Lake Katwe is believed to have been formed more than 10,000 years ago, as a result of volcanicity. The famous area in Queen Elizabeth National Park has recently become a vibrant tourist attraction to learn about salt mining and visit the local community within its neighborhood.
More About Lake Katwe Queen Elizabeth
Lake Katwe is known for its substantial salt production, found in Kasese in the southwestern part of Uganda. It is right at the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and has been producing high-quality salt for many years.
Taking a trip to this lake offers an opportunity to learn about the skill of saltwater mining. You can as well as get a chance to directly interact with the salt miners, regarding their experience in salt mining.
Geographically, Lake Katwe is found within an explosion crater in the formerly active volcanic area. This is northeast of Lake Edward and southeast of Lake George. The lake is found in the small run-down town of Katwe on the outskirts of the park in the Kasese district. It covers an area of approximately 8 sqmi.
Its shores are lined with small ponds or pans of water from which salt is extracted from the bottom in a process called salt panning.
The water in this lake is 60% salty because the region is semi-arid and the soil doesn’t favor agricultural activities. Therefore the major economic activity here is salt mining and fishing in the nearby Lake Edward and George.
Salt has been extracted from this lake since the 13th Century. It’s mined from a small plot.
Activities Around the Lake
Visiting this site can add an extraordinary experience that can give you a real African experience of salt mining and living condition. You’re able to also interact with the local community and see how the whole activity is being undertaken.
For bird lovers, there is a lot to see here that you cannot see elsewhere. You can be able to spot the pied avocet, lesser flamingos, black terns, and black-winged stilt among others.
Visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park always complement their visit with a gorilla trekking safari in the nearby Bwindi Forest National Park or a chimpanzee trekking expedition in Kibale National Park. Others could opt for a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile to Murchison Falls.