Activities – Things to do and see at Lake Mutanda – Southwestern Uganda – Kisoro District – 5 Hours drive from Kigali to Lake Mutanda.
Situated at the foothills of the great Virunga mountain ranges, Lake Mutanda is a lake like no other lake you have probably see in Africa. Sited at an altitude of 1800 meter (5,900ft) ASL, Lake Mutanda offers to all its visitors what everyone calls ” the best views of the three Virunga mountains; Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga.
A visit to Lake Mutanda does not only reward you with the views of the Virunga mountains but with a lot more that people know about, and or travel guides in Europe have written about. in this article, we bring you a list of Activities – top things to do and see at Lake Mutanda near Kisoro Town – just 5 hours drive from Kigali – 9 hours from Kampala – 10 hours from Entebbe.
Activities – top things to do and see at Lake Mutanda – Kisoro
Unwind to the beauty of Lake Mutanda – Uganda’s Most Scenic Lake – Close to the Gorillas
With way over ten (10) unique viewpoint (everywhere you stand around lake Mutanda is a viewpoint)a day’s long gaze at this lake is still among the activities – top things to do and see at Lake Mutanda.
The tranquillity one enjoys from visiting Lake Mutanda is that which most travellers are looking for after a 01 hour – gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Forest, or an All day – 4 hour – gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga (also in Bwindi forest). Realm Africa Safaris operates tours to the far-flung southwestern gorilla trekking areas of Rushaga and Nkuringo – all part Of the Bwindi Forest National Park – the best place to trek mountain gorillas in Africa.
Visit Mgahinga National Park – the capital of Golden Monkeys
Nearby Mgahinga National park is not our best choice for reasons of the uncertainty of the 01 gorilla group – Nyakagezi gorilla group that is always on the move within the Virunga corridors. However, while gorilla trekking in Mgahinga is unpredictable, Golden monkey tracking thrives in this park than anywhere else, you can also indulge in the Batwa Cultural Experience walk, or take on a guided Volcano hike to the top of either one Of the three (03) Volcanic mountains; Muhabura, Sabyinyo or Gahinga (after which the park is named).
Visit the Batwa pygmy People
The Batwa Pygmies (no longer as short as they were because of intermarriages) are the tribe that lived in the now Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks – now both protected area with no human settlements accepted. The Batwa people are originally hunters (of small forest antelopes like duikers) and fruit gathers and lived in the canopies of large trees and caves that existed in the forest. While at Lake Mutanda, you may opt to either visit the Batwa of Buniga Forest or the Batwa of Mgahinga Forest National park.
Experience a wooden Dugout Canoe
Back home you either own a yacht or have at least been on one, or a speed boat. I bet you if you have seen or even know what a dugout canoe is. While at Lake Mutanda, you have the chance to experience a boat made out of big tree trunks, the dugout canoe. You will get into one of these and roar your boat across Lake mutanda – what better way to experience this magnificent Lake. The boats a locally hand-made by chiselling into a tree trunk – some of our clients have gotten the chance to participate in making a dug out canoe.
Wondering how the boats are made? The boats a locally hand-made by chiselling into a tree trunk – some of our clients have gotten the chance to participate in making a dug out canoe.
Go Fishing On Lake Mutanda.
Lake Mutanda is a major fishing area for the locals (you will notice a couple of dugout canoes afloat) that live around this lake. You too could indulge in a dugout fishing experience if staying close by the lake.
Interested in Fishing on Lake Mutanda? We recommend staying at the nearby lodges listed below.
- Chameleone Hill Lodge
- Lake Mutanda Resort.
- Bwindi Jungle Lodge.
Guided Hikes & Walks
The Buhoma – Nkuringo – Kisoro walk is probably the Best walking Safari experience that visits Lake Mutanda. This two(02) days walks starts 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 mutanda all the way to Kisoro where this walking experience ends. There are a tonne of activities – things to do and see at Lake Mutanda that you could add to you walking Safari to make it longer and probably more fun – as long as you are around the spectacular Lake Mutanda.
Mountain Biking
Cycling up the rugged terrain, and red dirt streets can be challenging but the fact that this cycling trail leads along the scenic shoreline of Lake Mutanda, one forgets and gets absorbed in the offering of this simply dazzling scenic beauty that you only see on a visit to Lake Mutanda.
We hope our article about “activities – things to do and see at Lake Mutanda” has given you an insight of all the beautiful activities you shouldn’t miss out while on a safari that visits this Specular Lake. Speak to one of our tour consultants about adding a visit to Lake Mutanda onto your Uganda – Rwanda Safari Itinerary.
