Lake Katinda is one of 52 crater Lakes that are spread across Western Uganda, along the Ndali Kasenda crater region and Bunyaruguru Crater Field. These lakes are believed to have been formed from Volcanic eruptions that occurred in the 17th Century. Katinda is a twin lake with Lake Mirambi directly adjacent to each other. These two lakes are separated by a thin strip of land.
Located approximately 350 Km from Kampala ( 6 – 7 hours drive), Lake Katinda is a mystical and a must-visit for all travellers visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park and its surroundings. Sitting at an elevation of 1,115 Meters above Sea Level, and surrounded by lush greenery that forms a habitat for a variety of Birds, including the beautifully coloured kingfishers, herons and egrets, Lake Kitanda is truly a hidden gem in Uganda.
Things to see & Do around Lake Katinda
Bird watching: Lake Katinda is a very fruitful birding location, especially in the dry season months of June-August, and December-February.
Boating & fishing: In the company of a local guide, you may try out your skills and luck with fishing for Bile tilapia, Nile Perch, Lung fish, silver Cyprinid, semutudu Catfish, among others.
Nature Walks: The nature and views that surround Lake Katinda are amazing, thus making it worthwhile a walk. While a self-guided walk is possible, we recommend always taking a local guide on this walk. Local guides carry a lot of information and are very knowledgeable when it comes to explaining or interpreting nature.
Cultural encounters, & Community Tours: You can visit the communities that surround Lake Katinda, and get to learn more about the local legends and the stories behind the creation of Lake Katinda.
Getting to Lake Katinda.
Most travellers who visit Lake Katinda do this as part of a bigger/organised tour to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The majority do this by road. The drive from Kampala to get to Lake Katinda is approximately 350km and lasts about 6 – 7 hours, depending on how many stops you make along the way. However, if your budget permits, the easiest and quickest way to get to Lake Katinda is to fly from Entebbe to Kasese, and here you should have arranged a vehicle to transfer you from Kasese to Bunyanruguru. Aerolink Uganda operates daily flights out of Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airport.
