Lake Victoria Uganda

Take a voyage to Africa’s most stunning and spectacular historical landmark―Lake Victoria! Located in the east-central part of the country and shares borders with nations like Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

Lake Victoria is an incredible attraction to see, but there’s much more around the area. Read on to learn some great things to do nearby.

Also known as “Victoria Nyanza,” Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa. It has an area of 26,828 square miles, making it the second-largest freshwater lake in the world.

It’s also the largest tropical lake in the world. (A tropical lake is a lake with a surface temperature consistently above four degrees Celsius.)

It’s commonly referred to as The Pearl and Pride of Africa. This makes sense since it borders not one, but three countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

With its vastness, dotted islands, reefs, 200+ fish species, and tropical highlands, Lake Victoria is a primary tourist attraction for those visiting Uganda.

So, if you’re planning on touring Uganda, this lake should be on the list. Since it’s so big and there’s a lot to do around the lake, we’ve narrowed it down for you.

Read on to learn what we recommend to do around the lake!

Bird Watching

This lake has a variety of bird species, which makes it a great place to go bird watching.

Many tourists go to the Mabamba Swamp to see birds such as the Shoebill Stork.

You can also just grab a pair of binoculars and look out from one of the beaches. Since the lake has tropical highlands above it.

Chimpanzee Island

Did you know that chimpanzees were brought to a 100-acre island? Yep, Ngamba Island (or commonly referred to as Chimpanzee Island) is home to 49 chimpanzees.

It’s a Chimpanzee sanctuary in Uganda. And is a popular tourist destination.

You can do a day trip or an overnight stay.

Uganda Wildlife Education Center

Why not learn something new while visiting Uganda?

The Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) rehabilitates animals that normally wouldn’t survive in the wild. It also has veterinary services. And it breeds endangered animals in captivity.

Besides this, the centre also contributes to scientific research. So, you’re bound to learn a lot.

You can also learn and benefit from the volunteers, as you can book many types of tours. Not to mention, you can spend a night or two in one of the dorms or cottages. And dine at the centre.

All while seeing the best of African wildlife such as giraffes and chimpanzees.

(Please note you do pay for these amenities. But the contributions go toward furthering the UWEC and helping the animal community.)

Goretti’s Pizzeria Overlooking Lake Victoria

This is a small restaurant located next to Lake Victoria. The best part: the view—all while eating delicious pizza.

On certain nights, the restaurant features live entertainment. So, view, pizza, and entertainment. Who wouldn’t enjoy this?

Tourism activities in Lake Victoria have recently increased due to the improvement of infrastructure around the lake basins.

Good roads, mostly from the Kenyan side and increased investment in the hospitality industry have seen the number of tourists visiting Lake Victoria safari region shoot upwards.

The number of world-class resorts being set up in the Lake region has made the Lake transform from a traditional fishing point where most of the Islands surrounding the Lake are now dotted with private resorts, game lodges and beautiful hotels that offer tourists an atmosphere to die for!

Different hotels, lodges and resorts organize game drives for their clients. Alternatively, tourists can liaise with local tour companies and hire a guide to take them around the Lake Victoria region and benefit from seeing some of the wildlife in the area and how they co-exist with human life.

The Lake Victoria region is now one of the most popular destinations in East Africa due to its untapped island fossils sites and the generally quiet and private atmosphere that offers peace and tranquillity.

The number of picnic sites that are coming up such as the Bridge Island and Rusinga fossil sites (In the Kenyan part of the Lake) where the oldest skull was found by renowned archaeologist Dr Leakey and indeed the beautiful Lake itself, which is a great game fishing point.

Lake Victoria Africa as of now has more than 170 tourist sites and quite a substantial number of heritage sites that outnumber other tourism circuits thanks to the 50 world-class resorts set up along the Lake and the many Islands surrounding Lake Victoria.

The National Botanical Gardens located in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria are expansive gardens, thick with rainforests and are a treat for the eye.

You will come across a myriad of monkeys, squirrels and birds there. As a matter of fact, a local guide informed me that approximately 115 species of birds could be found in these incredible botanical gardens of Entebbe, Uganda.

These gardens which are present on the shores of Africa’s mightiest lake are one of Uganda’s most often visited tourist attractions. For one thing, they are easily accessible.

It’s a very short ride from the airport to the Entebbe gardens. Secondly, there is a multitude of both woodland and country species out there.

You can almost become lost among them, so beautiful and numerous hours can stealthily go by without me even noticing time go by.

This ruminate pocket of rainforest can be quite mesmerizing with the variety of nature present in it. You will come across Vervet monkeys, Diederik cuckoos, African fish eagle, Angola Swallow, wattle- eye etc.

For more information about the lake check out these Lake Victoria facts.

Tourists will enjoy the cultural and vibrant life of the local people. The views of the lake feature many varieties of boats, from large ferries and transport barges to Ngalawa fishing boats and dugout canoes.

This majestic lake has a great wetland surface that offers birdwatchers a wonderful expedition where they can observe the island fish eagles running a spectacular scene diving from high above into the lake water to catch their prey.

Wildlife around Lake Victoria is naturally drawn here by the abundance of lush wetlands, water and food.

Travel to Uganda’s many Safari parks including Queen Elizabeth Safari, Bwindi Impenetrable safari, Mgahinga Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Rwenzori Mountains Kidepo Valley, and Lake Mburo. Also, visit the Ssese Islands and Entebbe on Lake Victoria.