Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake wamala

There is something common about lake kyoga, lake albert, lake bunyonyi and lake wamala apart from all being fresh water lakes, they have suds seen as islands some left for bird habitats and others have been turned into fishermen villages. Lake bunyonyi, lake kyoga, lake wamala and lake Edward are are beautiful and have a number of tourist activities associated with them.

Lake kyoga is a shallow lake found in central Uganda region, northwest of lake victoria; lake victoria flows through lake kyoga to lake albert and makes the albert Nile thereafter. Lake kyoga covers a distance of about 1720 sq.km; which is approximately 1033 sq.miles. Of the total area of Lake Kyoga, a big part is occupied by the lake extensions and sometimes they are seasonal; they dry up in the dry season. The fingers like extensions are the ones that tend to dry up in the very dry season; they include lake quania, lake bisina, and lake opeta, all surrounded with the seasonal swamps.

Lake kyoga is a shallow lake with the dept of 5.7m, whereas, the largest park is shallower and less than 4meters; average depth of 3m and the maximum depth is 5.5m. Lake kyoga is laid on an altitude of 194m above sea level. The swampy shore line of lake kyoga is the genuine reason for the number of bird species ready for visiting by the birders.

Fishing at Lake Kyoga is the main economic activity done by the nearby communities; farming too but on a smaller scale, the local communities also do some livestock but on a small scale as well just for survival. Lake kyoga has over 46 fish species and some of which are endemic; only found in lake kyoga only. Lake kyoga also has crocodiles as the main attractions associated with the lake.

Lake Albert is another water body that is, perhaps, not so famous but unique in its natural way and you might want to visit it on your Ugandan safari on of the days. Lake Albert was named by a European explorer called Sir Samuel baker together with sass flora. It was named after queen victoria’s consort, Prince Albert who had died three (3) years back. Lake Albert is located on the border of the democratic republic of Congo and Uganda. It is the last lake in the north of the albertine lake region, it is drained by river semliki in from the south and the major outlet is the Victoria Nile in the north.

Lake Albert is ranked 7^th among the largest lakes in Africa with 100miles long and 19miles wide. Lake Albert, however, it is not as deep as Lake Victoria; Lake Albert is just 108 feet deep. There is no major town near the lake especially on the Ugandan side, apart from buliisa village bordering in the north with a population of 30000 people only; population density is 149 people per square kilometer. The major economic activity is fishing, however, the people in buliisa also practice some cattle keeping and they are pastoralists.

Lake bunyonyi is yet another lake, it is described as the most beautiful lake in Uganda, it is. Lake bunyonyi is locate southwestern Uganda, between kisoro and kabala just close to Rwanda border. Lake bunyonyi is beautifully engulfed by a number of terraced hillsides which most European visitors believe to be reminiscent to some area in Nepal’s.

It is Lake Bunyonyi because it means a place of many small birds and indeed it is. The suds in the water, which are viewed and the islands, they harbor a number of bird spices beautiful for birding. Lake bunyonyi is 46sq.km big, approximately, 185sq.miles. It is laid on an altitude of 1962m above the sea level, 25km long and 7km wide, with the depth of 900m.

The shoreline of Lake Bunyonyi extends for some miles with just two major towns, that is, kyevu and muko. Lake bunyonyi also has many islands over 29, beautiful engulfed by lake bunyonyi. It ranks the 2^nd best tourist lakes in Africa, lake bunyonyi is has beautiful accommodation will all the cottages facing the lake and over 29 islands, which makes a view so spectacular.

There are a number of activities you can enjoy whilst staying at Lake Bunyonyi; water sports, scenic viewing, canoeing, boat riding, local tours, hiking in the highlands, birding and you can also enjoy swimming in the lake since Lake Bunyonyi is bilharzia free.

Lake Wamala is yet another, infamous but unique and attractive, water body, which is among the shallow and fresh water lakes in Uganda located in mityana spanning in the district of; mubende and mpigi in central Uganda over an area of 250sq.km. Lake wamala, just like bunyonyi, has a number of islands like lwanja, mabo and bagwe. It has rivers inlets like; river kitenga, river kabasuma, river mamujugu and river bimbye among others. Also river katonga from Lake Victoria flows into Lake Wamala. On a contrary, kibimba drains Lake Wamala westwards to Lake Victoria.

Lake wamala was derived from the last king of the historical bachwezi dynasty who is said to have disappeared into the lake, thus, being called wamala after the lost king. Lake wamala is a phenomenal feature in Buganda as many spiritual ritual are conducted on the islands and also a place for the cave for the lugave clan.

Lake wamala is surrounded by a papyrus vegetation which is a good habitat for birds and other wildlife animals like the statunga, wildpigs, hippos, bushbacks, waterbucks, velvet monkeys, baboons and birds such guinea fowl, turacco, francolins among others. Fishing is a good economic activity at Lake Wamala which has a number of fish species like; catfish, tilapia, and lung fish, among others.

Unlike the latter lakes above, lake wamala is surrounded by a number of towns which makes the place livable since there are supporting facilities in the nearby towns like accommodation facilities such as lake wamala view hotel just located nearest to the lake.