Lake Albert was originally called Lake Mwitanzige and Nam Ovoyo by the indigenous population. It was also known as Lake Mobutu Sese Seko. The lake straddles the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the Ugandan part of the Rift Valley.

British explorer Sir Samuel Baker is thought to have been the first European to see the lake in 1864. He named it after prince consort Albert.

Early in the morning local fishers set out on the lake and they are back several hours later with their catch. A good place to watch them returning is the town of Butiaba. If you drive there from Masindi, the area around the Albertine Escarpment offers some spectacular views over Lake Albert and the Blue Mountains on the other side, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Several towns along Lake Albert offer accommodation. Butiaba is 215 km northwest of Kampala and can be reached via Masindi or Wanseko.