Lake Victoria

Our expert Uganda

Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria Africa's largest lake is not only an exceptional nature reserve, it is also the border between three countries. © Lonely Planet

Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria or Victoria Nanza ("water expansion" in the local language) has a surface of 26,300 sq mi and feeds into the River Nile. It shares its shore with two other States - Kenya and Tanzania and there are numerous islands on the lake including the Ssese Islands south of Entebbe, for example. These islands are covered with forests and offer some very beautiful viewpoints of the lake. The inhabitants of these islands, who are mainly fishermen, will happily take you for a ride in their rowing boats. It is also possible to swim, on condition that you respect the hygiene precautions concerning bilharzias, a disease which occurs in hot and temperate areas and which is spread by contamination from water snails.