Lake Tanganyika, Zambia

Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world and the second deepest after Lake Baikal in Russia. The immense depth is because it lies in the Great Rift Valley, which also has created its steep shoreline. It has a depth of 4,700 feet. The clear waters host more than 350 different species of fish and is well known for excellent angling as well as aquarium fish exports.

Lake Tanganyika has a remarkably uniform temperature. The lower regions are only a mere three degrees colder than the surface. The reason for this strange phenomenon is yet to be discovered.

Lake Tanganyika boasts over 350 species of fish of which most are endemic. Lake Tanganyika is extremely old, and the combination of its age and ecological isolation has led to the evolution of unique fish populations. Regarded as one of the most biologically unique habitats on earth, Lake Tanganyika is also an evolutionary showcase due to its great age and stability. 98% of the lake’s cychlids (which comprise two-thirds of all the lake’s fish) are unique to Lake Tanganyika. Also endemic are all seven of its crabs, five out of the thirteen bivalve molluscs, more than half of its gastropod molluscs and eleven of its thirty three copepod crustaceans.

Sport fishing is very popular here and catches include the Goliath Tigerfish and Nile Perch. Crocodiles inhabit most of the shoreline, except around Mpulungu. Swimming in the Mpulungu area of the lake is an absolute treat. Warm, clear, salt free water that changes from silky stillness, to high waves for a great body surf – usually with no apparent reason for the change – lend themselves to a romantic experience for those who do things together.

If you would like more information about visiting Lake Tanganyika, please call Zambia Tourism Agency at +260 211 229087 or email at info@zambia.travel