Lake Lagdo
A large reservoir on the Benoue river, created in the early 1980s for power and irrigation.
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The Lagdo dam was built on the Benoue river south-east of Garoua and completed in the early 1980s, creating a reservoir of several hundred square kilometres that supplies hydroelectric power and irrigation to the north of the country. The lake has become a major fishery, with villages along the shores and boats working it, and the fish are dried and traded across the region. Waterbirds gather in numbers, including pelicans, herons and storks, and hippopotamus occur in parts of it. The shoreline is largely undeveloped, the surrounding country is dry savanna, and boats can be hired at the villages for trips out onto the water.
What you actually see
- A reservoir on the Benoue - the lake created by the dam.
- Fishing villages along the shore - the industry the lake supports.
- Pelicans, herons and storks - the waterbirds using the reservoir.
- Dry savanna around the water - the northern landscape at the edges.
When to go
November to March, the cool dry season; from March the heat is severe. A day from Garoua. Boats are hired at the shore villages.
Honest expectations
The lake is a working reservoir and fishery, not a resort; facilities are minimal. Water levels vary considerably through the year. Hippos are dangerous and boats should keep clear. The regional situation is worth verifying before any trip is planned.
Nearby
Garoua is north-west; Benoue national park lies south.
What to pack for Lake Lagdo
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
