The Second Largest Lake on Earth
Actually, Lake Tanganyika holds four titles:
– the second-largest lake in the world
– the second-deepest lake on earth
– the longest lake in the world
– the largest source of fresh water in Africa
Travelers have to go away from typical tourist areas and head to Western Tanzania to experience the beauty of Lake Tanganyika, but it will certainly be worth it!
What lake holds the title of largest and deepest? Well, that would be Lake Baikal, in Siberia.
Lake Tanganyika visible from space!
Western Tanzania
Lake Tanganyika sits in Western Tanzania, near the borders of Burundi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Tanzania often brings images of lions, savannahs, and the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro to mind, however, this incredible country offers many historical and nature-rich areas for the adventurous explorer.
Lake Tanganyika is steeped in history and is home to hundreds of fish and aquatic plants that are found nowhere else on earth.
It’s close to where Jane Goodall did a great deal of her research on chimps.
The fish from this lake feed over 10 million people.
And, it’s beautiful!
This region is gorgeous, but travelers should give themselves a bit longer for travel time. Domestic flights are available, as well as road travel or the recently renewed railway to the port town of Kigoma.
Flights
Railway
Lake Tanganyika has one of the most rich and diverse freshwater ecosystems on earth. Contained in its shores are more than two thousand flora and fauna that inhabit the lake; more than a quarter of these are endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Activities
Here you will find marine snails, different varieties of cichlid fish (which are an entire scientific research project on their own!) as well as hippopotami and crocodiles.
There are areas of the lake where snorkeling and diving are available, too! (obviously there are no hippos or crocs in these areas). Visitors can also take a local boat out or join fishermen for a day on the lake.
Gombe Stream National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park and two of the interesting parks to visit in the area.
Gombe National Park is inaccessible by road and requires a boat to enter. How cool is that?!?
Both parks offer hiking, environmentally-friendly chimpanzee trekking and wildlife viewing. Visitors are sure to spot a plethora of primates, including vervet monkeys and several varieties of colobus monkeys. You can camp in Mahale Mountains National Park while you climb to the highest point (8,000 ft), and of course, you can just relax and enjoy the lakeshore, as well.
Lake Tanganyika, Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe Stream National Park are on my travel bucket list.
Actually, they were on our 2020 travel list, but now no one really knows what is happening.
Until then, I will dream about visiting the largest lake in Africa, enjoying fresh fish from this enormous lake and quietly hiking the hills among chimpanzees. When this adventure truly does come true – I’ll be posting lots and lots of photos!
If you’re considering travel or virtual-travel, give Western Tanzania some attention; it offers unique adventures for travelers willing to try something off the beaten path (even times completely off the road!).
For more info about Lake Tanganyika (and the sources I used to get all these nice little numbers!) check out:
New World Encyclopedia
Britannica.com
Tanzania Tourism
Africa Great Lakes Inform