Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the largest tropical lake in the world. Other names of the lake are Victoria-Nyanza, Ukereve. By its size, Victoria resembles an entire state. It has been proven that it is from this reservoir that the great Nile originates.
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| Lake Victoria |
Located in the tectonic trough of the East African Platform, the lake occupies the border area of several countries at once: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. About 30 million aborigines live in the vicinity of the lake. The western and southern shores are inhabited by the Wahaya tribe, who are famous for their ability to grow the best coffee on the continent. The most ancient tribe in the area is the Luo tribe.
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| Lake Victoria |
National parks and reserves are organized around Victoria. The most popular of these is the Rubondo Island National Park in Tanzania. According to some reports, there are about 500 bird species on the territory of this park. Despite the fact that Kenya's share is very small, these shores are the busiest trade routes.
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| Lake Victoria |
The best time to visit Lake Victoria is from June to September. The protection of the lake and its surroundings is currently being carried out by the partner organization OSIENALA Living Lakes. This non-profit public organization is engaged not only in protecting the environment of the region, but also fighting the poverty of nearby settlements.
History
The lake was discovered by British traveler and explorer John Speke in 1858. He named it in honor of the then ruling Queen Victoria. In turn, the locals called him Nyanza, which means “lake”. Therefore, until the 1920s, the reservoir was called Victoria-Nyanza.
The geological history of Victoria begins about 400 thousand years ago, which makes it a relatively young reservoir. The lake dried up 3 times and re-filled with water, which is associated with ice ages, which reduce the amount of precipitation. The last such cycle ended about 14,700 years ago when Victoria was filled with water again.
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| Lake Victoria |
Today Victoria is quite polluted with sewage and chemical waste from industrial plants, which has consequences for the ecosystem. At the same time, there is a gradual decrease in the water level. The prospects for the attraction are not bright, like all life in Africa.
Fishing
Today Lake Victoria is the largest fishing center in Africa, with local markets filled with fish from the reservoir. As a rule, representatives of African tribes fish in small canoes with a triangular sail. The fact that the lake abounds in crocodiles does not frighten them at all. Fishing competitions on an international scale are also held here annually.
Tourist fishing is developed in the vicinities of Victoria. Basically, they catch perch, catfish, eels, tetra, carp, tiger fish and other species. The highlight of the catch can be the ancient lang fish, which is not found anywhere else in the world. However, the main target for fishing is the famous Nile perches. These predators can reach 140 kg in mass and 170 cm in length.
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| Lake Victoria |
Fishing by tourists is actively supported by the locals. There are many comfortable fishing bases on the coast. Tourists are served by guides, while fishing they help with bait, which significantly increases the chance of getting an excellent trophy. One of the most popular such bases is Mfangano Island Camp, located near the port of Kisumu.
How to get to Lake Victoria in Africa
While in Uganda, it will not be difficult to visit Lake Victoria - part of the lake is located in Kampala, the capital of the country. In Kenya, you need to focus on the main city of the western part of the country - Kisumu. Traveling around Tanzania, you can look at the lake while exploring the nearby attraction - Serengeti National Park.