Lake Mutanda in Kisoro district, southwestern Uganda offers one of the best boat cruises that will leave you thrilled. During your guided tour experience, you will get on a motor boat and sail on the tranquil Lake Mutanda for 2-3 hours. While absorbing every serene moment on the boat, you get to view the unique features of Lake Mutanda. You get unique sights of attractive Islands, Virunga ranges, birds and insects, etc.
About Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda covers a land surface area of around 29 square kilometers in the Albertine Rift. In the Kigezi region, it is the second largest after Lake Bunyonyi. Lake Mutanda is a freshwater lake that was formed by volcanic activity and nestled on the foothills of the Virunga ranges. These ranges include Mountains Sabinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga. The lake sits at an altitude of 1,792 meters above sea level and its deepest part is around 56 meters.
Lake Mutanda’s primary outlet is River Rutshuru which flows northwards into Lake Edward. 15 Islands offer exciting displays at Lake Mutanda. These include Hapinzi Island, Kabaya Island, Mutanda Island, Kyangushu Island, and Range Bird Island among others. Another geological formation here is the Garama Cave. All these geological wonders have fantastical secrets some of which are told through the local legends by the locals around.
Fauna at Lake Mutanda?
There are plenty of fauna sheltered in the lake, forest, and wetlands at Lake Mutanda. On your boat cruise, you will see bird species such as grey crowned crane, pied kingfisher, pink-backed pelican, long-crested eagle, black-headed heron, African pied wagtail, glossy ibis, etc. There is also a chance of spotting the endangered clawless African otter. Fish species in the lake include redbelly tilapia, crayfish, catfish, haplochromine cichlids, and blue-spotted tilapia, etc.
Other activities to do at Lake Mutanda?
Canoeing on Lake Mutanda
This offers another perfect opportunity to float on the lake, but this time in a dugout canoe. Enjoy this guided experience which offers views of the Islands, birds, and Virunga ranges among other things.
Mountain biking on the hills
Mountain biking is a nice physical exercise that offers a chance to cycle on trails as you explore the area. Additionally, you will have a distinct way of birding, and identifying butterflies and other wildlife species around you.
Touring the Islands in Lake Mutanda
This is a must-do experience that offers the chance to interact with the local communities. Folklore about the Islands will be told as you learn the lifestyles of the inhabitants. The beautiful scenery is also a highlight while on an Island tour.
Garama cave visit
This is a great time to hike to this geological wonder. You will have an important opportunity to learn about the Batwa and how some of them found shelter here. There is more to learn at the Garama cave, including its length and the lifestyles of the people.
Primate tours
Primate safaris can be done in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. You can go for the gorilla trekking tour, which offers a hike in either forest to locate a habituated gorilla group and spend an hour observing the gorillas. You can also opt for a golden monkey trek only done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This is an opportunity to track a habituated golden monkey troop and spend an hour observing them.
Weather at Lake Mutanda?
Lake Mutanda experiences a tropical type of climate, with bimodal rainfall distribution. There is a rainy season which has a long rainy period from March to May and shorter rains from September to November. The mean annual rainfall experienced ranges between 900 to 1,100 mm. Lake Mutanda also experiences a dry season, with June to August standing out as the driest period. The average temperature patterns here range between 15 to 24oC.
When to travel?
Since the average temperatures received at Lake Mutanda are generally cool, exploring the site can be done all year round. The dry season however is generally perfect for a visit to Lake Mutanda. This is because you will have an uninterrupted boat cruise since the sky is clear with a small chance of rainfall. Accessing and traversing the rugged slopes of the site on foot or by vehicle is also much simpler since the grounds are drier.
How to travel there?
Lake Mutanda is situated north of Kisoro town, only 20 kilometers away. From Kampala city, Lake Mutanda is almost 500 kilometers by road south-westwards, which is a 10-hour drive. At Standard Safaris, we recommend you use a 4×4 safari land cruiser to navigate the hilly areas to Lake Mutanda. We offer car hire services including drones, minivans saloon cars etc. Our trained and knowledgeable guides will drive you on any of the well-maintained vehicles you choose.
Air transfers are also available, where you can board a scheduled flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airport. This journey takes only 1 hour and 15 minutes and is reliably offered by AeroLink. You will have to get transport on the road after you arrive at Kisoro Airport. Standard Safaris can organize the pick-up and drop-off for you. We also help with booking the scheduled flight on your behalf so that you do not encounter inconveniences.
