals.

Bunyonyi is developing in a way that will continue to be sustainable. And for the tourist looking to feast on the delicious freshwater crayfish, a speciality of the lake, helping out the community at the same time is pretty easy to stomach.

Accommodation/Activities

Getting there
There are regular buses from Kampala to Kabale (try Post Bus or Jaguar). From Kabale, it is a short trip by boda boda via Rutinda on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi

Accommodation

Byoona Amagara
A great restaurant compliments rustic cabins and dorms. Many backpackers prefer the open air geodomes (mosquito nets available). Rates begin at about sh14,000.

Bushara Island Camp
The original and still the best option. Bushara Island Camp offers furnished safari tents, cabins and treehouses, in the place of little birds. Rates from sh40,000.

Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Located on the mainland, around the corner from Rutinda market, this resort offers safari tents, chalets, and twin rooms. Rates from about sh 30,000.

Visitor activities

Bird watching
Lake Bunyonyi is a great place to see colonies of weavers, as well as bigger birds such as herons, egrets, the grey-crowned crane and the crested crane.

Island Hopping
Learn the history of the islands as you paddle or motor to visit them. Bwama Island was formerly the location of a leper colony, while unmarried pregnant girls were abandoned on Akampeine Island (Punishment Island) to either starve to die or be rescued by single men from neighbouring villages.

Visiting the Batwa
The UK-based Forest Peoples Project, a charity that works to protect the rights of the Batwa people, can arrange for you a trip to a local Batwa village. Tour-operators can also arrange these visits.

Shopping
For local produce including mud fish (for the brave) can be found at the Rutinda Visiting the local market especially on Monday’s and Friday’s. The Kyevu Market can be visited on Wednesdays and Fridays when pygmies are selling their wares.

Kala Calah Kiiza is an author and expert in travel in Africa her other articles can be viewed from Uganda tours and http://tour-uganda.com/primate-tours/wildlife-citytour-chimp-safaris.html

When choosing a vacation destination, Crete is one of Europe’s best. A Crete Island vacation is a safe vacation, good value for money and there’s a lot to see and do you wouldn’t expect.

From spectacular scenery in deep mountain gorges, to a sun-drenched crazy, club crammed resorts. From the home of the beginning of Civilization itself, to a balmy, palm laden beach that inspired a famous chocolate advert. From a unique Roman settlement almost forgotten by the world, to an awe inspiring ghostly deserted village once home to Europe’s last leper colony.

Crete has something for everyone, and should be your top European destination.

Safety on Vacation

Going to a foreign country can be a little scary, especially if the culture is different to the one you are used to. Also, many top European vacation destinations attract Europe’s best pick-pockets, muggers and thieves. Security and safety can be a constant worry for travellers.

Crete, on the other hand is one of the safest places to visit for foreign tourists, with a very low crime rate. If you are looking for a safe vacation destination, then you can’t get much better than Crete.

Value for money

Compared with other top European vacation destinations, Crete prices for accommodation and dining-out are very favourable. If you like a beer whilst watching the world go by, then forget the prices you’ll pay in London, Rome or the Spanish Costas.

As for the hard stuff, here on Crete they give it away free after your meal!

Samaria Gorge

This is one of Europe’s biggest canyons and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It is a challenging hike but well worth with its spectacular scenery, rare wild animals and flowers. Well worth the aching legs after the 16K walk -but you will need to be reasonably fit!

Spinalonga

Walk through the haunted streets and passageways once the thoroughfares for the last leper colony in Europe. Spinalonga is a small island just off the north coast of eastern Crete. It is said that the Greek government turned the island into a leper colony to scare away any lingering Turks after Greece gained independence from them. Until as recently as 1957 the Island was home to a unique community of lepers and their families. Now you can visit and see the houses, shops, the hospital and the church that was once the centre of life on the Island.

Knossos

This is the world’s most important and most famous archaeological site of the ancient Minoan Civilization. Said to be one of the world’s first. Palaces, mansions and houses of worship are revealed, some uniquely (and some say controversially) restored to what they would have looked like 5000 years ago.

Aptera

One of the most important archaeological sites of its kind, an ancient Roman Settlement and huge Turkish fort overlooking spectacular views of the Bay of Souda in western Crete. An almost forgotten treasure, worth a visit if only for one of the best views in Europe.

Vai Beach

This is a spectacular palm beach with pink sand, and Europe’s largest palm tree forest, located at the far eastern end of the Island. There’s a blue lagoon too, to add to the feeling of being on a Caribbean island. A real taste of Paradise.

If you are looking for a safe destination with something for all the family, then Crete is a top choice for your vacation.

Graham Yates is a writer and traveller from the UK. He now lives with his wife Alison on the Greek Island of Crete. Both like to share their insider knowledge and experience about Greece and her islands with others, by publishing articles and websites.

To learn more visit http://www.completely-crete.com/ and http://www.simply-santorini.com/

An independent insider’s guide to Greek island life.