Lake Mutanda offers you a scenic view at the highest point you can ever be during your safari in western Uganda. The lake is located in Kisoro district in southwestern Uganda, that is, 454 kilometers (282 mi) from Kampala, by road.
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Within Kisoro town, it’s about 20 kilometers (12 mi) north of the main town of Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located. It lies just north of Kisoro and stretches not far south of Bwindi, making it a relaxing base for your gorilla trip.
The lake is nestled in the foothills of the Virunga mountain ranges, at an altitude of 1,800 meters (5,900 ft.). The three volcanoes within the range that is partly located in Uganda, namely: Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabinyo and Mount Gahinga, can be viewed from Lake Mutanda. There are several islands in the lake, which is drained by the Rutshuru River, flowing northward to Lake Edward.
It’s a pretty spot, with a misty Virunga backdrop comprising of a string of volcanoes and a lake ringed by papyrus swamp. It is a good alternative for those who find Lake Bunyonyi overdeveloped. There are also dugout canoes for hire if you fancy a paddle; you don’t need to worry about hippos, crocodiles or bilharzias here.
Lake Mutanda is also the starting point for eight-hour treks into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with Nkuringo walking safaris. Swimming in the lake is also possible since its been declared Bilharzias free, , hikes are also possible and all these are accompanied with very knowledgeable and experienced guides.
Activities around Lake Mutanda
Experience a wooden Dugout Canoe on Lake Mutanda where you either own a yacht or have at least been on one, or a speed boat. It makes it impressive to encounter, and get a chance to experience a boat made out of big tree trunks, the dugout canoe – it is such exciting moment to explore. The boats are locally hand-made by chiseling into a tree trunk, and you may get a chance of participating in the making of a dugout canoe.
Visitors can as well enjoy fishing on Lake Mutanda. It’s a major fishing area for the locals and you will notice a couple of dugout canoes afloat that live around this lake. Mountain Biking is also of other activities which take place on this lake.
The environment on the islands within the lake and the surrounding countryside includes lakeside forests and wetland, habitats that provide a haven for the endangered mountain gorilla. Basing on beautiful of mountain gorilla and golden monkey in the nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the lakeside environment accommodates a variety of animal and plant species, unique to this area. Bird species include kingfisher birds, kites, ibis and Uganda’s national bird, the crested crane. Weaver bird nests are a common site among the reeds along the lake shore.
Therefore visiting to Lake Mutanda offers you an opportunity to see the abundant and varied avian species. The lake shore supports several species of butterflies, snakes, chameleon, monitor lizard and frog species. There is a varied and abundant supply of insect life as well. The mammals unique to Lake Mutanda include the African clawless otter, which are endemic to the area.
More Activities around the Lake
Guided hikes & walks through Buhoma – Nkuringo – Kisoro, is probably the best walking safari experience around Lake Mutanda. This normally takes two days with the walk starting in Buhoma (closer to Queen Elizabeth National Park) and brings you to Nkuringo. We recommend that you consider staying a night at the fairly priced Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge – perched up on a hill overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
The walk on day two leads you to Lake Mutanda where you get to ride in a traditional dugout canoe on the freshwaters of the scenic lake, all the way to Kisoro where this walking experience ends.
Guess you would wish to visit a place where you just relax and breathe fresh air as you appreciate the sights and sounds that nature offers
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