Lake Mutanda is a small, freshwater lake in the far southwest of Uganda, close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It is drained by the Rutshuru River, flowing northward to Lake Edward.Lake Mutanda is a 30-minute drive from the centre of Kisoro and contains 15 small islands. ‘Mutanda Island’ is inhabited by a clan called ‘Abagesera’. The Abagesera have built a church on the top of the island, where they welcome local worshippers who attend from the mainland.
To get to the island is by a traditional dug-out canoe or a boat, from where, you are be able to view the scenery from a different perspective and meet the locals. To engage with the culture, you can attend community walks and visit the local church.
Brave adventurers can visit the Punishment Islands, which used to house outcasts of the region’s society. It contains skeletal remains and some locals believe that it is haunted. Even bolder visitors can head to Python Island for a chance to see the resident snakes.With an altitude of 1,800m, Lake Mutanda is a great place to hike, and it offers breath-taking views of the Virunga Mountains. Three extinct volcanoes are within viewing range of the lake: Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga.
Mount Muhabura means ‘the guide’ in Kinyarwanda, the official language of Rwanda. With an elevation of 4,127m, Mount Muhabura is the third highest of the Virunga Mountains. This provides breath-taking views of Lake Edward, Bwindi and the peak of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Mount Gahinga is smaller than Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo with an elevation of 3,473m. In Kinyarwanda, ‘Gahinga’ means ‘a pile of stones’. Bamboo thrives on the slopes of Mount Gahinga and you will discover bamboo forests that house a plethora of wildlife, from the endangered mountain gorilla to the regal sunbird.
Mount Sabyinyo is known locally as ‘Old Man’s Teeth’, due to the summit’s resemblance of worn teeth. Mount Sabyinyo has an elevation of 3,669m, and it is the oldest volcano of the range.
Other attraction at Lake Mutanda include visiting the Garama Cave which is a great way to develop your understanding of the local cultures. It is a tourism trail, created as a collaboration between the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and The United Organisation for Batwa Development in Uganda. The trail is designed to support the Batwa, who inhabited the caves for many years before being recently resettled. Batwa guides will give you a tour of the 340m long cave and give you an insight into their culture and way of life.
