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.