Crater Lakes at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Crater lakes at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is dotted with beautiful crater lakes, creating a trail in the western part of Uganda. Travelers on a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari can take time to explore the crater lakes, engaging in different activities. Activities in and around crater lakes include nature walking, hiking, boating, biking, fishing, and many others.

What Are Crater Lakes and How Were They Formed?

Crater lakes are water bodies that are formed after volcanic explosion activity or simply a collapse during a volcanic eruption. Crater lakes are usually circular and steep-sided. Crater lakes at Queen Elizabeth National Park are as a result of volcanic activities believed to have occurred 8000 years ago. Because of the volcanic activity, crater lakes are formed when molten rock called lava, with many pressure blows of the surface of the extinct volcano and instead of forming a volcanic cone, the lava and ashes move from the vent thus forming a large basin, surrounded by harsh rock debris.

There are 3 crater lakes in the Queen Elizabeth National Park area, and they include Bunyaruguru crater, Katwe crater lake and the beautiful Ndali – Kasenda crater field.

Ndali – Kasenda Crater Field

Ndali – Kasenda crater is a beautiful crater area near Queen Elizabeth National Park, and is home to a number of crater lakes! The Ndali – Kasenda crater field is a 10km stretch dotted with many crater lakes. Exploring the Ndali –Kasenda crater field on foot, whilst on a hiking trail or simply nature walk is an amazing way to get to explore and see this beautiful masterpiece of nature. Mountain biking could also be enjoyed here. While at Ndali – Kasenda crater field you can take part in the famous and sought-after top of the world crater trail, which is a 3 hour guided walk through this area. You would be rewarded with sweeping views of Mountain Rwenzori, tea plantations and Kibale rain forest area. The Ndali – Kasenda Crater field is a good stop whilst to or from Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Katwe Crater Lakes

Katwe Crater Lakes is one of the crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park found in the northern Mweya Peninsula. The Katwe crater lakes are highly elevated, and exploring them while on a Katwe drive game drive which is a 27km trail from Kabatoro gate and the Queen’s Pavilion, rewards travelers with breathtaking views of the crater lakes. Taking the Katwe game drive trail rewards travelers who visit Uganda on a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari with not only great animal sightings of different wild game, but also breathtaking sights of the undulating hills, vegetation cover, the western rift valley and its escarpments, Mount Rwenzori, Lake George and Lake Edward, as well as the Kazinga Channel. The different animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park to look out for while on a Katwe trail include elephants, cape buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, and so much more.

The Katwe Crater Lake area also has the works of the Katwe Salty Lake, where mining for salt is done in the area.

Bunyaruguru Craters

Bunyaruguru Craters are one of the crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Bunyaruguru crater are located in the southern part of Lake George, in the western side of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Bunyaruguru Crater have saline and fresh water crater lakes. The Bunyaruguru Craters are over 20 in number, most of them found in the Kichwamba escarpment of the western rift valley, just at the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park. While many of the Bunyaruguru craters are filled with vegetation cover, it is important to note that Lake Nkugute in particular is not, and is a rewarding sight while on the Kasese – Mbarara highway.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a beautiful savanna national park of Uganda that attracts many travelers who visit Uganda every single year, irrespective of the season. Travelers who visit Uganda and include Queen Elizabeth National Park on their Uganda safari packages are rewarded with not only animal and bird sightings, but also with sweeping views of the different crater lakes in and around the park. Apart from the typical game drive safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, these crater lakes offer alternative activities and travelers feel that travelers get to have an all-around experience.