1 Day Canoe Trek
Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda is cradled in the embrace of the Virunga Volcanoes in southwestern Uganda, stands as a sanctuary of serenity and a canvas painted with nature’s most vibrant hues. This hidden gem, embraced by lush hills and guarded by majestic volcanoes, invites wanderers to unravel its mysteries and bask in the tranquility that defines its existence.
Monogram Tours
Facts
Duration.
Difficulty.
Medium
Area.
East Coast + Major Islands
Departures.
Daily at 9am
Price.
USD 110 per person (USD 180 when one person only)
Includes.
Includes guiding, dugout canoeing, 3 meals, water, juice, all activities, tips and contributions.
The lake, a shimmering jewel reflecting the ever-changing skies, mirrors the surrounding landscape like a piece of art crafted by the hand of Mother Nature herself. The Virunga Volcanoes, stoic guardians of this aquatic haven, watch over the lake, their peaks occasionally adorned with crowns of clouds, adding to the mystique of the scenery.
As dawn graces the horizon, the lake’s surface awakens, adorned with the first rays of sunlight that paint ripples of gold and pink upon the water. Local fishermen, custodians of this natural masterpiece, embark on their daily journey, their dugout canoes gracefully navigating the mirrored surface.
The islands that dot Lake Mutanda each tell a story, their shapes and formations etched in the memories of the local Bafumbira people. Kyangushu Island, with its distinctive Gahiza, whispers tales of ancient times, inviting those curious enough to listen to its serene shores.
At sunset, the sky transforms into a canvas of colors, casting a warm glow upon the lake and the surrounding hills. The Virunga Volcanoes, now silhouetted against the evening sky, become a majestic backdrop for a celestial spectacle. Stars emerge, painting the night with their gentle brilliance, offering a celestial lullaby to those who find solace in the quietude of Lake Mutanda.
The lakeside is not only a visual delight but a symphony of nature’s sounds—the gentle lapping of waves, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the distant calls of birds creating a melodic ambiance. It is a place where time slows, allowing visitors to absorb the serenity and rejuvenate their spirits.
Lake Mutanda, embraced by the Virunga Volcanoes, is more than a geographical wonder; it’s a living masterpiece, an invitation to connect with the essence of nature. It beckons those who seek solace, adventure, and the sheer beauty that lies within the untouched corners of our planet. In its waters and along its shores, one can find not just a lake but a sanctuary—a timeless escape from the demands of the world.
Five Historical and Cultural Curiosities of Lake Mutanda
Lying in between Uganda’s Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks, Lake Mutanda is a handy spot to relax after your gorilla tracking. There is much more on offer here, however, than its awesome views of the Virunga volcanoes and many water sports …
Island of the Dead, Kyangushu
The island was traditionally used as a burial site by clan heads to avoid bringing bad luck to the mainland. They believed that death was abnormal, so they would take their deceased beloved ones to the island to make sure they remained there. Another explanation is that keeping corpses on the island stopped wild animals from feasting on the dead. You can still see their bones in a small cave on the side of the island.
Island of Pregnant Girls’ Punishment, Gahiza
The ancient folks of the Gorilla Highlands region could not tolerate anybody getting pregnant without being married first. To only list one Ugandan and one Rwandan example: we have already shared an interview with the survivor of Lake Bunyonyi’s punishment island and we mentioned young ladies being thrown down the falls at Lake Burera. Gahiza is the Lake Mutanda equivalent, and the only punishment place in the region where you can spend a night -we have covered its remarkable story recently.
Hippo Misadventures
Lake Mutanda used to be filled with hippos, and local chiefs would base themselves on Buhigiro Island and hunt them. The hippopotamus population was eradicated, together with bush pigs, in the middle of the 20th century. And then, in 2013, three hippos reappeared! Some major floods allowed hippos to find their way from the neighbouring Congo, but then they made the mistake of continuing past Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi — where locals quickly got tired of hippos eating their crops and ate them instead.
Local Paddling Styles
Used for fishing and to transport farmers to island plots of land, dugout canoes are the olden way of transport in our region. They are still made today, from eucalyptus and fig trees, but lack of big tree trunks is making them increasingly rare. On the other hand, there is something unique about Lake Mutanda rowers! A paddle has a flat and a curved side. If you touch the water with the latter, it takes much less energy to row and it’s easier to keep direction. “That’s for the ladies,” say the men of Mutanda and insist on paddling with the flat side!
Name “Mutanda” Itself
Amatanda are the palm trees found in the swamp along the lake, the core material for making winnowing trays. Please do explain that to any Italian friends you bring to Lake Mutanda, because in their language mutanda is the singular for underpants!
ITINERARY
Explore Mutanda lake and its life as the locals do! You can go within the dugout canoes and go on your own as you explore different fascinating islands or take a tour with our guide who will introduce you to the lake’s local life. Visiting this fabulous lake with a dugout canoe will be a fascinating experience! Choose between an early morning/sunrise canoe trek or an evening/sunset canoe cruise.
Otter Viewing Experience
Go behind the scenes at the Kaboko river channel the north of Lake Mutanda to meet the clawless otters! This unforgettable one-hour experience gives you an up-close clawless otter interaction after relaxing from a dugout canoe through the Kaboko encounter area. Take photos to capture a memorable moment.
Punishment Island Visit
The punishment island is a notable island that acted as a prison for wrongdoers–girls who got pregnant before marriage and the old aged because they could not let bury them. The bones of the deceased are still visible on the punishment island. The alternative name for the punishment island is ‘skeleton island,’ and the island is not inhabited to date. Among the Bafumbira people of Kisoro and people of the nearby Rubanda district and Kabale visit the punishment island occasionally and later hike a blessing hill –Nyaruyaga for their ancestors’ blessings.
Kyangushu Island Tour (Skeleton Island)
Take a ride to the burial place of Kyangushu, followed by Mutanda island, the largest island and the only inhabited one at Lake Mutanda. On a clear day, the Mutanda island offers stunning views of the Bunagana-DR Congo border and Bwindi impenetrable national park. After visiting the Kyangushu island and the ancestral burial place, you will anchor near the picturesque village of Chihe with a backdrop of green hills and growing crops. It is also possible to combine the Kyangushu island tour and Mabungo Cultural Village Experience.
Underground Salt Spring Tour
Visit a natural underground spring located at the Gihuranda village – a neighboring locality at Lake Mutanda. The spring has fresh water from underground, just in rocks. It has got unique clay soil in the same location from which locals make pots and charcoal stoves. With improved technology, which is not in the area yet, one can make cups, plates, and other roofing materials. The salt spring area is a potential research project for those interested in the pottery industry’s technological advancement.
Fishing
Meet fishmongers, who will take you through the incredible sportfishing experience. Apart from wildlife safaris, cheerful & welcoming people, the big game, stunning scenery, and critically endangered mountain gorillas, Uganda comprises many freshwater resources that support aquatic life. Like other freshwater bodies in Uganda, Lake Mutanda is one of the best sportfishing destinations in Uganda. It features several water adventure activities that support water tourism in Uganda. You can do other activities while at Lake Mutanda are bird watching, hiking, and nature walks.
Garama Cave Visit
Visiting the Garama Cave 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.
Lake Mutanda is a freshwater lake in southwestern Uganda. Lake Mutanda is a freshwater lake in southwestern Uganda.
Island Tours
Lake Mutanda 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.
Travel to the island in a traditional dug-out canoe or a boat. From here, you will 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.
Lake Mutanda contains fifteen islands. Lake Mutanda contains fifteen islands.
Canoeing
If you want to get off the land and onto the water, canoeing is a great way to discover the lake. This is one of the more relaxing activities, as the water is known for being calm.
Glide through the tranquil waters from island to island. You may even be able to spot some birds and otters.
Canoeing at Lake Mutanda.Glide through Mutanda’s tranquil waters from island to island.
Mountain Biking
Adrenaline junkies can spend hours biking on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains
Feel the wind rushing past your face as you scramble down a steep slope, as gravity pulls you back down the mountains towards the shores of Lake Mutanda, where your lakeside lodge awaits.
Lake Mutanda In 2012, the Uganda Wildlife Authority opened mountain biking trails at Mount Elgon.
Wildlife at Lake Mutanda
At Lake Mutanda, you can discover a small range of bird species, from kingfishers to Uganda’s national bird, the grey-crowned crane.
Due to the high elevation, and cold climate, you are more likely to come across pin-tailed whydahs, and sunbirds. But keep an eye out for weaver bird nests!
If you are venturing out on foot, you may spot snakes, chameleons, and a variety of frogs.
Hippos have been seen at Lake Mutanda, but not since 1994. Instead, on the water, you will only come across African clawless otters and fish.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are nearby. They both support a range of wildlife.
The grey crowned crane is found at Lake Mutanda and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The grey crowned crane is found at Lake Mutanda and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Learn more about the wildlife around Lake Mutanda
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Down on the border with Rwanda rises a chain of volcanoes, whose slopes, forest-clad, host golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. There are few visitors to enjoy the view, but those…
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The foliage parts on a winding trail to reveal 200 kilograms of muscle, covered by a thick coat of silver and black hair, sitting amongst the thickets of a vast and unforgiving …
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. Within the dense thicket, 18 families of Mountain Gorilla roam. To go deeper into this itinerary, check out The Secrets of Our Most Popular Ugandan Hiking Route written by our guide.
Hiking
Mount Muhabura, ‘The Guide’
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 steep hike, with a gradual incline on rocky surfaces, typically takes a whole day.
Although the hike is physically demanding, it provides breath-taking views of Lake Edward, Bwindi, and the peak of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Remember to pack a camera to capture the astonishing panoramic view. You will reflect on it for years to come.
Lake Mutanda Afternoon walk around Lake Mutanda
Mount Gahinga
With an elevation of 3,473m, Mount Gahinga is smaller than Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo. In Kinyarwanda, ‘Gahinga’ means ‘a pile of stones’.
The hike is gentler, and it is suitable for less experienced hikers. On the day of your hike, you must buy a hiking permit ($75) and attend a health and safety briefing.
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.
The scenic hike begins at 07:00 along a gentle incline, and it will take around 6 hours.
Mount Gahinga can be seen from Lake Mutanda. Mount Gahinga is in the Virunga Mountains.
Mount Sabyinyo ‘Old Man’s Teeth’
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.
There are multiple hiking routes of varying degrees of difficulty. It includes three peaks, the first being the Sabyinyo Gorge, which is home to thick vegetation. This is a popular destination for bird watching but keep an eye out for golden monkeys!
The second peak involves walking between Rwanda and Uganda.
The third peak is challenging. You will be scrambling with your hands, as well as ladders. However, if you are up for the challenge, you will be in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo all at the same time.
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Highlights
- Take in spectacular views and island stories
- Visit Garama Cave
- Get anything healed by a traditional healer
- Learn how to make crafts
- Have delicious lunch with a local family
- Get close to Punishment Island
- Visit kyangushu and Gahiza Islands
- Do a walking safari on Mutanda Island
- Enjoy a hearty final meal at Mutanda Lake Resort
