What are the main lakes in Tanzania? Tanzania is a beautiful country with lots to offer tourists, including tour safaris to Mount Kilimanjaro, the famous Ngorongoro Crater, and magnificent wildlife regions like the Serengeti National park. The stunning beaches with crystal-white sand in Zanzibar are another big safari tour attraction. When others hear the word Tanzania, they only think of its wildlife. Tanzania has all five of the renowned Big 5 of Africa living there, it also has the highest diversity of wildlife found anywhere in the world. Beautiful lakes dotting the country’s landscape bring attention to a fascinating facet of Tanzania that not many tour safari guests get to experience. Tanzania is the site of the Africa Great Lakes, which are the planet’s most biodiverse lakes and the deepest, longest, largest, and oldest lakes in the world.
Great lakes in Tanzania
The lakes that receive the most tourists in Tanzania include Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa, Lake Manyara, Lake Rukwa, and Lake Tanganyika. And they all have something unique to offer. For example, unique cichlids are known to reside in Lake Nyasa, yet Lake Victoria is a great spot to see the sunset. Lake Manyara is renowned for its rich flamingo population and biodiversity, Lake Rukwa for its scenic surroundings and high concentration of Nile crocodiles, and Lake Tanganyika for its recreational water sports activities.
Lake Manyara
Though Tanzania is home to numerous lakes, the most exquisite is Lake Manyara. It’s really fantastic to see. This alkaline lake is located in Tanzania’s northern Greater Tarangire Ecosystem. Comparatively speaking to other lakes in the region, Lake Manyara, one of Tanzania’s most diverse lakes, is small. Photographers, animal lovers, naturalists, and bird watchers are drawn to the lake bearing the same name, which is situated inside Lake Manyara National Park.
If you’re looking for a site to see a lot of wildlife, Lake Manyara boasts one of the highest populations of any lake in the country. You can see a wide range of animals in Tanzania during your safari, including warthogs, zebras, hippos, wildebeests, giraffes, and buffalos. The creatures that are most frequently seen are baboons, monkeys, leopards, and lions. The highest number of primates in the world is allegedly found in this park! The lake is home to over 300 different species of birds, demonstrating how diverse the birdlife is there. Numerous bird species can be seen in this area, including as pelicans, ibis, kori bustards, hornbills, cormorants, eagles, herons, lovebirds, and more. A dense flock of pink flamingos also decorate the lakeshores during the rainy season.
Lake Victoria
Tanzania has many lakes, but Lake Victoria is the biggest and most striking. It is located in East Africa and borders Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. It is a part of the Great African Lakes. Being the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second largest in the world, Lake Victoria spans about 26,830 square miles, or 69,490 square kilometres, on its surface. Additionally, it is the source of the Nile, one of the world’s longest rivers. Although Tanzania takes up over 51% of the lake, it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves. Nevertheless, Lake Victoria is a fantastic find that is definitely worth seeing while visiting Tanzania.
A visit to the lake never disappoints, even if it’s off the typical path. There are a lot of different things to do near Lake Victoria. The indigenous called this lake “Nyanza” before British explorer John Hanning Speke named it Lake Victoria in memory of British Queen Victoria in 1858. Lake Victoria is estimated to have existed for 750 million years. Enjoying a boat ride safari is a great experience at Lake Victoria.
The primary draws for tourists visiting Lake Victoria are the hippos and crocodiles. You could also pursue your love of fishing? The lake is home to about 350 different species of fish, with tilapia and Nile perch being the most prevalent. This Tanzanian site offers opportunities for birdwatching with species like Egyptian Goose, Fish Eagle, Sacred Ibis, Black Crake, Double-toothed Barbet, and African Grey Parrot. Another well-liked location is the picturesque islands that float in Lake Victoria. There are more than 3,000 islands in the lake, but two of the most popular ones are in Tanzania: Rubondo Island National Park and Saa Nane Island National Park.
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika, located in Western Tanzania, is one of the main elements of Africa’s Great Lakes. This freshwater body of water is shared by four African countries: Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia, with Tanzania accounting for approximately 47% of its area. The total area of the lake is believed to be 32’900 square kilometres (12’703 square miles). Boat cruises are an excellent way to see the lake’s various islands. The most well-known is the luxurious 130-acre Lupita Island, which is located on the Tanzanian side of the lake. Not to mention, Lake Tanganyika is a great addition for visitors to Tanzania’s popular chimpanzee tracking location, Mahale Mountain National Park.
Lake Nyasa
Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi share Lake Nyasa, a freshwater lake in Africa.It’s called Lake Malawi by the locals. Lake Nyasa is the ninth largest lake in the world and the third largest lake in Africa. The lake is the second deepest in Africa, with a maximum depth of slightly over 2,300 feet (700 metres) in Lake Tanganyika. Fishing is the most popular activity on the lake. Other than fish, Lake Nyasa is home to a diverse array of animals, the most common of which are Nile crocodiles, hippos, and turtles. Around the lake’s edge are more than 400 different species of birds. You can spot common raptors including egrets, kingfishers, cormorants, and African fish eagles while on safari here. Canoeing and kayaking are the safari activities that are most popular here. Matema Beach is a wonderful place to relax and take in the scenery. It’s situated along the northern borders of Lake Nyasa.
Lake Rukwa
Tanzania’s fourth-largest lake, Lake Rukwa, is situated in the country’s southwest. This alkaline lake extends northward to the Uwanda Game Reserve, a section of the wider Katavi National Park. A haven for birdwatchers is Lake Rukwa. The best place to see a wide variety of birds is the marsh on its southern edges. There are many different kinds of birds visible, including well-known ones for birdwatchers like the African Skimmer, Glossy Ibis, and Shoebill stork. Sometimes flamingos stop at the lake during the wet season. White pelicans find the lake to be a great place to nest.
Lake Natron
In the north-eastern part of Tanzania, there is a saline or alkaline lake called Lake Natron that borders Kenya. Its area is 402 square miles, or 1040 square kilometres, and its surface elevation is 600 metres (1969 feet) above sea level. 57 square kilometres, or 22 square miles, make up its length, while 24 square kilometres, or 9 square miles, make up its width. This lake alkaline is between (pH 9–12) and it has a very fluctuating salt concentration, and reaches temperatures as high as 60°C (140°F). The majority of living species therefore find the lake to be less hospitable. People call it a dead lake.
