LAKE DULUTI
Lake Duluti is a volcanic caldera lake in the Arusha region of Tanzania on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley. This volcanic caldera lake is located in Meru (ARUMERU DISTRICT) near Tengeru town and its 14 km from Arusha town and 1.4 km from the Arusha-Moshi road.
The lake has a surface area of 0.6sq km a maximum length of 1100m, width 0.73km (7300m) maximum depth of 9-15m deep and with a surface elevation of 1290m, it covers an area of about 63 hectares of land.
The highest point of this beautiful lake is approximately 200m which had been covered by thick forest (submountane forest). There is also a marshy place covered in papyrus acting as a vital refuge and home to different species of living organisms. This lake is fed entirely by subterranean springs, the lake is nested within an extinct volcanic crater whose formation was linked to that of mount Meru.
The lake and its environment are of particular interest to birders and an added attraction is the good views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Meru from the lake shore can be seen towering from above on clear days.
MAP AND PICTURE
- • DISTANCE; it is approximately 14km from Arusha City Centre, 60-70km from Moshi, 30km from KIA
- • TIME: it takes 2-3 hours’ drive from Moshi, 40 minutes from Arusha city Centre and 1-1 ½ hours from KIA
- • GETTING THERE: it is about 1.4km south of the Arusha-Moshi road can be reached easily on foot, vehicle.
- • CLIMATE: variable depending with the season, but it is worth to visit all year round TOUR DETAILS START/END- either ARUSHA, KIA, MOSHI GUIDING LANGUAGE- English GUIDE METHOD- Live guide TRANSPORT- Land Cruiser, 4WD safari jeep, Hiace, Coaster, a Toyota V8 etc. depends with the group size. ACTIVITIES
- Entrance fees
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Mineral water
- Bites and snacks
- Transport
- Transfers to and from the pick-up point. EXCLUSION
- Things of person nature
- Cumshaw
- Personal activities
i. CANOEING: visitors to this lake are free to choose which type of activity do suits and nourish their soul, canoeing is among the most common activities which will made you feel the real African awe get close into contact with nature, feeling the cool breeze and pass through Nile monitors nests or seen them propelling on the opposite direction away from your boat. It is really a real lifetime experience.
ii. BIRDING: Lake Duluti is a hidden gem full of bird species with over 130 bird’s species have been recorded in the area gifted with different habitats the lake hosts/offer an ideal refugee, feeding, nesting and resting destinations to little critters, waders, waterfowls and passerines respectively. Common species found around/in the lake are cormorants, egret, weavers, turacos, robins, pigeons and many more. In certain times of the year the marshy areas with full of papyrus and reed mace get dotted in yellows, red and orange, at the same time nests are seen hanging and frequently visited by those breeding lifers.
iii. WALKING TRIP: walking trip can be conducted round this caldera lake as there is a narrow dirty path leads through the forest that provides enough shade that you can do the hike all day or even in the hot hours of the day during the hot spells. Walking around this lake gives hikers a golden chance to come into close encounters with some wildlife both flora and fauna. Walking leisurely with some frequent rests at picnic sites (designated picnics) made you enjoy the nature as well as preserving much of your energy no much hurrying as the route isn’t that steep.
iv. CAVES: along the lakes walls there are caves found along dominated by a huge buttressed figs, forest ferns, NEWTONIA BUCHANII among other mega flora. The caves are a vital refuge to different species of reptiles including the savanna monitors, agamas, skinks and some snakes. The caves were also used together with the mountains by the Christians and other peoples with different religion to pray and ask God for forgiveness to others it is a refuge, sacred to some and beneficial to all both man, flora and fauna.
INCLUSION
BUDGET RANGE 182-196USD.