Lake & Rift Valley
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake and the source of the Nile, offering island escapes, fishing villages and a relaxed western gateway.
Altitude
1,135 m
Location
North-Western Tanzania
Best Time
Year-round
Lake Victoria, shared by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, is the largest lake in Africa and the chief source of the White Nile. On the Tanzanian side, the lakeside city of Mwanza and islands such as Rubondo and Ukerewe offer a tranquil, off-the-tourist-trail experience.
Rubondo Island National Park, on the lake, protects forest wildlife and introduced chimpanzees, while the lakeshore offers fishing communities, rock formations like Mwanza's Bismarck Rock, and a gateway to the western Serengeti.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Victoria worth visiting?
Yes — as Africa's largest lake it offers island escapes like Rubondo Island National Park, fishing villages and a quiet gateway to the western Serengeti.
Can you combine Lake Victoria with a Serengeti safari?
Yes — the lake lies just west of the Serengeti, so Mwanza and Rubondo Island make a natural extension to a western-circuit safari.