Lake Tanganyika
Zambia · Northern Province · 773 m
Description
Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world and the second deepest, and Zambia holds its southern tip around the port of Mpulungu. The water is clear enough to snorkel and holds hundreds of cichlid species found in no other lake, which made it a laboratory for the study of how species form. Nsumbu National Park runs along the shore with sandy bays, hippos and the occasional elephant coming down to drink. Kalambo Falls nearby drop over two hundred metres in a single uninterrupted plunge. The lake is far from everything else and reached by a long drive or a flight.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 3 to 7 days (optimal 4 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Snorkelling with endemic cichlids
- Kalambo Falls
- Nsumbu National Park shoreline
- Mpulungu port and the fish market
- MV Liemba ferry to Tanzania
- Sandy bays and lakeside lodges
- Hippos and crocodiles on the shore
- Kalambo gorge and the marabou colony
- Fishing for Nile perch and kapenta
Getting there
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry