Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake in the world; only Lake Superior in North America is larger. The lake is unusual for East Africa in many ways. She does not lie in a deep trough created by the Great Rift Valley, as do Lakes Tanganyika, Turkana, Malawi or Manyara, but rather sits in a shallow basin that rarely deepens more than 230 feet. Victoria is also a fresh water lake, unusual in an area where streams that travel through highly mineralized lavas feed most lakes, resulting in alkaline and undrinkable waters.

Lake Victoria was the object of European exploration in the 19th Century, as the source of the Nile became the object of heated debate and much conjecture. The famous British explorers, Burton and Speke set out in search of the magical 'source'. Speke claimed Lake Victoria, but Burton disagreed, and voluble debates were held in the Geographic Societies of Europe before Speke was proven correct.

This immense stretch of water is a fishery of huge potential, with its highly colorful Tilapia species and the introduced (1956) predatory Nile perch. The perch in fact is such a large and successful predator that the smaller tilapia are in some danger of extinction, and the perch now forms over 85% of the Lake's fish catch each year.

The Lake is surrounded by gently rolling, lush green hills that dip down into the deep blue waters of the Lake. The area is known for its scenic beauty and offers a stunning contrast to the yellow brown plains and semi desert savanna that surround it.

Copyright Melinda Rees of Eco-resorts