Renamed after Queen Victoria by John Hanning Speke, Lake Victoria is the largest lake by area in Africa and the world’s second largest freshwater lake. It is shared by three east African countries. These are Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
It is home to a wealth of wildlife species such as mammals like hippopotamus, mongoose, reptiles like Nile crocodiles, African helmeted turtles and over 200 species of fish. I highlight below some of the activities you can try to have the best of Lake Victoria.
Fishing
Lake Victoria is a great habitat for various fish species like Nile perch, Tilapia, Silver fish and a lot more. Fish is a common dish and you can find different restaurants around the World. Fish from Countries in Africa like Uganda is more delicious and liked by most foodies from other parts of the world.
Fishing is an activity which helps you to catch these aquatic species from the Waters of Lake Victoria and other water bodies. If you want to have the all experience other than seeing it from the plate, make sure to try it while in Uganda. On this activity you visit some fishing villages to see how locals do it as you also participate.
Sunset Boat cruise
This is for those who wish to end an evening relaxing on the waters. It grants you an opportunity to explore different scenery which surrounds the lake, visit some islands and fishing villages. It starts at 5pm late in the evening and lasts for about 2-3 hours.
Birding in Mabamba
For birders don’t miss to see a plethora of various bird species in Mabamba. Mabamba is a swamp along the shores of Lake Victoria. This place is mostly known for birding activities. It is home to unique species including the rarely seen shoebill stork. You can only get there by a boat which starts from a landing site in Entebbe.
Beach outings
Along the shores of Lake Victoria, there are several beaches for you to relax over the weekends. Entebbe town has the most pristine shorelines for beach goers. The list includes white sands beach, Lido, Aero beach, Imperial resort, Spenah, waterfront beach and a lot more.
Visit Ssese Islands
If you fancy a unique destination for a weekend getaway in Uganda, this archipelago of eighty four islands is for you. It is located in the northwestern corner of Lake Victoria.
A holiday trip to one of the islands exposes you to multiple activities such as swimming, boat cruise, camping, forest walks, jet boating to name but a few.
Visit Ngamba Island Chimp Sanctuary
This is for primate lovers. Ngamba Island Chimp Sanctuary is a protected area which provides great shelter to the rescued and orphaned chimpanzee primates. It is located on Ngamba, an island which is part of Koome group of Islands.
Visitors to this area get there by boat. Once here you can engage in different activities like care giving, chimpanzee feeding, food collection and more.
