Boat Cruises on Lake Victoria

Boat Cruises on Lake Victoria

When it comes to Tanzania safaris, most people eye a game drive in the Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Crater. These famous parks in the North are known for their unique wildlife appeal, from the wildebeest migration to the Big Five and aerial adventures, such as hot air balloon safari and helicopter safari. In this article, we feature boat rides on this large freshwater lake. Let’s dive in.

Lake Victoria is named in honor of Queen Victoria of Britain. Before that name, this lake had a name “Nyanza,” which means sea in Sukuma. What’s important is not the name but the beauty that you can find on this wonderful lake, not to mention its rich freshwater fish species.

The lake is so massive that it’s shared by the three countries: Kenya (6%), Tanzania (49%), and Uganda (45%). You can take an excursion from any of the three countries sharing the lake. In this article, we discuss boat cruising from the Tanzanian side.

What can you experience on a boat cruise?

You’re probably thinking of ‘what’s new with this experience?’ and ‘why you should embark on a boat cruise on Lake Victoria. But we can tell there’s magic in this peaceful adventure. Here are some unique experiences while you’re cruising the largest freshwater lake in Africa.

Exploring islands.

Lake Victoria is home to some of the freshwater islands. Humans inhabit some, a few by wildlife, and the rest are uninhabited. Which island you should explore depends on where you’re taking the ride from. Most boat rides starting from Mwanza City always go to Saanane Island.

Saanane is, of course, Africa’s smallest island park. It’s within easy reach of this ‘Rock City,’ just 15 minutes by boat. People come here to explore animals, such as impalas, zebras, dik-diks, and monkeys like De Brazza and vervet. There’s also a lion and a lioness enclosed in a well-protected den.

Another island is Rubondo, which is a 4-hour boat ride from Mwanza. This one is big and packed with many wildlife species, say, chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes, sitatunga, hippos, and crocodiles. Forest strolls are even more meaningful with frequent encounters with our closer cousins.

Other islands worth mentioning include Ukara and Ukerewe. The former is inhabited by the Kara people, and it’s the place where you’ll find the dancing stone. The latter is home to the Kerewe and, of course, the administrative districts of the Mwanza region. Both have rich cultures. You can sail with local fishermen on their daily fishing trip.

Scenic views.

Think crystal-clear waters that run forever as you leave the shore. Imagine those tilapia species jumping out of the water, then back into it. All these experiences… and scenes make your trip stick in the memory. The scene is even more dramatic with a sunset dhow cruise.

As the sun dips in the waters, a mix of hues – orange, red, and pink paints the lake, creating a scenic background worth a photo. We bet you don’t forget your waterproof camera. Add the scenic forests you’ll find on some of the islands on Lake Victoria.

Sport fishing.

There’s a thrill in trapping your own fish with a simple hook. You put a bait on it and cast it in the water. If a fish tries to devour the bait, it gets hooked. Congrats, you’ve nailed it. With an abundance of fish species, sport fishing is exceptional on Lake Victoria. The most common ones include Nile perch and Nile tilapia. And you go on a real fishing trip with locals.

Watching water birds.

Aside from the waters, Lake Victoria has a good count of water birds, around 500 species. Expect to see great commorants, waterfowl, kingfishers, African fish eagles, grey-crowned crane, shoebill stork, weavers, and bee-eaters, to name just a few. Watching these avian species fly together is a unique, wonderful adventure. Some species are concentrated on the shoebill stork, making it teeming with beautiful birds.

The best time for boat cruises on Lake Victoria is.

Anytime of the year… Yes, but for a smooth boat excursion, we advise you to avoid wet months, including November, April, and May. It’s always raining day and night in April and May, but there’s calm weather in November.

Wrapping things up.

Whether you want it combined with wildlife adventures in the North, Focus East Africa Tours can cater to it. Our guides will take you on a locally-made dhow if you want to learn the ropes or whichever way you would like.