Lakes

Lakes

Lake Eyasi

A salt lake situated between the Rift Valley’s Eyasi escarpment and the Kidero Mountains, the area around Lake Eyasi is home to the Hadzabe bushmen, some of the last remaining hunter-gatherers on the continent. The Hadzabe have inhabited the acacia forests and scrubland around Eyasi for over 10,000 years and visits to nearby clans can be arranged through local guides in the area.

Lake Manyara

Situated inside Lake Manyara National Park (a soda lake) , the lake is home to large numbers of flamingos, pelicans, storks and other plentiful bird life, as well as hippos that can be observed at close range. Hot springs trickle into the shallow waters and during the dry season the lakeshore retreats to leave striking white soda deposits in its wake.

Lake Natron

Lake Natron is home to the Larges number of Flamingo’s in East Africa, currently it is among the breeding places of Flamingos in East Africa. A soda lake at the base of the active Ol Donyo Lengai volcano, the area around Lake Natron is often described as having a desolate and almost lunar beauty. Walks around the lake and to the streams and waterfalls along the nearby escarpment make for a fantastic adventure off the beaten track.

Lake Victoria

It is the largest lake in Africa and the source of river Nile. Visitors attractions include trips to Rubondo Island NP, Saa Nane NP and participating in various cultural tourism programmes on offer around the area. The lake has some spectacular varieties of freshwater tropical fish, many of which are exported to aquariums all over the world. Its shores are peaceful and pristine, and offer a quiet alternative to the constant movement and bustle of a safari itinerary. Gently sloping hills lead to the soft blue waters of the lake, as fish eagles swoop at dawn and dusk eager for the small fish that swim in Victoria’s rich waters. Bird watching and fishing trips make popular excursions and boating trips and hikes can be arranged.

Lake Tanganyika

Travel to Lake Tanganyika is mostly centred around visiting Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks. The lake’s dark waters form the world’s longest and second deepest freshwater lake, and the area is a regional centre for building dhow-fishing boats.

Lake Nyasa

Also known as Lake Malawi, the Tanzanian side of Lake Nyasa borders the Livingstone Mountains and stretches out towards Malawi and Mozambique. The towns of Kyela, Itungi, and Matema make good bases from which to visit the lake, which contains almost a third of the known cichlids (a species of freshwater tropical fish) in the world.