Sharing a border with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh-water lake in the entire world, with 70,000 square km of surface. Though an ideal spot for bird watching, hiking, and nature-watching in general (the lake borders the western Serengeti), Lake Victoria is actually one of the least visited areas in all of Tanzania. If you’re looking for a quiet African retreat, this might be the spot for you, even as a short excursion from the Serengeti or Masai Mara (Kenya).
Rubondo Island National Park (in the southern area of the lake), one of the area’s major attraction, is an area rife with precious tropical fish, birds, crocodiles, hippos, vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, elephants and giraffes, not to mention jasmine, orchids, remote beaches, pristine forest and bush. It’s the perfect spot for getting lost in one of Africa’s most valuable resources: nature.
Still, despite the fact that it’s remained off the beaten path of most tourists, Lake Victoria remains an important part of Tanzania’s economy and industry. Fishing, coffee, and cotton are all incredibly important, as is trade, with convenient cross-lake access to both Kenya and Uganda. Perhaps for this reason, the lake itself has changed considerably since it was discovered in 1858. No longer clear, the waters are now murky from development and over-fishing.
Lake Victoria is accessible via air, train, bus, and car via its main port cities of Mwanza, Musoma and Bukoba. The popular Tanzanian attractions of Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crator and Serengeti National Park are all within just 400 km of Bukoba on the western shore of the lake.
Popular spots to stay include Speke Bay Lodge, Lukuba Island Resort, Rusinga Island Lodge and Mfangano Island Camp. Camping is also possible at Rubondo Island National Park.
