Katwe Salt Lake is a hypersaline lake located in kasese district, southwestern Uganda. the lake is situated in the famous queen Elizabeth national park. This lake was formed by volcanic explosions about 8,000 years ago creating several crater lakes that are rich in minerals. Lake Katwe posses cultural and historical stories from many generations of people that have visited and engaged in salt mining. The lake is a salt mining hub serving a number of countries across Africa.
Tourism activities at Katwe Salt Lake
There are a number of tourism activities that takes place every day at the Katwe Salt Lake that includes;
Salt mining tour experience
Many travelers and researchers visit the area to interact with the locals that are fully engaged in the salt mining activity. The locals experiment salt extraction techniques with their traditional methods that involve separating the blocks from the bottom of the lake to allow evaporating water from the lake to obtain salt crystals. The salt mining first activity is made by local men who make all efforts to prepare the blocks with wood.
During a visit to lake Katwe, visitors learn the process of preparing crude salt to refine salt that is ready for human consumption. The crude salt can be used to boast livestock healthy where cows and other animals are supplied this sort to lick on it.
Salt mining is an economic activity to the locals that stays around the Katwe community helping them financially after selling salt to other countries that export salt.
Bird viewing
Lake Katwe offers sightings of a lot of birds because of the salty waters. The area receives migratory birds every season making it a birding spot, you will view birds such as flamingos, African skimmer, sand piper, little stint, gull billed tern, avocet, African jacana, sacred ibis, marabou stork, gray crowned heron, saddle billed stork, common squacco heron and so much more.
Community tour
The area has a rich cultural community that consists of the bakingwe people that have stayed in the area trading salt for food to neighboring communities of congo. Visitors will enjoy nature walks and cultural or traditional dances and songs.
Wildlife viewing
Visiting lake Katwe in queen Elizabeth national park provides an opportunity to see lots of animals like warthogs, buffalos, elephants, leopards, lions, water bucks, hippos, Uganda Kobs, mongoose, bushpigs and reptiles like crocodiles and monitor lizards.
Photography taking
Visitors with cameras will engage in wildlife and birds’ photography and salt mining blocks and all the activities.
Formation of Katwe Salt Lake
The lake was formed by volcanic eruptions many years ago, located in a crater basin that occurs when heated gas explode massively creating a depression. The lake has a number of inlet water sources but has no out lets making it more saline. It is discovered that during dry season/hot temperatures causes a lot of evaporation creating salt rocks.
Other activities to do during a visit to Katwe Salt Lake
Boat cruise
Travelers visiting lake Katwe can engage in boat cruise on the Kazinga channel where you view birds such as pied kingfisher, malachite kingfisher, darters, pelicans, glossy ibis, African fish eagle, palm nut vultures and aquatic animals like otters.
Fishing activity at Kazinga channel
Tourists visit Kazinga channel and interact with fishermen to learn their methods of fishing with different types of boats and fish nets and the type of fish species caught during fishing.
Best time to visit Katwe Salt Lake
The Salt Lake is visited all year round whether during the dry season that starts from June, July, august and December, January, February or the rainy season that starts from September, October, November, April, march and may.