There’s one area of Africa that we’ve all studied in school, but most of us will have noticed how interesting it seems to be: it’s the Great Lakes area. Yes, in an area so close to the equator, the fact that there are large water formations like these is something surprising and worth visiting. So if you are in Tanzania, you have the opportunity to visit one of them, the biggest one which is Lake Victoria. If you want to know more about this place, keep reading, it’s very interesting.
Tanzania is one of those countries that stands out for its safaris. It may sound like a cliché, but the poorest countries in Africa have and must find some way to survive, and they economically exploit what they can. Of course, those who don’t have a beach must find some way to exploit tourism, and then safaris are set up. Luckily, Tanzania has the complete package, as it also has wonderful beaches, in case you want to rest.
The Great Lakes Region
One of the main characteristics of Tanzania is its sheer size. To give you an idea, it is almost twice as big as Spain. Because of this, it is very difficult to condense a good vacation into a couple of weeks, if you want to see everything, but if we organize ourselves well, and we can afford it, we can divide the time in a tourism next to the coast, and spend a few days doing safaris in the interior of the country.
Lake Victoria is the largest formation of its kind in the region. And it’s the only one we can find in Tanzania. But you can also go on an excursion to this site if you go to Uganda or Kenya, only the extension is much smaller. This lake has always appeared in history, and even in literature, because it is one of the sources of the Nile, a mystery that they wanted to solve since Antiquity – Herodotus, the father of history, tries to look for the source in person, but he does not get here.
Really, an excursion to this lake can be a wonderful idea, because there seems to be no end. It is the second largest freshwater lake on planet Earth, behind Lake Superior in the United States. However, the ecosystem of the African lake is in great danger due to the footprint of man. Can the 30 million people who live around the lake be blamed? The truth is that in countries as poor as Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania, living so close to a source of fresh water – even if it is not very pure – is something that may seem like a luxury.
And most people see the lake as a source of life, a place where they can fish for food, where they can cool off in the oppressive midday sun, and where they could even make money by taking tourists who want to take a walk around. This causes fish exports to increase, new species to be introduced, and the ecosystem to vary to the point of not being able to sustain the life of the different species and the biodiversity that inhabits here.
There are many environmental organizations that are fighting so that it is not too late to save the lake. In this way, one of the best options if we visit Tanzania, is to spend a couple of days on a safari nearby, and see this wonderful lake when it still harbors some life. The people in the area are very friendly to tourists, and in exchange for a few coins, they will be able to guide you wherever you want. However, it is best to go with the official guide, for greater safety.
