What is the longest lake in Uganda? Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Uganda as well as Africa and the second largest in the world, with a surface area of about 68,800 sq. km shared between Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The catchment area of the lake covers 180,959 km2, and 15.9% of this is constituted by Uganda. The lake was earlier called Queen Victoria by the British explorer John Hanning Speke in 1858. The lake was known by various local names, such as ‘Nam Lolwe’ in Dholuo and ‘Nnalubaale’ in Luganda. Lake Victoria, where the source of the Nile River, the world’s longest river, begins to meander its way from Jinga to the Mediterranean Sea, the lake contains over 84 beautiful islands, including Ssese Island in Uganda, which is a famous tourist destination. Lake Victoria is home to a diverse range of species, including the famous Lake Victoria Cichlids, which are known for their incredible variety and adaptability. This magnificent freshwater body plays a crucial role in the economies of the surrounding countries by providing resources for irrigation, transportation, and hydroelectric power.
Tourism activities to do around Lake Victoria
Bird watching
Bird watching around Lake Victoria is one of the main highlights of a Uganda safari adventure around Lake Victoria. The lake is a habitat for several bird species including water birds and migratory birds. The lake also dwells rare shoebill stork species, making it the ideal bird watching safari for bird lovers. The lake has a variety of birding spots where visitors can participate in this drilling activity which a bird lover with everlasting experience such as Nyamba Island, Mabamba Bay wetland, Lutemba Bay and Bulaga Island among others. during your birdwatching safari around lake Victoria, you’ll have an opportunity to spot different colorful birds such as Malachite Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Northern Brown-throated Weather, Orange Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, Pied Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Common Moorhen, Common Sandpiper, Common Sqacco Heron, Double Toothed Barbet, Glossy Ibis, Goliath Heron, Great Cormorant, Yellow-billed Kite, Black-headed Weaver, Yellow-billed Duck, African Fish Eagle, Purple Swamphe, African Green Pigeon, African Jacana, African Marsh Harrier, African Pigmy Goose, Black Crake, Black Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Waxbill among others.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing on Lake Victoria offers the most thrilling safari experience and it’s the main highlight of any Uganda safari on Lake Victoria. The lake has a variety of fishing points where you can go and fish such as near the equator line the area is surrounded by a lot of rocks and trolling around these rocks is a very good opportunity to catch the big Nile perch, Nsazi island is an island near Nyamba chimpanzee island and this area has also been very successful in terms of catch records, Nyamba island, Bulago Island is an island that is also protected and the area is reserved for breeding purposes so fishing can be very good and one of the best places. Sport Fishing Trip on Lake Victoria Uganda Tour is an exceptional and enjoyable half/full day short Uganda fishing tour on Lake Victoria, offering an opportunity to catch one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, the legendary Nile perch, and several other special fish species as you enjoy the beautiful cool breeze and the breathtaking scenery of Lake Victoria. On this Uganda fishing adventure, you will use a speedboat powered by the twin outboard engines or a canoe which is powered by the onboard engine. These boats feature a sun canopy overhead, rain jacket, life jackets, a mobile phone, a fire extinguisher, basic first along with a cooler box to store cold drinks. The boat will be captained by an expert guide with great English command.
Visiting Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Chimpanzee sanctuary visit is one of the ideal things to do on Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island is home to 49 orphaned and confiscated chimps, rescued from the illegal pet and bush meat trade. Despite their initial trauma, chimps residing at Ngamba have a safe and semi-natural environment in which to recover and eventually thrive over their long lives of up to 60 years. This captivating island has about 95 acres of natural forest where the chimps roam and forage daily. Their diet is supplemented multiple times per day much to the delight of visiting tourists who are able to observe the feeding from a viewing platform. The chimps also have the freedom to stay in the forest at night or return to nighttime enclosures where they can build nests and receive an evening meal. Victors while on an Uganda safari on Lake Victoria have an opportunity to take a trip to the Island for such a beautiful experience to see these fascinating chimps in their habituated family on Lake Victoria.
Visiting Ssese Island
Ssese island is one of the Islands you shouldn’t out when on your exploration in Lake Victoria, is a tropical Island and one of the famous destinations to explore while in Uganda. Ssese Island is one of the world’s hidden gems, and the finest island to explore. The Island is commonly visited by many visitors and a tranquil Island can be reached either by boat, ferry, or even a domestic chatter. Ssese island offers visitors remarkable activities such as horseback rides, birding, hiking, Nile Perch fishing and ATV quad biking among others, making it the best place to chill out and relax. Ssese Island also offers an astonishing and pleasant environment to its visitors.
Boat cruise on Lake Victoria
A boat cruise on Lake Victoria offers a romantic and charming way to witness the magnificent African beauty, this boat cruise makes a delightful experience. Boat cruises on Lake Victoria are conducted on scheduled day programs that’s sunrise and sunset cruises all offer a remarkable opportunity to capture unique and clear photos as well as offer you the chance to explore the lake’s beautiful islands while offering exceptional views of the waters and its surrounding vegetation
Visit the Botanical Garden
The botanical garden is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens was established in 1898. They are one of the oldest botanical gardens in Africa. The gardens are divided into a number of areas that feature plants and trees from different areas of Uganda, as well as other tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate areas around the world. The botanical garden is home to over 300 species recorded, making it the ideal for bird watching safaris as well as the impressive collection of trees and plants, the garden is well known as a good location for birdwatching. Some of the species you may spot here include the huge marabou stork, the palm-nut vulture, the African grey parrot, the pink-backed pelican, yellow-billed duck, malachite kingfisher, and many more. Bird lovers will definitely want to include the Botanical Garden on their list of places to visit in Entebbe. It’s also home to a number of monkeys, including the beautiful black and white Colobus monkey which you may be lucky enough to spot. But you are pretty sure to see vervet monkeys as there are a number of them here.
