Lake Victoria: Facts, Depth, Size, Safaris, Which Country

Lake Victoria: Facts, Depth, Size, Fishing Safaris, and Lake Victoria is in which Country – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda. finally Things to do at Lake Victoria.

Lake Victoria Facts: Three countries—Ugandan, Tanzania, and Kenya—share Lake Victoria. It ranks as the number two freshwater lake in the world and the biggest tropical lake in the world. To the north of the lake, you can see the Equator. With a maximum depth of 80 meters, it is quite shallow and covers an area of 68,800 square kilometers [km²]. Its basin is home to more than 30 million people.

Rapid population growth, clearance of natural vegetation along the shores, a thriving fish-export industry, introduction of exotic plant and animal species, prolific growth of algae, dumping of untreated effluent by various industries and human settlements, and the disappearance of approximately 50% of its fish species (it had 400 species of cichlids) have all had profound effects on Lake Victoria’s ecological health.

Lake Victoria

Many native fish species have gone extinct because the Nile perch was introduced to the lake to increase fish populations. A lot of the harm is huge and can’t be fixed. The traditional ways of living in towns by lakes have been greatly affected and are slowly but surely eroding. The environmental community is in agreement that the lake will become uninhabitable unless immediate action is taken to preserve it.

There are several threats to Lake Victoria, including eutrophication, an increase in fertilizer input, and the introduced water hyacinth. The water hyacinth is an aggressively growing aquatic plant. It has now spread like wildfire after being brought to Africa in the early 20th century as an attractive shrub. In the late 1990s, water hyacinth reduced fish populations in Lake Victoria by de-oxygenating the water, obstructing the lake’s inflows and outflows, and interfering with fishing and lake transportation. OSIENALA investigated the propagation of water hyacinth and pushed for its proper management.

Wildlife in Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria – largest lake in Africa

Many different kinds of animals find a home in Lake Victoria. Numerous mammalian species call the Lake Victoria region home. These include the colossal otter shrew, the marsh mongoose, and the hippopo.

In addition to numerous crustaceans, including four species of freshwater crab, it is home to reptiles like the Nile crocodile and the African helmeted turtle.

The haplochromine cichlid is the most abundant endemic fish species in Lake Victoria, which is home to more than 200 different kinds. Scientists predict an 80% decline in the number of native fish species in Lake Victoria within the past half-century, and many more have gone extinct altogether.

Invasive Species

The infamous Nile perch is just one of many invasive species that call Lake Victoria home. Upstream of Murchison Falls, the colonial administration introduced the predatory Nile perch in 1954 to enhance the fisheries of Lake Victoria.

The Nile perch has been settling into Lake Victoria’s environment and upsetting its delicate equilibrium for decades.

Algae bloomed due to a precipitous decline in the population of fish that consumed them. The subsequent decomposition of more debris in the lake’s deeper parts reduced oxygen levels, driving fish to seek refuge in the lake’s shallower areas.

Environmental Issues

Pollution, overfishing, and the introduction of water hyacinth pose threats to Lake Victoria’s future.

Another major concern is the prevalence of unsustainable practices within the basin. According to scientists, the watershed area has already lost more than 70% of its forest cover.

Lake Victoria Safari: Things to do at Lake Victoria

Is it safe to swim in Lake Victoria:

Some residents and tourists risk drowning by swimming in Lake Victoria’s undesignated areas, even though doing so is illegal. Tragically, drowning accounts for a large portion of the estimated 5,000 annual deaths on Lake Victoria, according to local authorities.

Additionally, parasitic flatworms provide the risk of bilharzia (schistosomiasis), a tropical disease.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island, one of the most visited islands in Lake Victoria, is located about 27 kilometers southeast of Entebbe. Fifty chimpanzees, rescued from various locations in East Africa, are under the good care of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

The nonprofit organization The Chimpanzee Trust oversees the sanctuary and works to ensure the long-term survival of chimpanzees by providing them with a safe haven when they are unable to do so in the wild.

Visitors interested in chimpanzees can spend the night at Ngamba Ecolodge and pick from half-day or full-day excursions to the sanctuary.

Ssese Islands

Ssese Islands Kalangala

Located in the northwest of Lake Victoria, the Ssese Islands are a hidden gem with pristine beaches and turquoise waters. No intrepid traveler seeking a secluded paradise should miss this one-of-a-kind archipelago of 84 islands.

The most populated of the Ssese Islands, Bugala is easily reachable by ferry from Entebbe. Bugala is a great place to go quad biking, fishing, and birdwatching, among other things.

There is a lovely simplicity to Banda Island, and the island is more isolated. Get away from the crowds and enjoy peaceful strolls along the beach as you take in the beauty of your paradise setting.

Mabamba Swamp

Shoebills of Mabamba Swamp

This marshland is the best place in Uganda to see birds, and it’s on the shore of Lake Victoria to the north. The mysterious Shoebill is one of more than 300 bird species found in Mabamba.

You will have an amazing time birding in Mabamba. A local guide will lead you on a scenic canoe ride through the intricate network of waterways while sharing fascinating facts about the area’s flora and fauna and suggesting prime locations for photography.

Observing Shoebills is best done first thing in the morning, but other spectacular birds, such as the African marsh harrier, are also likely to be visible around this time.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre

The Uganda Wildlife Education Center

Animals that are unable to live in the wild find a sanctuary at “Entebbe Zoo,” an orphanage. Any animal lover would appreciate this excursion, which takes place on the shores of Lake Victoria.

The zoo is a wonderful place to learn about many different kinds of animals, from apes like chimpanzees to more exotic ones like lions that guard their area.

If you want to know how the center takes care of its animals, you should take the “behind the scenes” tour. On this excursion, guests can get up close and personal with the lions and elephants.