Though we are  being affected by covid-19 we therefore remind our travelers that there's hope after to explore more about Africa’s pearl amidst the pretty attractive lakes with magical histories.

LAKE VICTORIA

Lake Victoria is the Largest Lake in the whole of Africa, the world’s largest tropical Lake and second largest lake in the whole world next to Lake Superior found in North America. Lake Victoria occupies a shallow depression in Africa. It has a maximum depth of between 80 and 84 metres and an average depth of 40 metres. Its catchment area covers 169,858 square kilometres. The lake has a shoreline of 7,142 kilometres with islands constituting 3.7 percent of this length. Historically, the Lake was renamed Lake Victoria by an Explorer John Speke after the Queen of England but many years before the coming of the Explorer, the natives in the area used to call it Lake Nalubaale or Nyanza.

The lake is shared by three countries; Uganda shares 45%, Kenya 6%/and Tanzania with 49%. In Uganda the Lake reaches four districts namely; Entebbe, Kampala, Jinja, Masaka and various Islands such as Ngamba Island, Ssese Island and much more which are among the main tourist attractions in the country “Uganda”. What’s interesting about the Lake is that, it’s the true source of the longest River called River Nile situated in Jinja Uganda.

The Lake also dries but notably it has dried for about three times at it last dried 173000 years ago and it refilled it’s for about 14700 years back. The Lake receives its water from the original rainfall and other small streams most especially Akagera river which is found in Rwanda. The presence/ existence of the Lake has positively impacted in both the economic and tourism sectors in Uganda. In 1954, Owen falls dam was the ever first Dam constructed on Lake Victoria in Jinja Uganda. The Lake is gifted with a number of interesting activities such as white water rafting, sport boating, kayaking, Boat cruise, fishing among others.

What to do at the Lake 
 

Kayaking, on the Nile is another interesting pounding adventure. It is a great way to experience the Nile and its surrounding areas of communities, local people, and exotic birds feeding on the fish. With kayaking here you get to sit in a small narrow boat wrapped around your waist equipped with a double blade paddle. It is a more testing activity since it provides an opportunity to develop your own skills, rather than just bouncing along the rafts controlled by the professionals’. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            White water rafting, is traditionally the most popular excursion on the upper Nile situated on Lake Victoria and it’s an experience that teaches you to remain calm while under great pressure. White water rafting takes you to the middle of the river under pressurizing rapids. Early morning is the best time to go for rafting adventure and any traveler preparing to go for the activity should leave all the belongings behind, one has to sign a form with all his/her details and those with anemia are restricted from the activity for the wellbeing of their lives.

Boat cruise, along the Nile on Lake Victoria offers both lunch and sunset cruise an interesting activity that every traveler should encounter. Whether many or view the Nile has all types of cruise that can suit you. The cruise offers an authentic memorable experience that you would not miss while on a Ugandan trip. Enjoy the sites Lake Victoria and the river rapids, free flowing calm waters and as continue with the excursion you will be able to watch various bird species in the area.

Fishing, Lake Victoria has over 200 fish species and fishing on this Lake is seasonal mainly October to March are the best months for the activity though the fishing can be all year round.  Different fish species are residents in the area including; tilapia, Nile perch, lung fish, mud fish among others. The passport to the fishing activity is having your own fishing.

However, swimming on these waters is not allowed since this water is extremely deep.

LAKE KATWE 

Lake Katwe is among the most popular and important tourism attractions found in Western District of Kasese, it troops people from all the corners of the World to engage in the salt mining around the area most especially African countries. Lake Katwe is also known as Katwe-Korongo explosion craters situated in the North of Mweya Peninsular in the South Western direction of Uganda within the outskirts of Queen Elizabeth National Park and East of Lake Edward. However there are majorly three crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park namely; Katwe Crater Lake(where salt is excavated), Bunyaruguru Crater fields on the Kichwamba escarpment and Ndali-Kasenda Crater Fields nearer to Kibale National Park the home of chimpanzees.

As people in the local areas own gardens, people around the Lake own salt pans as their main source of income through which they get a living and its practiced on a rudimentary basis. Salt mining at Lake Katwe is carried out in two major seasons i.e. January-March and from July-September. The main method of salt collection is by evaporation and the rate of production depends on the weather. What makes Lake Katwe salty is that, it has many water tributaries that bring in water but without any outlet that takes the water out.

The formation of crater lakes. 

These crater lakes were formed 10000 years ago as a result of volcanicity blowing over the surface. When the molten lava from the earth’s crust was trying to escape through a blocked or damaged vent, it used a lot of force. This force made the surface leaving behind a wide depression known as a crater. The remains of the explosion fall on the sides of the crater which formed a volcanic pile. With time the depressions were filled with water and Crater Lake was formed.

Besides, Munyenyange Crater Lake bordering katwe is seasonally god for flamingos while the nearby Lake Edward is a good location for hippos, warthogs and water-bucks.

How salt is extracted at Lake Katwe

The salt is mined using hands and rudimentary tools for all genders. The women collect the crusted salt on the surface and men collect the salt blocks from the bottom of the Lake and this is done at the shallow ends of the Lake. All workers at the lake control or own their salt pans in which the salt formed is found and salt pan bears an outlet which is opened to allow in the water for evaporation. Once the water is allowed into the pan, the outlet is closed and the water begins to concentrate and evaporating, as it evaporates the salt is keeping on forming. The process is given a period of time of two or more weeks and it is ready the owner collects it and puts into sacks to prepare it for sun drying. There majorly three types of salt mined in the area namely; Sodium Chloride (for human beings), unwashed salt and Crude salt (for animals). Discover Lake Katwe as you explore Queen Elizabeth National Park.

LAKE ALBERT

Lake Albert was previously known as Mwitanzige by the Banyoro and Batooro as well as other local people who have stayed in the region for centuries before the colonial era. Lake Albert is the seventh largest Lake and Uganda’s biggest great Lake located in the centre of the African continent on the border between Uganda and DRC. The Lake is about 160km long and 30km wide, with the depth of 51m, 619 surface elevation above the sea level.

Unlike the very deep Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Kivu, Lake Albert's water temperature is relatively stable throughout, typically around 27–29 °C and even its deeper sections contain oxygen.  The water has a pH of around or just below 9 and an electric conductivity of around 720–780cm. These are both very high for a freshwater lake but nevertheless lower than Lake Edward. The major economic activity is fishing accompanied by cattle keeping.

The lake is found in the southwestern part of Murchison Falls National Park and the southern end of Lake Albert is where River Semiliki the main source that brings in water is located with other several swamps.

Lake Albert is more saline than the water of the Victoria Nile. The Lake has one outlet called the Albert Nile and it continues to flow out of Uganda. The waters of the Lake are also alkaline due to the high evaporation caused by the climatic conditions in the region. 

Lake Albert is a home to many aquatic (animals related to water) and semi-aquatic animals like Nile crocodiles, Nile monitors, hippos, Ugandan kobs, and much more including various semi-aquatic snakes and frogs, water birds like herons, shoe bill and pelicans.

There are number of fish species in Lake Albert which are over 55 fish species. Economically, 30% of the fish production in Uganda is from Lake Albert and the fish caught include; Nile Tilapia, marbled Lung fish, Nile perch among others. Tourists require a fish permit before being assigned an area to spot fish. However due to over fishing and poor fishing methods used by the fishermen and the local people the fish species reduced. 
The Lake is a good place for sightseeing and relaxation of one’s minds.

Boat cruising on the Lake can be done to view various water related animals and other bird species in the area including the flora and fauna which are exciting and interesting. Visit Lake Albert and enjoy Africa’s Beauty.

LAKE KYOGA

Lake Kyoga is about 1,720km² in area and at an elevation of 1,033 metres and it’s a large shallow lake in the whole of Uganda. Lake Kyoga is located in the northwest of Lake Victoria and the central region of Uganda “the pearl of Africa”.

From Lake Victoria, the Victoria Nile flows through the lake on its way to Lake Albert. The lake has a depth of about 5.7m, while much of the swampy shoreline is covered with papyrus and water hyacinth and the papyrus forms floating islands that drift between numbers of small permanent highlands. The papyrus is used in roof thatching, making mats, water rafts among others.

Lake Kyoga is not considered as a great lake though it’s part of the African great lakes system. Lake Kyoga was formed due to the ponding-back of the Kafu River. The lake is positioned in the flooded sub divisions of the low west-flowing Kafu River. The Lake is characterized by a number of landing sites for example; Kisonye, Kikoyiro, Moone, Lwampanga and much more were tourists can view the fish being offloaded from the boats. 

It’s given the outflow from the Victoria Nile and is drained northward and then westward over the low northern end of the Rift escarpment to Lake Albert. Mount Elgon is another source of water for Lake Kyoga next to the Victoria Nile the major source. There extensions of Lake Kyoga namely; L.Bisina, L.Opeta and L.Kwania which are surrounded by marshlands and seasonal swamps which also become dry during the dry seasons.

The major economic activities in the area include; fishing, cultivation, livestock farming, and much more which people engage in to earn a living. The major fish species in the area are; Nile perch, mad fish, Tilapia, marbled lung fish among others. Book your fishing permit and also makes sure you have your fishing gargets at hand to avoid inconveniences during your thrilling experience. Perhaps, crocodiles are also famous aquatic animals in Lake Kyoga found at the deep ends of the Lake.

Swimming in the shallow lake is another interesting activity that a traveler must encounter and boat cruising where tourists watch various bird species on the flings of the Lake.