Lake Mutanda is situated north of the Virunga mountains and south of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Michael Poliza
I’m pretty sure that Lake Mutanda, when viewed from the right vantage point on a clear day, is the most stunning landscape I’ve ever seen. The majestic Virunga mountains in the distance are reflected in the deep-blue waters of the lake, and little lush green islands pepper the aquatic expanse. This heaven on earth looks almost completely untouched by human hand.
When I first visited the lake, I thought it would be a wonderful region to explore by bike. Cycling brings you right up close to the action — to the community, to the landscapes. You experience so much more than when merely gliding past in a bus. Fortunately, Matoke Tours, one of Uganda’s most established tour companies, has recently launched a 15-day bicycling tour encompassing south-west Uganda’s lakes, and I jumped at the chance to test-drive part of it.