Region: Kilimanjaro
Access: By road
Attractions: Lake Chala, savannah
Activities: Kayaking, walking safari, birdwatching, hiking
Accommodation: Available nearby
Best time to visit: All year round
Lake Chala is believed to be a caldera of a volcanic eruption that occurred millions of years back. What is left now is a beautiful lake surrounded by a lush green forest
Lake Chala is a crater lake that is found in Tanzania – near the Tanzania-Kenya border in Taveta, Kilimanjaro. The lake can be found after a steep hike of about 20 minutes down a 150-meter-high crater rim and its water is fed by underground springs from Mount Kilimanjaro – disсhаrgеd аt аbоut 10 milliоn m³/yеаr – hence making the water safe and fresh for swimming (though not permitted), kayaking, and other related activities. Through further subsurface systems, Chala in turn supplies the waters of Lake Jipe, which is around 30 kilometers away
Lake Chala is believed to be a caldera of a volcanic eruption that occurred millions of years back. However, all that is left now is a beautiful lake surrounded by a lush green forest, where a variety of monkeys and birds may be seen in profusion
Depending on the season, the color of the lake varies from deep blue to turquoise and green. The only native fish in this lake is the Lake Chala tilapia (Oreochromis hunteri), which is found nowhere else in the world. It is considered critically endangered and is now greatly outnumbered by other tilapia species that have been introduced to Lake Chala
In the 1930s, Lake Chala saw the introduction of crocodiles. It is said that E.S. Grogan, a renowned British explorer who walked from Cape Town to Cairo in 1898, brought them to the lake. However, the terrain of Lake Chala is not at all suitable for crocodiles to reproduce as there are no beaches or sandy areas for them to build their nests. Currently, there are no crocodiles found in Lake Chala
Lake Chala is a crater lake that is found in Tanzania – near the Tanzania-Kenya border in Taveta, Kilimanjaro. The lake can be found after a steep hike of about 20 minutes down a 150-meter-high crater rim and its water is fed by underground springs from Mount Kilimanjaro – disсhаrgеd аt аbоut 10 milliоn m³/yеаr – hence making the water safe and fresh for swimming (though not permitted), kayaking, and other related activities. Through further subsurface systems, Chala in turn supplies the waters of Lake Jipe, which is around 30 kilometers away
Lake Chala is believed to be a caldera of a volcanic eruption that occurred millions of years back. However, all that is left now is a beautiful lake surrounded by a lush green forest, where a variety of monkeys and birds may be seen in profusion
Depending on the season, the color of the lake varies from deep blue to turquoise and green. The only native fish in this lake is the Lake Chala tilapia (Oreochromis hunteri), which is found nowhere else in the world. It is considered critically endangered and is now greatly outnumbered by other tilapia species that have been introduced to Lake Chala
In the 1930s, Lake Chala saw the introduction of crocodiles. It is said that E.S. Grogan, a renowned British explorer who walked from Cape Town to Cairo in 1898, brought them to the lake. However, the terrain of Lake Chala is not at all suitable for crocodiles to reproduce as there are no beaches or sandy areas for them to build their nests. Currently, there are no crocodiles found in Lake Chala
You may take a serene boat ride across the lake or explore the lush greenery on a nature hike. If you’re feeling adventurous, kayaking and canoeing may offer you a more thrilling experience
Interesting facts about Lake Chala
- At 98 metres deep, Lake Chala is actually deeper than Lake Victoria
- Subject to clear weather, one can see Mount Kilimanjaro from Lake Chala
- Due to fresh streams’ supply of water underground, the water colour varies from green, turquoise to deep blue
- Lake Chala has a rare tilapia fish species – Oreochromis hunteri, which is found nowhere else in the world
- Lake Chala is a feeder lake to a nearby Lake Jipe
Getting to Lake Chala
Lake Chala is found just 10km from the Himo junction on the B1 highway in Kilimanjaro. One may drive, board a bus, or take a flight to Kilimanjaro then use a car or motorcycle to get to Lake Chala. The road is tarmacked for most part and even on the gravel surface, the road is good enough for cars of any size to get there. Being near to other major towns, Lake Chala can be easily explored as a day-trip
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