Lake Rukwa Travel Guide: Top Sights in Tanzania, Tours & Travel

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Lake Rukwa- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; Tanzania; 5 Reviews

Suggested Duration: 4 hours

Lake Rukwa, Tanzania's third-largest inland water body, occupies a remote stretch of the southwestern Rift Valley between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. Situated at an elevation of about 800 meters, the lake spans across the Rukwa, Songwe, and Katavi regions. Nearly half of its surface lies within the Uwanda Game Reserve, where the lake supports diverse birdlife and serves as a seasonal habitat for hippos and crocodiles. Unlike many Tanzanian lakes, Lake Rukwa has no outflow, and its endorheic nature contributes to the buildup of saline and alkaline conditions. What makes Lake Rukwa particularly distinctive is its dramatic hydrological variability. Over the 20th century, the lake expanded and contracted significantly in response to shifting rainfall and river inflows, ranging from 48 kilometers in length in 1929 to over 180 kilometers today. Scientific studies have identified high concentrations of heavy metals such as mercury and lead in its waters and aquatic species, raising ecological concerns. Though largely off the beaten track, Lake Rukwa remains a fascinating site for travelers with a deep interest in Africa's rift valley geology, hydrology, and conservation challenges.

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Reviews of Lake Rukwa

Mark Bwalya

3
Reviewed: 2023-10-21

Good place for business only
Steven Charles

5
Reviewed: 2022-06-23

The lake Rukwa said to be the shallowest alkaline lake on the earth surface. The lake tends to be located at the epicenter of earth and passed up with the Greater lift Valley, Moreover the lake has uniqueness of accommodating a lots of aquatic species like Crocodiles, hippos, cat fishes any many more, and then huge frocks of birds like marabou storks, hibises, Pelecans, saddle billed, weavers, lapwing are always figured at the shores of the lake. Unlike other lakes in Tanzania lake Rukwa tend to be feeding up with smallest rivers but there is no water outlet. The lake Rukwa seemed to be very potentially for the tribes surrounding for many activities like fishing activities, farming activities, Riverstock, and many more. Moreover the lake contributes as much as visitors in Tourism sector, where by groups and individuals tourists with either domestic or international tourists give a visit entire a annually. for these cases the lake Rukwa became one of the best site for researchers and visitors all over the world. The lake Rukwa it's currently mentioned to have the deposit of helium gas approximation of 1.5 billion cubic meters.
Rashid Malekela

5
Reviewed: 2022-06-12

Very nice view
Calvin John (Lil_schonger)

5
Reviewed: 2020-03-14

Is place where people getting fish and sell it
Erick Kamuntu

5
Reviewed: 2018-01-21

A beautiful place to visit where you will have a chance to see crocodiles hippopotamus and other beautiful creatures fish etc