Lake Chala

Chala fills a caldera about three kilometres across with walls dropping a hundred metres to the water, and the lake itself is deep, reaching around eighty metres, fed by groundwater from Kilimanjaro rather than by any surface stream. The colour changes through the day from deep blue to turquoise depending on light and season, and the crater walls are thick with forest that shelters vervet monkeys, birds and, in the water, a species of tilapia found only here. A path descends the crater wall to the shore, and a rim walk of a few hours circles the top. The lake sits directly on the boundary with Tanzania, with Kilimanjaro rising behind on clear mornings. Swimming is not advised: crocodiles are present, and a fatal attack in the 2000s is well remembered locally.

Highlights

• The turquoise crater lake - deep water in a steep-walled caldera.
• The rim walk - a circuit of several hours around the crater top.
• The descent path - a steep route down to the water's edge.
• Kilimanjaro - the mountain behind on clear mornings.

When to go

Dry seasons for the paths and the clearest views of Kilimanjaro; mornings before cloud builds on the mountain. Colour in the water is strongest under high sun. The rim can be hot and exposed by midday.

Before you go

Crocodiles are present and swimming is genuinely risky despite what some operators suggest. The descent path is steep and slippery. Facilities are limited to a lodge and campsite on the rim. The border runs through the lake, so keep to the Kenyan side and avoid wandering.

Nearby

Taveta town is south; Tsavo West and the Taita Hills lie east.

Key facts