Table of Contents
- What’s it like to stay at Birdnest Bunyonyi?
- A complete review of Birdnest Bunyonyi Resort
- The verdict: Is Birdnest Bunyonyi worth staying at?
Birdnest Bunyonyi Resort is one of my favorite hotels in the whole of East Africa!
Quite a claim, I hear you say.
The reason I like Birdnest so much is due to the extremely friendly staff and the extraordinary views out across the lake. Also, Lake Bunyonyi is perhaps my favorite holiday destination, so maybe I can’t help liking the place so much!
Given that there are so many places to stay in and around Lake Bunyonyi, I’ve decided to write this complete guide to Bunyonyi Birdnest to help you decide if it’s the right accommodation option for you.
So, without further ado, here’s why I rank Birdnest Bunyonyi so highly on my list of must-stay-at Ugandan hotels.
What’s it like to stay at Birdnest Bunyonyi?
Birdnest Resort is one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels at Lake Bunyonyi, and it has long been popular with domestic and international travelers alike.
I’ve stayed at Bunyonyi Birdnest on three separate occasions with my family, and I’m of the opinion that it’s the best place to stay in the vicinity of the lake.
I have lots of points of reference, too, having stayed at the likes of Overland, Arcadia Cottages, Hawk’s Eye Lodge, and Byoona Amagara, to name just a few of the other spots I’ve stayed at Bunyonyi.
After a wonderful pre-Christmas weekend at Lake Bunyonyi with my family, I’ve decided to write this complete review of Birdnest so you know what you can expect if you decide to stay at this most charming hotel on the banks of one of Uganda’s most stunning lakes.
A complete review of Birdnest Bunyonyi Resort
To help you dip in and out of this Birdnest Bunyonyi review as and when you need it, I’ve split it into several helpful sections. I also provide a score out of five based on my own experiences of staying here.
Location
In terms of location, it doesn’t get much better than the position that Birdnest takes up on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. It’s actually one of the first hotels that you reach as you travel from the town of Kabale to the lake itself, and it’s unmistakable as you approach from the road.
The hotel is tiered, with a swimming deck, pool, and bar area at lake level for afternoon relaxing by the lakeside. Then, the restaurant and bar area is on the next level up, providing exceptional views across the lake.
Finally, the hotel itself has several floors, boasting rooms with balconies and incredible lake views. As such, the location and design of Birdnest are truly spectacular, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best things about the hotel.
My verdict: 9/10
Rooms
There are several room types available at Birdnest for you to consider:
- Basic cottage (located “overseas” on a privately owned island).
- De luxe cottage (located “overseas” on a privately owned island).
- Grand executive
- Standard basic
- De luxe executive
- De luxe
On my most recent trip to Birdnest, I booked into a de luxe cottage for a little bit of extra privacy. However, on arrival, the staff informed me that they had upgraded us to a beautiful de luxe room in the main hotel itself.
This saved us from having to cross the lake on one of the canoes, and the room we were given was perfect. As has been the case on every occasion that I’ve stayed at Birdnest, the room was clean, pristine, and beautifully finished.
You are provided with handmade soaps and lotions in the bathroom, as well as a daily stock of bottled mineral water. The terrace opens out onto the most stunning lake views imaginable, rounding things off to perfection.
One thing to note is that there are no mosquito nets here – the staff spray each room at sunset to avoid mosquitos becoming a problem, and I didn’t notice any new bites during my stay!
My verdict: 9/10
Food & drink
The food and drink at Bunyonyi Birdnest are to die for. Even when I have stayed at other hotels in and around Lake Bunyonyi, I’ve always traveled to Birdnest for at least one meal, and I’ve never been disappointed.
The menu is filled with delicious meal options, including various fish, meat, and vegetarian dishes. But the star attraction is undoubtedly the crayfish served up at Bunyonyi Birdnest.
You can have it in many forms, but I’d highly recommend the crayfish calypso starter, as well as the crayfish pasta for your main course. The crayfish is picked directly from Lake Bunyonyi, and it’s as fresh as you could possibly imagine!
As for drinks, there’s an impressive wine list featuring African, South American, and European wines, as well as lots of beers from different parts of the world. There’s also a comprehensive cocktail menu, and my wife enjoyed a couple of mojitos before our evening meal.
If you’re looking for a beer recommendation, opt for Banage – Uganda’s craft ale. The IPA and Amber ales are particularly good.
My verdict: 10/10
Staff
Every time I’ve visited Birdnest Bunyonyi, the staff have been courteous, polite, and helpful. The best way to book a room at the resort is to email them directly, and Patience led me through the entire booking process from start to finish without issue.
As it was my wife’s birthday during our most recent stay at Birdnest, the team arranged a delicious chocolate cake and brought it to the table after our meal while singing a birthday song! It was a lovely touch and something we appreciated.
One thing I will say, though, is that when I stayed at Birdnest in December 2021, my card was charged twice by the PesaPal booking system. In fairness, this had nothing to do with Birdnest, and I contacted Amex to sort out the problem.
Just bear in mind the fact that this may happen if you opt to use the PesaPal link, particularly if you’re paying with a foreign card.
My verdict: 10/10
Facilities
The infinity swimming pool at Lake Bunyonyi is one of the main attractions of the hotel, and it’s the perfect place to swim if you don’t want to plunge into the lake itself! Next to the swimming pool is a fully-stocked bar with a pool table, offering the perfect place to chill out in the afternoon.
What’s more, for those looking to swim in Lake Bunyonyi, there’s a swimming deck and a boating jetty, where you can also board one of the dugout canoes for a voyage out onto the lake.
You can also organize a range of other activities at Birdnest, and the staff can help you with a guided walk, a birding safari, and various other excursions to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
On a previous visit to Birdnest with my family, we took a motorized boat tour for a couple of hours, and it was a wonderful way to see the various islands that make up Lake Bunyonyi – I’d highly recommend it.
Finally, there’s also a souvenir and art shop at Bunyonyi, but the prices are a little on the high side, given the cost of souvenirs elsewhere in Uganda.
My verdict: 9/10
Value for money
Last but certainly not least in this Birdnest Bunyonyi review – how much does it cost to stay here? At the time of writing, the price of B&B accommodation at Birdnest Bunyonyi is as follows:
| Accommodation Type | Price per night (USD) |
| Basic cottage | $95 |
| De luxe cottage | $105 |
| Grand executive room | $260 |
| Standard basic | $95 |
| De luxe executive | $210 |
| De luxe | $190 |
As you can see, there are accommodation options to suit all budgets at Birdnest Bunyonyi, with the cheapest starting at $95 per night, bed and breakfast. While there are cheaper options available at Lake Bunyonyi, I personally think that a night at Birdnest represents excellent value for money.
You can check out each of the accommodation options at Birdnest in more detail here.
My verdict: 9/10
The verdict: Is Birdnest Bunyonyi worth staying at?
Having been to Lake Bunyonyi more times than I can remember and having stayed at so many different places, I can say that Birdnest Bunyonyi is undoubtedly my favorite place to stay.
The rooms are beautifully decorated, the food is delicious, and the staff are extremely friendly, making for a perfect stay in this stunning part of Uganda.
So, if you want to stay at the best hotel at Lake Bunyonyi, get in touch with the team at Birdnest today to arrange your stay – you won’t be disappointed!