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Best lake destinations in Africa

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Malawi
Africa's warm heart with lakes
7.0
Running about 360 miles along the borders of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, Lake Malawi reaches depths of 2,316 feet. It holds at least 700 cichlid species and more fish species than any other lake in the world. Lake Malawi National Park protects the southern end. Snorkelling over colourful fish is a highlight.
Highlights:
  • 🏔️ Hike to the summit of Mount Mulanje for stunning views
  • 🦁 Spot elephants and lions on safari in Liwonde National Park
  • 🤿 Snorkel or dive in the crystal waters of Lake Malawi
Kenya
Safari paradise meets coastal charm
6.6
Wind, heat and turquoise water define Lake Turkana, nicknamed the Jade Sea. The lake is up to 180 miles long and is the world's largest permanent desert lake. Nile crocodiles are abundant and Central Island steams with volcanic vapour. UNESCO listed the area in 1997. It is a two-day drive from Nairobi.
Highlights:
  • 🦁 Go on a Big Five safari in Amboseli National Park
  • 🏔️ Climb Mount Kenya and enjoy panoramic alpine views
  • 🦓 Witness the Great Migration across the Maasai Mara plains
Rwanda
Land of a thousand hills
7.7
After days of trekking, travellers wind down on the shores of Lake Kivu at 4,790 feet. Gisenyi and Kibuye are the main lakeside towns on the Rwandan side. The KivuWatt project extracts methane from the deep water to make electricity. The lake is about 1,575 feet deep at its deepest.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the beaches of scenic Lake Kivu
  • 🌳 Explore Nyungwe Forest and walk the canopy trail
  • 🦍 Trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
Uganda
Pearl of Africa's diverse landscapes
7.1
Only Lake Superior is larger than Lake Victoria among freshwater lakes. The Nile leaves the lake at Jinja. In the southwest Lake Bunyonyi has 29 islands and a name meaning Place of many little birds. It lies about four miles from Kabale at roughly 6,400 feet.
Highlights:
  • 🦓 Take a safari across the vast savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • 🐘 Watch hippos and elephants along the Kazinga Channel
  • 🦍 Trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to meet mountain gorillas
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wild heart of Central Africa
5.9
Idjwi, the world's tenth-largest lake island, lies in Lake Kivu, which is 475 metres deep. About 58 percent of the lake's water is on the Congolese side. Parts of eastern Congo face armed conflict and Goma was captured by the M23 group in January 2025. Check current travel advisories first.
Highlights:
  • 🐒 Visit the Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary near Kinshasa
  • 🦍 Go gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park
  • 🌋 Trek the active lava lake at Mount Nyiragongo
Tanzania
Wild safaris meet tropical beaches
7.7
Ujiji, on Lake Tanganyika, is where Henry Morton Stanley met David Livingstone in 1871. Swahili traders had made it the end of a long caravan route. The lake is the world's longest freshwater lake at about 418 miles. It is the second deepest after Lake Baikal. Kigoma is the main port.
Highlights:
  • 🐘 Explore wildlife in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
  • 🦁 Go on a safari in Serengeti National Park
  • 🗻 Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak
Ethiopia
Ancient cultures meet diverse landscapes
5.5
Travellers wrote of island monasteries on Lake Tana as early as the 1600s. Ura Kidane Mehret and Narga Selassie still hold painted churches. Ferries run from Bahir Dar, the lake's main city. The lake lies at 5,866 feet and is the main source of the Blue Nile.
Highlights:
  • 🐒 Hike in the Simien Mountains and spot grazing gelada monkeys
  • 🔥 Stand at the edge of the Danakil Depression, one of Earth’s hottest places
  • ⛪ Explore the ancient rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
Zambia
Wild safaris meet thundering waterfalls
7.1
Siavonga, on the Zambian shore of Lake Kariba, looks over the world's largest reservoir by volume. The lake filled between 1958 and 1963 and stretches about 139 miles. Elephants, hippos and crocodiles live along the shoreline. Fish eagles call overhead. Tigerfish attract anglers from around the world.
Highlights:
  • ⛵ Drift along the Zambezi River on a sunset cruise
  • 🦁 Take a safari in South Luangwa National Park
  • 🌊 Experience the thunderous spray of Victoria Falls up close
Lake Nakuru
Vibrant wildlife reflections over crystal waters
Created in 1961, the national park around this lake covers about 73 square miles. The shallow alkaline water often hosts more than a million flamingos. More than 400 bird species live in and around the park. The lake is protected under the Ramsar Convention and lies at about 5,750 feet.
Highlights:
  • 🚶‍♂️ Hike to the scenic viewpoint overlooking crater lake
  • 🦩 Witness thousands of flamingos flocking around crater rim
  • 🏞️ Cruise the turquoise waters of Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Assal
Salt‑rich waters reflecting desert horizons
Blinding white salt crusts rim the turquoise water of Lake Assal. At 509 feet below sea level it is the lowest point on land in Africa. The water is about ten times saltier than the sea. Air temperatures reach 126 degrees Fahrenheit from May to September. It lies about 75 miles west of Djibouti city.
Highlights:
  • 🧂 Visit the nearby salt mining village to learn traditional extraction techniques
  • 🏊‍♂️ Swim in the hypersaline waters and experience floating effortlessly
  • 🌅 Walk across the shimmering white salt flats at sunrise
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