A lake is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature

Lake Chala is a unique caldera lake and is also the deepest inland body of water in Africa. This lake is fed by underground springs from Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The lake has a great diversity of life. From lush lake shore forest to stunning volcanic savannah; from river beds marvelously carved through ancient rock to the thick bush or open ‘mbuga’. Walking at Lake Chala is a magical experience that will put you back in touch with nature.

Chala has a huge variety of amazing trees, grasses, and plants; some are unique to the area. According to the time of year, there are hundreds of species of butterflies and birds, including spectacular birds of prey. The African Fish Eagle, with its haunting techniques, Verreaux’s Eagle, Augur Buzzards, and many other species of birds can be seen around the crater walls. Wild mammals do vary including Blue Monkeys, Colobus Monkeys, baboons, dik-dik, kudu, and elephants. Chala is an untouched part of a truly ancient land and a must-visit place.

Lake Chala, also known as Lake Challa, is a crater lake that straddles the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The lake formed approximately 250,000 years ago in east of Mount Kilimanjaro, 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) north of Taveta, Kenya, and 55 kilometers (34 mi) east of Rombo District. The lake is surrounded by a steep crater rim with a maximum height of 170 meters 

Lake Chala’s average annual rainfall is about 565 millimeters (22.2 in). The lake surface has average annual evaporation of nearly 1,735 millimeters (68.3 in). Approximately 80 percent of the lake’s inflow comes from groundwater, which is derived mostly from rainfall in the montane forest zone of Mount Kilimanjaro at an elevation of 1,800 to 2,800 meters (5,900 to 9,200 ft). It takes about 3 months for groundwater to reach the lake. The groundwater flowed into the lake at an estimated annual volume of 8,390,000 cubic meters (296,000,000 cu ft) from 1964 through 1977.

Day Trip To Lake Chala

Your friendly guide will arrive at your accommodation armed with your tasty packed lunch. Then he or she will bustle you into the transport and drive you to Lake Chala Safari Camp. On the way, you’ll journey through the everyday life of Moshi and onto the freeway, and you can spend a relaxing, comfortable hour-and-a-bit taking in the sights. Lake Chala Safari Camp is a beautiful private game reserve overlooking Lake Chala. You’ll arrive there and our guide will take you down to the lakeside, through vividly green flora, with the blue, blue lake ahead of you.

It gets quite rocky near the lake so wear sturdy footwear. It’s a stunning area perfect for hikers and birdwatchers, and in season you might be lucky enough to spot elephants gathering at a distant waterhole. Spend the day wandering the paths around the lake or across the nearby savannah, where you’re likely to see baboons, vervet monkeys, and blue monkeys as well as (perhaps) the shy dik-dik and graceful kudu, too
On the way to the lake, you are highly likely to see baboons. At the lake you can go canoeing, relishing the beautiful African nature. Your lunch will be served afterward. On the way back to the hotel you will see Mt Kilimanjaro in all its glory

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