Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa. It measures 59,947 km² (23,146 sq mi) and it borders the countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The lake is home to endemic fish species that are found nowhere else, including several hundred cichlid species. Other animals that can be seen in and around the lake include hippopotamus, various otter species, marsh mongoose, sitatunga, bohor reedbuck, defassa waterbuck, cane rats, several turtle species and Nile crocodiles.

Lake Victoria was named after Queen Victoria, but it is locally known as Ukerewe in Swahili, Nam Lolwe in Dholou, Nnalubaale in Luganda and Nyanza in Kinyarwanda.

Some of the most important cities and towns on the shores of Lake Victoria include Kisumu and Homa Bay in Kenya; Musoma, Mwanza and Bukoba in Tanzania and Entebbe and Jinja in Uganda. The Ssese Islands are located in the northwest of the lake.