Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika, whose northern shore Burundi shares beside its main city Bujumbura, is one of the great lakes of the world, the second-deepest and among the longest on earth, a vast inland sea cradled in the Great Rift Valley. Its clear, warm waters stretch to the horizon, framed by distant blue mountains, and its Burundian shore is graced with some surprisingly beautiful golden sand beaches, popular for swimming, relaxing and sunset views. The lake teems with hundreds of unique fish species, including the small silvery ndagala that are a staple of local diets, and its waters yield the day's catch to fishermen in traditional boats. Serene and scenic, the lakeside is Burundi's great natural playground.

What you actually see

• The sandy beaches - the golden shores for swimming and sunsets.
• The vast lake - the clear waters of the great inland sea.
• The fishing boats - the traditional craft bringing in the catch.
• The mountain backdrop - the distant blue rift-valley peaks.

When to go

June to September, the long dry season, is the most pleasant time for the lakeside, with warm, clear weather ideal for the beaches, swimming and sunsets; the lake is enjoyable year-round in the warm climate, though the wet seasons bring more rain. Sunsets over the water are a highlight in any season.

Honest expectations

Tanganyika's Burundian shore offers lovely beaches and scenery rather than developed resort facilities, so its appeal is the natural setting, swimming and relaxed atmosphere more than polished tourism. As one of the great lakes of the world, a vast clear inland sea with golden beaches framed by mountains, though, Lake Tanganyika is a genuinely serene and beautiful retreat.

Nearby

The city of Bujumbura and the Rusizi wetlands lie at the lake's northern end.