Exploring the Crater Lakes in Kibale National Park
Exploring the Crater Lakes in Kibale National Park
Crater Lakes in Kibale National Park are magnificent natural features formed by volcanic processes and attract a lot of travelers. Kibale National Park is a tropical rainforest in the western region near Fort Portal and Kasese in Uganda. It is about 350km from Kampala and takes a 6-hour drive to reach the park. It is popular for its primate species that inhabit the forests. These include chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, galagos, bushbabies, and many others. You can also see other animals like Elephants, Warthogs, Pottos, Pangolins, and various bird species among others. Kibale National Park has a collection of several crater lakes within the park premises in the area within the Rift Valley region. This is also famous as the Ndali-Kasenda crater region. It provides great scenic views and camping grounds for visitors on a safari in Kibale National Park.
Where to Find the Ndali Carter Lakes
You find the Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes near the Kibale National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park approximately 25km south of Fort Portal. Some Crater lakes in Ndali-Kasenda are full of clear water, and others with sulphuric water which is green in color. This color is because of the continuity of the volcanic activity below the lake. Meanwhile, other lakes have toxic and smelly waters. Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes are the natural paradise in Kibale National Park. They have a viewpoint on an elevated area that is higher than the surrounding landscape. This scenery is popular as the ‘Top of the World’. It is between Kibale, Kamwenge, and Ndali roads which provide great scenic views of Kibale National Park. You can also see Mountain Rwenzori, Lake George, tea plantations, and Kichwamba escarpment in the Rift Valley among others.
Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes harbor fertile soils used for agriculture by the local communities surrounding the water bodies. This favors the growing of Arabica coffee which has supported agro-tourism.
Formation of Kibale Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes
Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes are very old volcanic features that were formed many years ago about 10000. The process is popular as vulcanicity led to their formation. It involves a violent volcanic eruption which leads to blowing off the surface. This results in pouring back the ash, lava, and debris around the depression. Hence, there’s the creation of an explosion crater that realms of ash and lava bound. When the rainwater fills the depressions, they become crater lakes like Lake Katwe. Those that drain water or do not retain it tend to remain as mere depressions.
Crater Lakes in Ndali-Kasenda Kibale National Park
Lake Nkuruba
This is one of the ancient and great crater lakes in Kibale National Park. It is 25km south of Fort Portal town in western Uganda. The lake lies around the beautiful landscape of the Rwenzori Mountains and Kibale National Park. The indigenous forest surrounds Lake Nkuruba and it supports an abundance of wildlife. Deforestation has not affected its surroundings hence making it a unique area. Lake Nkuruba has a nature reserve that acts as a community conservation project. It helps the local community to have progressive education by funding the schools in the community.
The beautiful lake offers walking safaris to the forests and neighboring lakes by use of local boats. Boats are the only transport means on the lake. You can also visit Mahoma Falls, see various explosion craters, take great photos, and enjoy the primate species. These include the Red colobus monkeys, Black and White monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, and Vervet monkeys. You can spot different bird species and other animals like banded mongoose, and squirrels among others. Lake Nkuruba Natural Reserve provides a ground for camping with beautiful views for visitors to relax while on the safari.
Lake Nyabikere
Also translated as the Lake of the Frogs in the local language, Lake Nyabikere is 11km and 100 meters distance from Fort Portal main road and 18km to Kibale National Park. It is a 30-minute drive on Kamwenge Road and the closest lake to Fort Portal town. Therefore, it is possible to walk from Lake Nyabikere to Lake Nkuruba passing via Nyamirima crater lake. Alternatively, you can use the local fishing boats to transfer you from one lake to another.
The lake offers beautiful scenery in the area. You can take part in bird watching through the walking trail around the lake. Other things to do include guided community walks through the nearby villages. Visitors will have an encounter with the village people, and taste their different dishes, and fruits among others. Nyabikere has a friendly lodge-like Rweteera safari lodge where the visitors on a safari will stay, relax, and have a great scenic view of the lake.
Lake Nyinambuga
This is a crater lake in the Kibale Ndali-Kasenda which you find a few kilometers south of Lake Nkuruba. Nyinambuga Lake has the most spectacular water bodies with blue and green water. The surrounding forests in the park give stunning views of nature. Lake Nyinambuga also appears at the back of the twenty thousand shillings note of Uganda. This makes it a unique and beautiful lake in the National Park because of its clean waters. The lush vegetation surrounding the lake harbors primate species, birds, butterflies, and animal species. On Lake Nyinambuga Ridge it’s where you find the popular Ndali Lodge which is the best lodge in the area that offers great scenic views, comfortable beds, quality services inform of meals and drinks for the visitors to feel at home while on the safari.
Lake Lyantonde
This crater Lake is on the west of Lake Nyinambuga and is the most convenient Crater Lake in the Kibale Ndali-Kasenda craters. Lake Lyantonde offers activities like hiking which gives you a wonderful experience that supplements the chimpanzee tracking activity while on the safari in Kibale National Park. The Crater Lake features the Papaya Lodge which offers a wide range of activities to visitors who want to explore Kibale National Park. From here, you can do chimpanzee tracking, chimpanzee habituation experience, and birding among others, and the papaya lodge.
Lake Kifuruka
This Crater Lake is west of Lake Nyinambuga before reaching Lake Lyantonde 24km from Fort Portal. Lake Kifuruka offers several activities including walking excursions, canoeing, fishing, and bird watching among others. This gives a beautiful scenic view of the terrain and the forest. The lake has a community-owned eco-lodge that offers visitors an opportunity to explore the Kibale Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes and Kibale National Park by providing a calm, cool, and comfortable environment for the visitors to chill and relax while on the safari.
Ndali-Kasenda has other crater lakes which include Lake Nyamasagari, lake Ntambi, lake Mubiro, lake Nyanswiga, and Lake Nyinabulitwa among others.
Activities carried out on Kibale Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes
Bird watching
Kibale National Park is home to over 350 bird species and some of the bird species. You can find them near the water bodies in Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes and in the forests that surround these water bodies. Visitors who love birds will be able to spot different bird species while on the safari on the lakes. These include the Great blue Turaco, Black-and-White casqued hornbill, Olive long-tailed cuckoo, Western tinker bird, Pittas, Papyrus gonolek, White-winged Warbler, and Grey parrot among others.
Primate watching
Kibale National Park harbors 13 primate species. Therefore, visitors on the safari in the Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes will view some of these primates. For example, the 4 primate species that one can view around Lake Nkuruba include Red colobus monkeys, Black and White colobus monkeys, Red tailed monkeys and Vervet monkeys, Chimpanzees, and some animals like Elephants, Warthogs among others which make safari in Kibale Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes more interesting and exciting.
Nature walks/hiking
Unlike the Crater Lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can explore the crater lakes in Kibale Ndali-Kasenda can be explored on foot. You can take a hike to the top of the world which offers great views of the Rwenzori Mountains, the crater lakes, tea plantations, Kibale National Park, and Lake George among others. There are guided nature walks around Nyinabulitwa Crater Lake to a forest tree house where visitors will be able to view different wildlife species like primates, animals, birds, and landscapes among others. It also provides walking opportunities to the community villages around the lakes. You explore and experience different cultures, traditions, and dishes. Also, you can interact with the local people in the village and visit the tea and coffee plantations. Additionally, you learn the local process of producing coffee powder.
Swimming
Most crater lakes in Kibale Ndali-Kasenda are free from bilharzia. This makes them safe for swimming for visitors who want to take part in swimming while on the safari. However, the visitors are advised not to just jump into any crater lake because some give off a sulphuric smell and are characterized by the green toxic water. For example, Lake Nyabikere, and Lake Nyinambaga among others.
Cycling
Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes offers guided cycling activities to visitors who want to move around the lakes on bikes. The guides offer help to the visitors by showing them the trails to the lakes, and neighboring communities. They help you to spot different primates, animals, and bird species while on your cycling activity. This makes the cycling safari more exciting and memorable for the visitors.
Cycling Safari near Ndali Crater Lakes
There are other activities like Sportfishing on some crater lakes like Lake Kifuruka and Canoeing. This is the only means of transport for people who want to move from one Crater Lake to another. This gives you great and memorable experiences while on the safari.
Therefore exploring the Kibale Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes gives you wonderful adventure experiences with unforgettable memories on your safari in Kibale National Park located in southwestern Uganda. Contact Safari Vacations and Travel Services for a memorable tour of the crater lakes. Start by filling out the form below.
