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Tanzania

Lake Victoria

PLAN MY TRIP

Beautiful Lake Victoria is so vast it reaches into three different East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Lake Victoria, named after Queen Victoria by explorer John Hanning Speke is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. It encompasses 42,750 square miles of territory. While the lake is shared with Kenya and Uganda, over half of it sits in northern Tanzania. Most notably, the lake is considered by many to be the source of the River Nile. Within the lake around Mwanza and Musoma, there are many islands with some like Rubondo Island being made into wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Lake Victoria is an important source of income for the regions it touches due to its popularity as an area for fishing and tourism. Plus, the lake is used for transportation via ferry boat with ports in Kisumu, Mwanza, Bukoba, Entebbe, Port Bell, and Jinja.

There are many species of animals living with and around the lake. Some of the mammals who call the region home include hippopotamus, African clawless otter, spotted-necked otter, marsh mongoose, sitatunga, bohor reedbuck, defassa waterbuck, cane rats, and giant otter shrew. Naturally, the lake and surrounding wetlands has a large population of toothy Nile crocodiles. Other reptiles found in the area include African helmeted turtles, variable mud turtles, and Williams’ mud turtle. Rubondo Island National Park has more than 400 bird species as well as teeming with monkeys, impala, hyrax, and rock rabbits.

Fifty years ago, Lake Victoria was alive with a multitude of different fish, many of whom have sadly become extinct due to invasive fish species like the redbreast, red belly, and Nile tilapias and the predatory Nile perch. However, native fish species including several different types of cichlids, African tetras, airbreathing catfish, spiny eel, elephant fish, and marbled lungfish. Other aquatic life thriving here includes two types of freshwater crabs, the widespread Caridina nilotica prawns, and twenty-eight species of snails and slugs.

Obviously, fishing is a big draw to the lake and angler can enjoy trying their hand at catching Nile perch and tilapia. Safari lodges and local hotels can also arrange walking tours and game drives. Rubondo Island National Park is especially popular for game drives to see the non-habituated chimpanzees. Bird watches will rejoice in the number of magnificent bird species such as the majestic fish eagle who live around the lake. Boating trips provide a closer look at hippos, Nile crocodiles, and other aquatic animals. There are even cultural activities allowing travelers to visit the local villages that have cropped up around the lake.

Coming soon!

Safari Camps
Points of Interest
Hotels & Resorts
Journeys

Coming soon!

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Tanzania

Lake Victoria

PLAN MY TRIP

Beautiful Lake Victoria is so vast it reaches into three different East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Lake Victoria, named after Queen Victoria by explorer John Hanning Speke is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. It encompasses 42,750 square miles of territory. While the lake is shared with Kenya and Uganda, over half of it sits in northern Tanzania. Most notably, the lake is considered by many to be the source of the River Nile. Within the lake around Mwanza and Musoma, there are many islands with some like Rubondo Island being made into wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Lake Victoria is an important source of income for the regions it touches due to its popularity as an area for fishing and tourism. Plus, the lake is used for transportation via ferry boat with ports in Kisumu, Mwanza, Bukoba, Entebbe, Port Bell, and Jinja.

There are many species of animals living with and around the lake. Some of the mammals who call the region home include hippopotamus, African clawless otter, spotted-necked otter, marsh mongoose, sitatunga, bohor reedbuck, defassa waterbuck, cane rats, and giant otter shrew. Naturally, the lake and surrounding wetlands has a large population of toothy Nile crocodiles. Other reptiles found in the area include African helmeted turtles, variable mud turtles, and Williams’ mud turtle. Rubondo Island National Park has more than 400 bird species as well as teeming with monkeys, impala, hyrax, and rock rabbits.

Fifty years ago, Lake Victoria was alive with a multitude of different fish, many of whom have sadly become extinct due to invasive fish species like the redbreast, red belly, and Nile tilapias and the predatory Nile perch. However, native fish species including several different types of cichlids, African tetras, airbreathing catfish, spiny eel, elephant fish, and marbled lungfish. Other aquatic life thriving here includes two types of freshwater crabs, the widespread Caridina nilotica prawns, and twenty-eight species of snails and slugs.

Obviously, fishing is a big draw to the lake and angler can enjoy trying their hand at catching Nile perch and tilapia. Safari lodges and local hotels can also arrange walking tours and game drives. Rubondo Island National Park is especially popular for game drives to see the non-habituated chimpanzees. Bird watches will rejoice in the number of magnificent bird species such as the majestic fish eagle who live around the lake. Boating trips provide a closer look at hippos, Nile crocodiles, and other aquatic animals. There are even cultural activities allowing travelers to visit the local villages that have cropped up around the lake.

Coming soon!

Safari Camps
Points of Interest
Hotels & Resorts
Journeys

Coming soon!