Africa's Top 3 Deepest Lakes

Africa is home to some of the largest, deepest, and all-round awe-inspiring lakes in the world. Most of the major lakes on the African continent are part of what is known as Africa’s “Great Lakes”. These are a series of lakes that lie along the East African Rift Valley and connect with both the Nile and Congo rivers.

Here is a list, in order of depth, of Africa’s deepest lakes that are home to several unique aquatic species and offer unrivaled holiday experiences for travellers to Africa.

1. Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika is not only the longest lake in the world (673 kilometres), but it’s also the second-deepest (1,470 metres) after Russia’s Lake Baikal. It’s also one of the oldest, dating back to 13 million years. The lake straddles the borders of Tanzania, Burundi, Congo DR, and Zambia.

Considered one of the most biologically unique habitats in the world, Tanganyika is home to an exceptional diversity of fish, supporting more than 250 species of cichlids – 98% of which aren’t found anywhere else in the world. There are also about 75 non-cichlid fish species in the lake. The fish from Tanganyika is exported throughout East Africa and beyond. The lake’s warm blue waters make it an excellent destination for diving and snorkeling. Bird watching is also superb at Tanganyika.

Over 250 species of cichlid fish live in the lake and 98% of these are endemic, meaning it has the highest number of endemic cichlid of any lake in Africa. The cichlid genera has multiple variations and Lake Tanganyika offers snorkelers and scuba divers an extremely diverse diving experience. Colorful, gleaming fish can be seen all over the Lake and charters to explore these areas are available from many of the lodges and camps dotted along the water’s edge.

To fully explore the area there are plenty of options. From kayaking along its shores and islands, to quad biking in the hills around your lodge and even boarding a reinstated WW1 German auxiliary warship (MV Liemba) to travel from port to port. Every day presents a new opportunity to see more of this beautiful area. Then end each day sipping on a cocktail whilst watching the sun dip below the horizon over the lake.

2. Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa or Niassa

Located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania, Lake Malawi is the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system and is the third-largest in Africa. A part of the Malawian section of the lake was turned into a national park, while the Mozambican portion was declared a reserve in 2011.

Lake Malawi is home to 800 to 1,000 species of fish – the largest fish population of any lake in the world. There are numerous fishing villages around this vast body of water, where many people benefit economically from the lake.

Legend has it that when the explorer David Livingstone arrived on the shores of Lake Malawi, he observed thousands of lanterns on fishing boats shimmering across the vast expanse of water, and called it "The Lake of Stars". Today you might not find quite as many fishing craft on the enormous, freshwater lake, but you will find hundreds of colourful cichlids flitting beneath the gin-clear water, crescents of golden-sand beaches and a smattering of idyllic lodges cocooned on the shoreline. Snorkelling, diving, boating and kayaking are all on offer to pass your days, or you can simply sit back and gaze at the sun-dappled lake in all its calm, serene and peaceful glory.

Every year, the lake attracts hordes of local and international tourists who visit the charming palm-fringed beaches on the shores of the lake. Just like all the best places, Lake Malawi can be a little taxing to reach. Roads are bumpy, the journey by car is long, and flights can be expensive. But if you’re booking a safari package that includes Zambia or Zim, costs can be reduced, so don’t let the access to this paradise of a lake put you off.

3. Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu lies in Central Africa on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, covering a surface area of over 2700 square kilometres. This fresh lake is believed to be one to five million years old, and has a depth of 485 metres. What’s fascinating is that the great lake contains high amounts of methane and carbon dioxide in the depth of its waters.

Running for almost 100kms along the Congolese border, Kivu takes its place among the 20 deepest and 20 most voluminous freshwater bodies in the world. With no hippos or crocodiles and crystal clear, clean water, it is also one of the safest lakes in Africa. Rubavu (also known as Gisenyi) is a waterfront town located on the shores of Lake Kivu and at only an hour away from Volcanoes National Park, Rubavu is a great place to unwind after Gorilla Trekking adventures. Here you can sit on the beach, watch fishing boats plying the water, find interesting villages to explore, as well as see amazing birdlife set amongst true peace and tranquillity.

It is also one of the world’s only 3 known exploding lakes; it’s not going to happen today though, so no need to worry. Further economic importance derives from the lake’s estimated 65 billion m3 of dissolved methane gas which is extracted to run boilers at the Bralirwa brewery in Gisenyi.

Sitting on its shores, the resort towns of Cyangugu, Kibuye and Gisenyi are ideal rest and recreation transit points between the primate tracking destinations of Nyungwe Forest and the Volcanoes National Park.

It’s also home to 31 species of fish, including Nile Tilapias, Lake Rukwa Minnows and various types of catfish. Fish that serve as a popular source of food for locals is the Tanganyika sardine. The lake empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika.