Lake George Community Tour

Lake George is a small and shallow lake approximated area of about 240sq km and 2.4km in depth. It is a graben lake or a rift valley lake found in western African rift valley in Queen Elizabeth national park. Being adjacent to the mountains of the moon (Mountain Rwenzori), this makes it well supplied with tributaries from this snow caped mountain. It is also supplied with some tributaries from the North Eastern agricultural area.

The main tributaries or inlets into Lake George are Mpanga from north eastern area, Dura also from north eastern. It is also supplied by; Nsonge, Rumi, and river Mubuku from the mountain ranges of Rwenzori/ Mountains of the Moon. How unfair and at the same time nice; Lake George only has one outlet and that is Lake Edward through the Kazinga channel. This means that the water level in this lake is mainly constant throughout the year.

The water catchment area for Lake George is within the mountain ranges of Rwenzori with an altitude of 914meters above sea level. To supplement the tributaries they supply water to Lake George, the area receives two rainfall peak seasons. It receives rainfall in May and October with an average rainfall range of about 3mm – 194mm. there can be fluctuations of water in Lake George, however, these fluctuations are very minimal.

The northern shore of Lake George has a stretch of a papyrus swamp. It is a demarcated ramsar site wetland area. The swamp is a good habitat for the Statunga Antelopes in Queen Elizabeth national Park. The swamp is really full of interesting things like the endangered Shoe Bill bird among others birds and animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The green pastures near Lake George are dominated by herbivores, grass eating wild animals and fish like, tilapia. The papyrus supplies the communities near Lake George with raw material for their crafts work. Fishing at Lake George is a lucrative economic activity. This is because the fish have enough food from the green algae seen on water. You will know how the fishermen around this area brag about their fish as the most delicious fish in the whole world. It is an exaggerated statement but when you get a chance to taste the fish from Lake George, you will find where this pride comes from.

The major islands on Lake George include, Kankuranga, Irangara and Akika. These islands are used by fishermen as camping sites after dropping their nets. They also camp at Kanguranga Island after a scares catch.

Kasoga community is one of the epic communities that hoarder Lake George. Kasoga community is a fishing village that uses Lake Kyoga as its fishing grounds. It is also among the Ramsar Sites in Hamukungu fishing village with in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Instead of waiting long for your afternoon boat cruise, you can try to visit this epic community with a lot of tourist activities the you can engage in. You can fix in your itinerary, visiting Kasoga Community, after your morning hour game drive; activities include the one hour canoeing experience on lake George, a community walk that can last for just two hours but very interesting as well as birding during the walk about 24 bird species are found with in this communities space.

Activities you enjoy at Kasoga Community Tour

Canoeing at Lake George; this involves visiting fishing sites, at the fishing sites you can get information about marine work in the community. You can also learn about the history of the islands on Lake George like Irangara and Rubona. While on the canoe, you will get a chance to see the hippos more closely than on the Mweya Boat Cruise and, you will see many groups of hippos also known as schools in tourism language. The fishermen will show you around the best fish breeding areas. There are also chances of seeing the mountain Rwenzori Ranges on a clear day whilst canoeing on Lake George. Further, on Lake George you will see Irangara Island and a chance to find their naked fishermen camping after a bad catch night.

Canoe racing/ regattas;

the first time this activity was done at Kasoga community was in 1952, when the queen of England visited “Kazinga national park” now the famous queen Elizabeth national park; named after her majesty’s visit and named after her name. The visitors and the local race on canoes form the northern bank island of Irangara to the southern bank and back to the community.

Community walks; during this activity you will get time to interact with the locals and learn how fish is preserved locally. You can see women netting the fish nets; you can also get involved if you would love to. During the community walk you will meet men making the canoes locally you can also help out on this. You can also see women making crafts from the swamp products like papyrus and clay; you can as well buy some crafts as a way to give direct to the community. During the walk you will as well go through the historical swamps and get to watch birds; about 26 species and also see the vacation palace for the king of Tooro.

Community birding will also elevate your experience. This is done through the developed community birding trails. Your will get to see over 80 species of birds and about 30different species making an estimated total of about 150 species of birds.

Fishing tours are also awesome activities you can do at Kasoga community. “High production of fish” is known for this community in Uganda. You can join the fishermen and go fishing at Lake George. The fish you catch can be prepared for you and enjoy the fresh fish right from the lake; either by boiling, or deep frying according to your preference. You can also engage in the recreational fishing of the biggest fish.

What about the cultural excursion will make you get knowledge about fishing culture and other marine practices in the community. Milking is another cultural experience you can learn according to your preference. You can learn how cows are milked, how yogurt is made locally, indigenous ways of preserving milk and making ghee and other dairy products.

Make sure that you get to taste the locally made banana whisky or fresh juice served along with a fish snack. This is how you can elevate your pearly visit to Uganda- Queen Elizabeth National Park- Lake George- Kasoga Community.

Formation of Lake George

Lake George was formed by the geothermal activities within the earth’s crust that lead to the development of lines of weakness called the fault lines or faults as called geographically. Due to continuous action on the earth, the middle block was forced to subside with making the Graben or a rift valley.

To note, Grabens are result of secondary faulting within the rift valley floor.

However, the sides of the rift valley resulted into the formation of horsts also called block mountains such as the Rwenzori ranges.

Where to stay

Mweya safari lodge is ideal since it’s near to Lake George. However , you can also use other accommodation facilities like;

As waiting for your evening hour boat cruise you can engage Lake George community tours on your itinerary when you visit Queen Elizabeth national park. The “jaw dropping” activities you will do here will not leave you the same but excited about the African ways and other practices they do as part of local life style of the people that reside in Kasoga community.