10 Smallest Lakes in Africa: Hidden Gems of the Continent

There is no reliable technique to determine the smallest lakes in Africa; Most of them are probably a lot of little streams and ponds that form in ditches or on the sides of hills and are too small to be measured.

Just as puddles and streams form after rainfall, it is likely that even the tiniest body of water changes continuously.

Due to Africa’s tropical latitudes’ extreme heat, many bodies of water there are transient and evaporate quickly. Nonetheless, these are the smallest lakes in Africa, many of which are scattered around in various interesting countries.

Lake Edward (2,300 km²) Uganda

One of the lesser-known African Great Lakes is Lake Edward. Its northern coast is a few kilometers south of the equator, and it is situated in the Albertine Rift, the western arm of the East African Rift, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. 

Lake Edward is the smallest of the Great Lakes of Africa at 77 km long, 40 km broad, and 2300 km2 in total surface area. Uganda owns the eastern portion of both Edward and Albert.

Lake Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda (2,700 km²)

One of the smallest African Great Lakes, Lake Kivu is situated between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. It was created by volcanic activity about 1.5 million years ago. 

Lake Kivu drains into the Ruzizi River, which then empties into Lake Tanganyika in the south.

Lake Lekandiro, Tanzania (1.38km²)

In the northeastern grasslands of Arusha National Park, next to the two large Momella lakes, is Lake Lekandiro. Additionally, Momella town is not far to the south of it.

Despite the alkaline nature of these mobile lakes, like Lekandiro, you can see zebras and birds on their banks. Animals do not drink from these lakes’ waters. Highlights of the Eastern region of Arusha National Park, which includes Mount Meru’s forest, are close to these lakes

Lake Nyamunuka, Uganda (1,978km²)

With a height of 957 meters, Lake Nyamunuka is a lake located in western Uganda, specifically in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese district. The Katwe-Kikorongo Volcanic Field and the UWA check post (exit only) are located close to Lake Nyamunuka.

It’s a very beautiful location where tourists can take walks, and ride bikes as they spot more than 20 bird species available in the area.

Lake Nkugute aka Lake Rutoto, Uganda (1,411 km²)

The Ugandan district of Rubirizi is home to Lake Nkugute, often referred to as Lake Rutoto. The lake, which is found in the Bunyaruguru volcanic field, is thought to have developed more than 12,000 years ago as a result of volcanic activity.

A rough estimate of the terrain’s height above sea level for Lake Nkugute is 4645 feet. Because of its shape, which resembles the continent of Africa, some people call it “Lake Africa.” There’s a hill that borders the lake, where tourists can have a perfect view of the lake’s edges.

The Bunyaruguru volcanic field’s volcanic activity is what created the lake; it produced a crater that rainwater slowly filled over thousands of years.

Lake Nyos, Cameroon (315 km²)

Located around 315 kilometers (196 miles) northwest of Yaoundé, the country’s capital, Lake Nyos is a crater lake in Cameroon’s Northwest Region.

In the Oku volcanic plain near the Cameroon line of volcanic activity, Nyos is a deep lake perched high on the face of a dormant volcano. The lake’s water is held back by a volcanic dam.

The Cameroon line of volcanoes, which extends into the Gulf of Guinea, is where Lake Nyos is located, high in a volcanic plain. Nigeria and Cameroon are naturally separated by the chain.

By exploding when hot lava or magma hits groundwater, a circular maar is transformed into a lake. A crater lake eventually forms when the eruption’s hole is filled with water.

Although the region has been volcanically active since the South American and African tectonic plates split approximately 110 million years ago, geologists believe the Nyos maar originated about 400 years ago.

Lake Tumba, Democratic Republic of the Congo (295 km²)

Lake Tumba (or Ntomba) is a small lake located in the Bikoro Territory of the Equator Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Depending on the season, the lake has a surface area of around 765 square kilometers (295 square miles) and is connected to the Congo River by the Irebu channel.

Depending on the floods, water may enter or exit the lake through this waterway. With 114 different fish species, Lake Tumba is home to significant fisheries.

The lake is located in the heart of the Tumba-Ngiri-Maindombe region, which the Ramsar Convention recognized as a Wetland of International Importance in 2008.

Lake Tinishu Abaya, Ethiopia (12.53km²)

Lake Tinshu Abaya, often known as Small Abaya to emphasize its small size and distinguish it from another major lake (L. Abaya) with a name similar to Tinishu Abaya, is situated 160 kilometers southwest of Ethiopia’s capital city Addis Ababa.

In Ethiopia’s rift valley, Lake Tinishu Abaya is a tiny inland freshwater lake system. The total surface area of the lake is 1253 hectares (12.53 km2). With a maximum depth of 3.7 meters and a mean depth of 2.9 meters, the lake is very flat.

The Nile tilapia (Oreiochromis niloticus), Tilapia zillii, and Barbus species are a few of the commercially significant fish species found in the lake.

Lake Upemba, Southern Congo(Kinshasa) (500km²)

An extension of the Lualaba River, Lake Upemba is about 200 miles (500 km) square, swampy, and covered in papyrus. It is located primarily within the Upemba National Park. North of the lake, the Lufira River flows from the southeast to converge with the Lualaba River. 

Zebras, antelopes, elephants, buffalo, lions, and waterfowl are among the park’s animals.

Lake Tshangalele, Democratic Republic of Congo (362.5 km²)

A manmade lake called Lake Tshangalele can also be found in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the name Lake Lufira or Mwadingusha Reservoir. It is situated in the former province of Katanga, some 20 kilometers to the east of the city of Likasi.

 It is located in a sizable depression at a height of roughly 1,100 meters above sea level, surrounded by low mountains. It was developed in 1926 as a result of a hydroelectric power dam constructed on the Lufira River close to Mwadingusha.

It has approximately 362.5 km2 of open water. The maximum area of floods during February and March, when it rains the most, is 440 km2. With a mean depth of about 2.6 meters, the lake is quite small.

Conclusion

The Earth is a gorgeous globe filled with amazing, fascinating, and amazing masses of water and land wonders. There are other even smaller lakes in Africa but these here are the most notable.

However, they stand out from other bodies of water by having qualities and features that are quite distinct and special in their own right.