Lake Tanganyika

At Zambia’s northern tip, the Great Rift Valley holds a lake so long and deep it behaves like an inland sea. Lake Tanganyika is shared by four countries, but its southern shore — clear water, sandy coves, rocky headlands and empty beaches — belongs to Zambia.

Why go

• The water. Clear, warm and fresh, with excellent visibility — ideal for diving, snorkelling, kayaking and swimming.
• The fish. Lake Tanganyika is home to hundreds of species of cichlid fish, most of them found nowhere else on earth: a freshwater reef of colour and behaviour.
• The remoteness. Few travelers make it this far north. You can have a bay, a dive site or a mountain trail entirely to yourself.
• The contrast. After days in the bush, a few nights on the lake are the perfect way to end a Zambian journey.

Diving and snorkelling

Diving in Lake Tanganyika is unlike anywhere else in Africa: freshwater, often excellent visibility, dramatic rocky slopes and shoals of endemic cichlids, many of them guarding nests and young. Certified divers can explore a range of sites with experienced local guides; snorkellers see a great deal from the surface in the shallows. The lake sits at around 770 metres above sea level, so dives are planned as altitude dives. See scuba diving in Zambia — including how to learn in Lusaka before you go.

Fishing, hiking and water sports

• Fishing — the lake is known for hard-fighting fish, from tigerfish to its own species of giant perch. Catch-and-release is encouraged.
• Hiking — escarpment trails above the lake give huge views across the water to Tanzania and the Congo.
• Water sports — kayaking, paddleboarding and boat trips along the shore and to remote coves.
• Kalambo Falls — on the border with Tanzania, one of Africa’s highest single-drop waterfalls and an important archaeological site.
• Nsumbu National Park — wild lakeshore wilderness with beaches, bays and recovering wildlife.

Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company

We are opening up the Zambian shore of Lake Tanganyika with our sister company, the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company: scuba diving, fishing, mountain hikes and water sports with expert guides and instructors who know the lake intimately. Message us to plan a lake trip on its own or as the finale to a safari.

Full disclosure: the Zambian Outdoor Adventure Company (ZOAC) is Safari.today’s sister company. We recommend it because we know its guides and sites first-hand — and we’ll always tell you when another operator suits you better.

When to go

The dry season, from about May to October, brings calm, clear conditions and is the most popular time to visit. Water is warm year-round. The rains, roughly November to April, bring storms and rougher water on some days, and some roads become harder going.

Getting there

The Zambian lakeshore is centred on the port town of Mpulungu, in Northern Province. Most travelers fly from Lusaka to the region and continue by road; others drive the scenic Great North Road over several days. We arrange transfers as part of your trip.

Good to know

As with all of Africa’s great lakes, take local advice before swimming at any spot: dive and swim only where your guides recommend. Lake Tanganyika is in a malaria area — talk to a travel health clinic before you go.

Frequently asked questions