Lake Albert : Found in the heart of Africa; is lake Albert; situated in the western arm of the rift valley between the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the second and seventh largest in Uganda and Africa respectively in terms of water volume with the Victoria Nile and semi like a river flowing from lake Victoria and lake Edward respectively contributing to its great volume of water that is a rich habitat to a variety of aquatic animals and over 55 fish species comprising of the Nile perch, tilapia. its 60 km long, with a maximum depth of 25 meters and 625m above sea level carrying 132 cubic kilometers of water. The rich nature around the lake is so adorable and attractive giving it a wonderful sense of tourist destination with a lot in store for you in terms of the wilderness from game parks closer to it.
Originally called lake Mwitanzige due to the local story of the death of many locusts in the lake leading to the name (Mwitanzige) but later with the coming of explorers sir Samuel baker and Sass Flora in 1864 who in their quest to discover the source of the Nile transverse to the lake hence discovered it and named it after the queen Victoria Queen on sort Prince Albert. Though the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo renamed it after his name (Mobutu Sese Seko), Albert prevailed till date and the president lost out to Albert.
The glimpse of the splendid mountain of the moon, Rwenzori and Murchison are visible while in lake Albert offering you a great scene of the beautiful scenery of the two attractions accompanied with the view of bugungu wildlife reserve and Bungoma forest reserve with gorilla trekking opportunities to give you a thrill of a lifetime.
Being at the great rift valley, it enjoys a lot of privileges like tremendous natural scenery contributing a lot to its being a tourist destination, lying between the west and some part of the north part of Uganda necessarily meaning that its both a western and northern lake acting as a spot for the rare shoebill stork( whale head). lake Albert has fewer endemics hence it’s a safe healthy tourism destination. Recently, oil was discovered in the Albertine region and also minerals hence you are sure to witness oil and mineral extraction while visiting lake Albert.
At its shores, are great sites for bird watching since most water birds are seen around it, including shoebill stork, pelicans, and herons for the birders. Supplemented with a variety of aquatic animals and semi-aquatic such as hippopotamus, Nile crocodiles since it majorly depends on the Nile River for its water supply, mammals, amphibians, turtles, aquatic snakes among others.
Albert has a lot of charismatic and refreshing activities; from nature walks along the shores, glancing at the birds doing their thing, sightseeing within the lake observing its beauty and appreciating it .sport fishing to activate your enthusiastic side making you enjoy every moment of the activity plus amazing boat cruises giving the feeling of being at the lake exploring great escarpment and watching the wildlife on the and around the lake. Then later you can Perth the kabwoya wildlife reserve which is a stopover between Kabale and Murchison national parks, while there, you get a chance to venture into what’s inside the reserve.
You can get yourself involved in fossil hunting with guides to assist you and also game drives to spice up the whole travel.
A tour the Lake Albert is fulfilling to everyone who steps there, it’s an experience that suits a lifetime experience and should include a voyage to Lake Albert on their buckart lists.
