Lake Mutanda

Lake Mutanda is a small body of fresh water in the southwestern part of Uganda. It is in the north Kisoro town, which is also the seat of the Kisoro district. It is about 20 kilometers north of Kisoro town and sits at an elevation of about 1800 meters in the foothills of the Virunga mountain ranges. The three volcanoes in the hills are on the Ugandan side, and the lake has great views of them.

Geological forces in the area are thought to have made Lake Mutanda. Volcanic activity is common in the area, and it is thought that the action of nearby volcanoes may have had something to do with how Lake Mutanda formed.

The islands in the lake have beautiful scenery, and the land around the other part of the lake has forests, wetlands, and great apes, golden monkeys, and “endangered mountain gorillas.” These animals can be found in the nearby Mgahinga gorilla national park. A lot of different kinds of animals and plants live near lakes in other places.

There are also birds there, like kites, kingfishers, ibises, and the crested crane, which is Uganda’s national bird. A lot of different animal species live near the lake, such as snakes, chameleons, monitor lizards, frogs, and more.

Is Lake Mutanda a good place to swim? This is true: you can swim in the warm water of Lake Mutanda. The clear, clean water of the lake makes people want to go for a swim and enjoy the beauty of nature around them. While swimming, you should be careful and follow safety rules, though, because the lake can be deep in some places.

Nature lovers can do more than just swim at Lake Mutanda. It’s a great place to get close to nature. Visitors can do many things on the lake, like canoeing, kayaking, and boating, which let them see its secret coves, colorful birds, and stunning landscapes.

With a gentle breeze and cool weather, Lake Mutanda is one of the most beautiful and scenic lakes in Africa. The views are breathtaking. People who want to see rare mountain gorillas, hike volcanoes, watch birds, or just get away from it all can use it as a base for gorilla trekking. It is close to Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla national park.

To the south of Nkuringo sector, Lake Mutanda is close enough to touch mountain gorillas. This is one of four sectors in Bwindi National Park where visitors can also meet one of the park’s gentle giant “mountain gorillas,” which for most is the highlight of their trip to Uganda. Going to one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa is something you will never regret, and it can also be a great place to start a trip to see gorillas.

At Lake Mutanda, you can hike up a volcano, gorilla trekking, relax, ride a bike, meet people on the Batwa paths, lounge on a lake, watch birds, swim, hike around Lake Mutanda, and climb.

You can drive to Lake Mutanda from Kampala City, Uganda’s biggest city, which is 454 kilometers away. The trip takes about 8 to 9 hours. You could also fly from Entebbe Airport to Kisoro Airstrip, which is close by and runs along Lake Mutanda. The flight takes 1 hour and forty minutes.

Things to do on safari near Lake Mutanda

Fishing for fun

It’s not a good idea for tourists to go sport fishing on Lake Mutanda, but most of our guests have dipped a line into the water here and caught different kinds of fish for lunch or dinner because of the beautiful scenery. Local fishermen can help you set up a fishing trip, which is a great tradition for our guests. There are good chances of fishing along Lake Mutanda, especially if you stay at a lodge right on the lake, like Mutanda Lake Resort. You can get fishing gear from the lodge where you’re staying.

Seeing birds
Many kinds of birds come to the lakeshores of Lake Mutanda, making this area one of the best places to go birdwatching in Uganda. You can see many kinds of birds, such as the African spoonbill, pelicans, sacred ibis, Hadada ibis, kites, and owls.

A bike
You can go mountain biking near Lake Mutanda. It can be hard to ride a bike. Service providers in the area can bring mountain bikes for you to use at Lake Mutanda, or you can rent bikes in Kisoro. No matter what, it will be an exciting event for you. You can do other things along with mountain biking, like dugout paddling around and near Lake Mutanda.

Canoeing across the lake and riding your mountain bike back to your lodge would make for a great day. Since the ground around Lake Mutanda isn’t flat, mountain biking is the best word to use to describe riding here. We can pack a picnic lunch for you and set it up for you when we get there.

Canoeing
Most tourists who come to this part of Uganda enjoy taking an exciting boat ride on Lake Mutanda in a canoe that was made in the area. While on a boat ride, you can see many kinds of birds and the many islands that make Lake Mutanda look beautiful and magical. Most of the time, boat rides happen in the morning, when the water is calm and the canoes are easy to steer. The lake is safe for swimming, and you can even swim while you’re on a boat ride.

Going on a Gorilla Trek
Many tourists who go to Lake Mutanda also go to the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where they have a good chance of seeing one of Bwindi’s gentle giants, the rare mountain gorillas. For many, this is the best part of their trip to Uganda. Lodges on Lake Mutanda are only an hour’s drive from the Bwindi areas where you can trek with mountain gorillas, like Rushaga and Nkuringo. Some clients like to stay on the lake while they travel.

Hiking: Since Lake Mutanda is surrounded by hills, hiking is a popular thing for tourists to do here. A two-day hike from the Buhoma side through Nkuringo is one of the most famous hikes.

Hikers can spend two days hiking from one of Bwindi’s gorilla areas, the Buhoma region, to Nkuringo. On the second day, they can take a canoe ride across Lake Mutanda to get to the trailhead before the hike finishes. Because there are many nature trails to choose from and nice places to stay for a week. While you hike here, there are guides who will take you on nature walks, hill climbs, and other fun things to do.

Go on a hike to the Garama Caves in Mgahinga National Park.
“Old Man’s Teeth” on Mount Sabinyo: Mount Sabinyo has three difficult peaks to climb. The first trails led you up a ridge along the eastern part of the peak. To reach the second peak, you have to walk along a ridge with stunning views of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and the gorges of Uganda and Rwanda. The hike up to the third peak is very steep and includes several ladders, but you may see Rwenzori Turacos, Sunbirds, Golden Monkeys, Duikers, and other animals on the Sabinyo hike.

Get up Mount Muhavura
While you’re climbing here, Mount Muhavura will serve as a reminder of how small you are. When you get to the top, you can see all the way across to Rwanda and Congo. You can also see all the other Virunga mountains, Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the peaks of the Ruwenzori Mountains, and cute birds like Scarlet tufted malachite sunbirds.

Batwa Cultural Meeting
The Batwa people were the first people to live in the forest. They lived with gorillas and did not harm the environment much, and they still live in the same area. Three forest paths connect to Batwa trails in Mgahinga National Park. These paths are near Lake Mutanda and Buniga forest.

Where to Stay

When you go to Lake Mutanda, you can stay at one of the moderately priced hotels that are carefully placed in the area. These are;

Gorilla trackers, bird watchers, and walkers in the nearby Mufumbiro Mountains can stay in comfort at the Mutanda Lake Resort.

The Chameleon Hill Lodge is conveniently situated in the very southwest corner of Uganda, just 550 km from Kampala. Guests stay in colorful chalets and are taken care of in every way.