Rift Valley Lakes in Uganda – Safari Uganda
The Rift Valley Lakes in Uganda; These are lakes found in the East African Rift Valley that runs through eastern Africa from Ethiopia in the north to country of Malawi in the south and includes the African Great Lakes in the south .And some of the world’s oldest lake include the deepest lakes ,Largest lakes by area and Volume and many of them are freshwater ecoregions of the great biodiversity whereas others are called alkaline soda lakes that supports the specialized organisms.
More about, the Rift Valley Lakes are popularly known for the evolution of over 800 cichlid fish species that inhabits in their water bodies and more species are expected to be discovered.
In Uganda, the rift valley lakes run through Eastern African from the Country of Ethiopia in the north to Malawi. Uganda is also known worldwide to be among the countries with rift valley lakes though they do not renown in the world, because of the Ugandan Albertine Rift Valley part was blocked by the Kenya arm of the great African rift valley. The fact is that; the Ugandan Rift Valley side is greater than the Kenyan arm.
Therefore, Ugandan rift valley lakes include; Lake Edward, Lake Albert, Lake George and Lake Kyoga. Queen Elizabeth National Park a Uganda’s second largest game park and the most visited destination because of the biodiversity of wildlife species most especially the famous unique tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector and others species ,located in the southwestern part of the park .However, the park has some of the location of the Rift Valley lakes known as ;Lake George and Lake Edward which are connected by the fame Kazinga Channel that attracts visitors in the park with the boat cruise ,Kazinga Channel famously known as a home of hippos ,Nile crocodiles and water bird species .
The part of the rift valley lakes was acknowledged as the most biodiversity hotspot site by the UNESCO heritage site as well as one of the World’s biosphere reserve. Because of the rift valley or the crake lakes that are located in Queen Elizabeth national park and range of wildlife species is the great reason why Queen Elizabeth is a famous image on the worldwide dialog.
In spite the fact that, the rift valley lakes are habitat of notable bird species with more than 1000 bird species and some are endemic like the endangered Shoe bill stork, greater flamingo among mores ,97 animal species, reptile and all these species can be explored in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Before Lake Edward was counted among the small lakes of Uganda compared to other lakes, that are located on the Uganda-Congo border in the southwest of Queen Elizabeth national park. Fact is that, Lake Edward is recognized as a rift valley lake that raises an area of about 2325 square kilometers with the depth that measures about 376 ft. and water level of around 39.5cubic kilometers. This rift valley lake Edward is comprised of primary inlets like the river Nyamugasani, River Ishasha, River Rutshuru, River Rwindi, River Rubilia, and River Ntugwe among others. And the main outlets are River Semuliki that flows into Lake Albert. Although, it’s a small lake it has got a lot of rewarding wildlife species and beautiful nature around that attracts our sights mostly along the lake’s shores and there are numerous mammals to see which include elephants, hippos, buffaloes, beautiful bird species like king fishers, fish eagles, white-backed vulture, greater flamingos many more plus rewardable view of the variation in the green vegetation area with in the rift valley lakes.
Fortunately, Lake Edward is one of the most fabulous rift valley lakes in Uganda which was named by the first European explorer to visit Uganda and which happened to be Sir Henry Morton Stanley in year of 1889.Amazingly, the Lake was named after the British prince of wales prominently known as Edward the son of Queen of England. It has historical background which is associated with a number of factors for example; the first President of Uganda the Idi Amin Dada who first named Lake Edward by his name ‘’Lake Idi Amin’’ this happened on his reign on power but later on the lake was permanently renamed has lake Edward in 1973 when president Idi Amin was over throne from the chair of the presidential.
Uganda’s rift valley lakes are comprised of four lakes that is Lake Edward, Lake George, Lake Kyoga and among them Lake George is the smallest and shallower than the other. Furthermore, this rift valley lake is recorded to have a papyrus swamp alliance among the Ramsar sites in Africa. Though, the silt from the Rwenzori via River Mubuku, inlets the lake and its depth in some areas is not more than 2.4 meters.
Though lake George is law by river Mubuku in the north and river Mpanga which is the main inlets to lake George. In fact, Lake George has only one outlet that is Kazinga channel which is positioned in the south of Mweya within Queen Elizabeth national park.
More so, Lake George is surround with interesting activities include visiting the communities to the nearby areas, sport fishing along the lake, canoeing and panoramic view of magnificent snowcapped Rwenzori Mountain and other stunning swampy vegetation with great sights of animals like buffaloes, elephants, lucky, sitatunga, good sights of bird species around the lake as you enjoy sailing on water on boat.
The fact about, Lake Albert is the largest and deepest lake among other rift valley lakes in Uganda covering an area of about 5,300 square kilometers as it measures northwards. The lake is approximately ,613-meter-deep and ranked to be the 7th largest lake in Africa. This is the lake with was historically named after prince Albert of England by the first European Explorer Sir Samuel Baker who discovered it in year of 1973.
Despite the fact that, Lake Albert has a strong data behind it and it has been put in newspapers, television headlines due to the discovery of oil in the northern shoreline several times. Therefore, the area experiences both positive and neglect things through the discovery of oil around its’s area which are; The positive side comes along with the discovery of the oil whereas the other side of negativity will affect the biodiversity area of the mighty Murchison Falls national park Uganda’s largest game park with wide range of wildlife species. So the discovering of oil is a story that seems to be a future plan strategic. Coincidence, the Lake has no useful town close to its shoreline apart from the Buliisa community which is located in the north of the lake itself. The people who live here are locals who are nomadic pastoralists with no much civilization and they live in traditional nuts.
Lake Kyoga is also renown as a rift valley lake an extension of the Victoria Nile that flows through the lake and also its way from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert, the major inlet from Lake Victoria is voided by the Nalubaale power station in Eastern Jinja. More then, Lake Kyoga is large and shallow raising an area of around 1,720 square kilometers at an elevation of about 1,033 meter. However, is one of the African great lakes though its self does not consider as a great lake.
Furthermore, Lake Kyoga measures a depth of about 5.7meters and 4 meters of its deeps and the area that measures 3-meter-deep are covered by water lilies while the other side of the lake shoreline are enlarged over with papyrus to form a floating Island that accumulates between the number of small permanent Islands.
Lastly, on visit to Uganda Wildlife Safari endeavor to include in your tour package itinerary a visit to Rift Valley Lakes of which some are located in one of Uganda’s top visited safari destination – Queen Elizabeth National Park and many other places to adventure during your safari experience in Uganda.
