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Lake George, locally known as Lake Katunguru, is a beautiful lake in Uganda, covering a surface area of about 250 square kilometers. The lake is found among the African Great Lakes, even though it is not considered among them. It is, however, a small, shallow lake with about 2.4 meters of average depth.
Lake George drains its waters into Lake Edward through the Kazinga Channel and it was named after a British royal family member, Prince George, who later became King George V.
Although seldom noticed by the neighboring Lake Edward for its size, George Lake is a breathtaking attraction of its own, harboring a rich biodiversity. Lake Edward is found on the southwestern side of the lake.
Local communities around the lake include the Banyankole, Batooro, Basongora, and the Basongora.
Henry Murton Stanley was the first European explorer to discover the lake in 1875 during the trans African expedition to discover the River Katonga course from Lake Victoria. However, thinking that it was part of Lake Albert, Stanley named it the ‘Beatrice Gulf”. At first, he thought that the River Katonga was an extension of Lake Victoria.
Nonetheless, on his second visit in 1888, he discovered Lake Edward on his Emin Pasha exploration, and upon learning that it was an independent lake, he named Lake Edward and L. George separately.
However, the local people refer to the lake as “Lake Katunguru,” which means “onion,” because of its onion shape.
Three rivers and streams from the top of the Rwenzori Mountains feed L. George, and they include the rivers Rumi, Katonga, Mubuku, and Mpanga. Other rivers are the Nsonge from Rwenzori and the Dura from the northeast.
and it has three small, major islands. These major islands are Iranqara, Akika, and Kankuranga.
On March 4, 1988, L. George, Africa, became the first Ramsar Wetland Site of international importance to be established in Uganda due to its diverse wetland grass species.
Below, we look at more about Lake George in Queen Elizabeth Park.
Lake George is found in southwestern Uganda, in the western part of the Great Rift Valley. This small, shallow lake is found in Kasese District, rising at an altitude of 914 meters above sea level and it sits on the western branch of the Great Rift Valley. L. George is found in the Kasese District in western Uganda.
Lake George drains its waters into Lake Edward through the Kazinga stream. This 32-kilometer stream is one of the most important attractions near L. George and Queen Elizabeth NP, as it harbors various wildlife, including animals and birds.
The channel protects one of the largest Hippo populations in the world, i.e., about 3,000. Other animals to see on safari in Uganda in the region include antelopes, elephants, zebras, lions, the sitatunga antelope, and leopards, among others.
Kazinga is also home to various bird species that you can explore while on your safaris in Uganda around George Lake in Queen Elizabeth NP.
The rivers that flow into L.George include the River Rumi, the River Katonga, the River Mpanga, the River Mubuku, the River Nshongi from the Rwenzori ranges, and the Dura River from the north.
The animals at L. George are incredible to explore on your best safari in Uganda! You will watch some of them, including the sites of the Buffaloes, Nile Crocodiles, Elephants, Warthogs, and very many Antelope species like the sitatunga antelope, the Hippos, etc.
Other birds around L. George include African mourning doves, African skimmers, swamp nightjars, pink pelicans, great white pelicans, black-headed weavers, long-tailed kingfishers, African jacana, and the pied kingfisher, among others.
Water habitats like the papyrus swamp around the lake favor the stay of the water birds.
The various species of fish at L. George provide the opportunity for travelers to participate in fishing expeditions. Some of the common fish species at L. George include Nile Tilapia nilotica and Fish Thermo Cyclops, among others.
Other attractions at L. George include the vegetation found in the swamps of the northern lake shore, which is commonly the papyrus swamp that is home to some birds, like the most sought-after shoebill.
There are many Uganda safari activities to explore during your visit to L. George during your Uganda safaris and tours, as seen below.
Boat cruises on Kazinga are the most famous safari activity at a 32-kilometer stream that flows from L. George to Lake Edward.
Along this ride during your safari to Uganda, you will discover the breathtaking beauty of the Kazinga stream and all its present wildlife in the region.
On the other hand, you may also go canoeing, which will introduce you to the different fishing villages like Hamukungu for the best experience watching locals and fishermen catch, preserve, and sell fish. The most common being the Nile Tilapia.
A Kazinga stream experience will allow you to explore the different animals and birds in their natural habitat.
The dry season, from around June to September and December through February, is the best time to visit L. George. Animals usually come to drink from the lake on such hot days, thus attracting many of them to drink or bathe, thus attracting many animals for wildlife viewing.
There are important things to carry for your exploration of L. George in Queen Elizabeth NP and below, we look at them.
There are many safari lodges to stay in near the George Lake, and they include Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Loge Kasenyi Safari Camp, and Kasenyi Lake Retreat Lodge & Campsite.
You can also have George Lake camping adventures for more budget options around Queen Elizabeth NP.
Getting to The George Lake involves a Uganda safari tour to Queen Elizabeth NP and this can either be done by air or by road.
By road, the park is about 420 kilometers away from Kampala, taking a drive of approximately 5 to 6 hours through the Masaka Mbarara and the Bushenyi routes.
By air, you can set off from Entebbe International Airport or the Kajjansi Airfield to some airstrips that are closest to Queen Elizabeth NP, and these are Mweya, Kasese, and Ishasha. The Uganda domestic flight network also provides scheduled flights and chartered aircraft services to travelers. To travel by air, it takes about one to two hours.
Visitors to Queen Elizabeth NP also frequently visit Kibale National Park for chimpanzees and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorillas, all of which destinations are found in Western Uganda.
The George Lake is famous for its rich biodiversity, which is why, in 1988, it was declared Uganda’s first Ramsar site.
The first European explorer, Henry Murton Stanley, named Lake George after Prince George, who later became King George V, a British royal family member.
In conclusion, L. George, Africa, is an incredible tourist attraction in Queen Elizabeth National Park and one of the biodiverse great lakes of Uganda. It is one of the great biodiversity diversities of the park, offering amazing wildlife experiences on your Uganda safari tours. It protects the animals, birds, vegetation, and great scenery that you can see during a boat cruise on Kazinga Chanel or a canoe ride on the boats.
The professional team of our Uganda safari company can help in organizing your Uganda tour to visit L. George and other attractions in and around Queen Elizabeth Park.
Inquire and book your safari trip with us today!
Cate
Samuel
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