Lake George is a shallow, shining sheet of water in the middle of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and one of the few lakes in Africa that a safari game drive brushes right past. Herds of Uganda kob graze its northern plains, lions hunt the open grassland at Kasenyi, hippos crowd its channels, and fishing villages line its edge. It is both a wildlife lake and a working one, and that mix makes it unforgettable.
Together with its larger neighbour Lake Edward and the channel that joins them, Lake George forms the watery heart of the park. This page explains how the two lakes fit together and how to enjoy them.
The basics
- Size: about 250 square kilometres, roughly a tenth of the area of Lake Edward.
- Depth: very shallow, which makes the water warm, rich in nutrients and full of life.
- Location: entirely within Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda, in the Western Rift Valley.
- Feeder streams: it is fed by streams flowing from the Rwenzori Mountains.
- Outflow: it drains south-west into Lake Edward through the Kazinga Channel.
- Protected status: in March 1988 Lake George became Uganda’s first Ramsar site, recognised as a wetland of international importance.
The lake is also known as Lake Katunguru. It was renamed by the British for Prince George, later King George V, just as Lake Edward was named for his father. The word akatunguru means “onion” in the local languages, and the older name is said to refer to the lake’s rounded shape. The people around it include the Batooro, Basongora, Banyampaka and Banyankore.
The Kazinga Channel
The highlight for most visitors is not the lake itself but the 32-kilometre Kazinga Channel that links it to Lake Edward. This broad, slow waterway is one of the finest wildlife-viewing places in Africa. It holds one of the largest concentrations of hippos anywhere, in the region of two thousand animals, and countless Nile crocodiles. Buffalo come to bathe and drink, elephants cross and feed along the banks, and more than a hundred species of water bird, including the African skimmer and pelicans, gather along the shore.
The classic way to see it is by boat. The cruise, usually of about two hours and departing from the Mweya Peninsula, takes you slowly along the northern bank, close enough to see hippo pods, crocodiles on sandbanks and kingfishers in the reeds. Fishing villages sit on the shore, and you can see nets being mended and boats coming in. It is easy, restful, and often the best photographic experience in the park.
Kasenyi plains and the lions
At the western edge of Lake George, the open savannah of the Kasenyi sector supports thousands of Uganda kob, and this abundance draws lions, which are often seen on game drives in the early morning. Kasenyi is one of the best places in Uganda to see lions hunting and resting, and the wide views over the lake make it a beautiful drive.
Wetlands and birds
The wetlands around the lake hold more than 150 species of bird, and mammals such as sitatunga antelope and elephant. Pelicans, herons, storks, fish eagles and migratory waders come and go with the seasons. A dawn game drive or a birding walk with a ranger reveals the wetland edge at its best.
Lake Edward at a glance
Downstream, Lake Edward is the larger of the pair, at about 2,325 square kilometres and much deeper, reaching over 100 metres. It sits at about 912 metres above sea level, shared between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and drains north through the Semliki River into Lake Albert. The Rwenzori Mountains stand about 20 kilometres to its north, and the escarpment of the Rift rises to about 2,000 metres above its western shore. It is a quieter and more remote lake than George, with fishing communities along its shores.
The craters and the salt lakes
Between the two lakes lies a volcanic field of craters and explosion cones, the Katwe-Kikorongo field, which covers about 210 square kilometres. Many craters hold lakes of their own. Lake Katwe has been a source of salt for generations, harvested from evaporation pans, and the salty Lake Munyanyange has seen seasonal flocks of flamingos. A crater rim drive is a beautiful complement to a boat cruise and an opportunity to see the scale of the region’s volcanic past.
Fishing communities
Fishing has long been part of life on Lake George, with daily catch and markets at villages such as Katunguru and Kasenyi. Some of these communities lie within the park boundary, an unusual arrangement in Uganda, and the animals that share the shore make life there interesting. Visits should be arranged through rangers and community guides.
Practical information
- Getting there: Queen Elizabeth National Park is about six to seven hours by road from Kampala, or a short scheduled or charter flight into the park’s airstrips. Kasese is the nearest town.
- Boat cruise: best booked ahead in peak season. Morning cruises are often quieter; afternoon cruises can be busier with wildlife at the water’s edge.
- Game drives: early morning drives at Kasenyi offer the best chance to see lions.
- Best time: the park can be visited all year. The drier seasons, June to September and December to February, make wildlife easy to find; the wet seasons are greener and good for birds.
- Health: use repellent, do not swim, and keep to the boats and paths. See our Health & Safety page.
Lake George with Offmap Safaris
We build the Kazinga Channel cruise and a Kasenyi game drive into every Queen Elizabeth itinerary, and pair them with Kyambura Gorge chimpanzees, Ishasha tree-climbing lions and Bwindi gorillas. Plan your safari, message us on WhatsApp +256 701 243 304 or email [email protected]. Read our Responsible Travel page for guidance on wildlife viewing.
