Crater Lakes At Queen Elizabeth National Park

Crater lakes can be found along the crater route in western Uganda; however, the crater lake trail also includes Kibale Forest Park and other areas on the foothills of Mount Rwenzori. They are scattered across the map of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The quantity of craters you observe will undoubtedly indicate that you are on the crater trail even though you won’t actually know when you are along it.

The crater lakes area of Katwe offers a wide range of tourism activities, including hiking, nature walks, biking, boating, reed boating, and fishing, among others. Even though some of these crater lakes are still spewing forth odorous sulphorous fumes, they are classified as extinct, thus an eruption is still a possibility. The Katwe crater lake, where salt is produced, the Bunyaruguru crater fields on the Lichwamba escarpment, and the Ndali- Kasenda crater fields closer to Kibale National Park are the three main crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

HOW DID THESE CRATER LAKES CREATED?

The volcanoes in Queen Elizabeth National Park are preserved remnants from earlier volcanic activity, which occurred roughly 8000 years ago. They actually come from violet volcanic activity that occurred on an extinct volcano or through a volcanic fissure. When lava under intense pressure blows off the surface of an extinct volcano, they are created. The lava and ash that blows further from the vent instead of constructing a volcanic cone forms a sizable basin that is encircled by a hostile environment of rock debris and lava. You may be familiar with the basins as the lovely, picturesque lakes that are stocked with water.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO AROUND THE CRATER LAKES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK?

A fascinating adventure that no visitor to Uganda wants to miss is the crater tour in the crater area of Queen Elizabeth National Park. In order to create enduring memories, you can add a lot of highly fascinating items to your queen Elizabeth package at the crater lakes;

1; KATWE CRATER LAKE.

North of the Mweya Peninsular is where you’ll find Katwe Crater Lake. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, the high points are found around the crater lakes in Katwe. From Kabatoro Gate and the Queens Pavillion, you can take a 27-kilometer-long spectacular crater drive through Katwe, which will allow you to see numerous large craters, elongated lakes, and other natural features. At first glance, you will appreciate the splendor of Queen Elizabeth National Park, from the rolling hills to the greenery that surrounds the crater lakes. You can also take in the sights of the wild animals along the way, including warthogs, elephants, and cape buffalo.

Along the crater drive, further sights include the panoramic view of the rift valley, the western rift valley and its escarpments, the mountains of the moon, lake George, lake Edward, and the Kazinga canal that connects the latter two lakes. You will be surprised by the prehistoric salt works in Katwe Salty Lake, and you will learn about authentic African culture through the miners’ tale and the irrefutable salt mining process. The Kitagata salt lake, which is fed by the Kitagata hot springs, is also something you’ll like.

BUNYARUGURU CRATERS.

Both saltwater and freshwater crater lakes can be found in the Bunyaruguru Craters, which lie south of Lake George. Located on the western side of Queen Elizabeth National Park are these Bunyaruguru craters.
The Kichwamba crater fields are another name for the Bunyaruguru crater field. This region of Bunyaruguru contains more than 20 craters. These craters can be located on the western rift valley’s Kichwamba escarpment, which is on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The majority of Bunyaruguru’s craters are covered in vegetation, however Lake Nkugute is a stunning water-filled crater that can be seen from the Kasese Mbarara highway. You can glimpse the trees of Queen Elizabeth National Park at Lake Nkugute. To be noted, the Bunyaruguru craters are known as a result of the discovery of volcanoes on a global scale, and they may help you experience nature and beauty in its purest form.

NDALI-KASENDA CRATER FIELD.

The Ndali-Kasenda crater field is another volcanic feature close to Queen Elizabeth National Park. One of Uganda’s densest crater fields is Ndali-Kasenda. The Ndali Kasenda craters can be explored on foot. Along the Ndali-Kasenda crater trail, you can enjoy mountain riding. A 3 hour guided hike through the crater region is the well-known Top of the World Crater Trail, where you can take in views of the Kibale Rainforest, the famed Moon Mountains, tea plantations, and more.

The Albertine region was originally a bubbling, volcanically active area many years ago, as shown by the 72 enormous basins spread over the equator. All of the information you have ever read, heard, or researched about this particular geographic history will come to life when you see these craters. Around the areas of Volcanoes National Park, the crater lakes extend to neighboring nations like Rwanda, such as lake Ruhondo and lake Burera.