Mortals wearing disguises is not something too surprising, for such pieces are seen all around us, right? But did you know nature can play this masquerade trick with far more ease than any of us can do? The biggest substantiation to this fact remains that today man has extensively explored nature and its land to exploit it for his benefit, yet millions of secrets still remain buried in the unknown and still more mysteries await to be unveiled. This is nature’s way of camouflaging itself with the apparent and the hidden.
However, these signs of deception at times become so evident for human eye that one wouldn’t even need to dive under piles of philosophy or dig through history for fishing out such realities. At times, nature brings such phenomenon in the limelight to be seen as conveniently as enjoying on a holiday trip. And if you’re booking cheap flights to Zambia, you might be just about to witness one of nature’s biggest disguises.
Lake Bangweulu, situated on the basin of Upper Congo River in Zambia, appears to be more of a gigantic indigo sea than a fragile lake that it is. For this reason, it has been declared as one of the world’s largest wetland systems, considering that the lake is pinned to a series of Swamps and Floodplains. The entire system is so large that it is fed by 17 main River Systems but on the other hand, it’s drained by only one river, the Luapula. The lake lays on the vastly stretched axis of 75 km, having a width of more than 40 meters with an average depth of 4 meters. When the rainy season comes to play, the lake’s water surface reaches a massive 3000km².
There‘s something exquisitely fascinating about the lake that makes it one of the finest charms of Zambia; a first glance would leave you boggled about the colour of Bangweulu’s water. The water here is so crystal-shiny and blue that it immaculately captures the reflection of the sky, displaying it in the finest pixels of its polished surface. It’s as if the lake mirrors the sky. If you’re a few kilometres away from the lake, you might vision a huge area of the grayish surface but as you proceed nearer, you would realize that the whole area is a large reserve holding turquoise blue water.
The lake is considered more of a fishing spot for local fish merchandisers and also for visitors who come to this area for a tranquil escape. The lake holds a large variety of fish and remains the largest compound of fisheries in Africa. The most common variety of fish found in Bangweulu includes the bream, tigerfish, catfish and yellow belly.
Most tourists, who come to Zambia, drive to the lake for enjoying a nice calm picnic. For those who want to stay in the nearby areas, there are a number of options available to them. The Samfya holiday beach which rests only a kilometre away from the main town area is by far the best site for camping near the lake. A small hotel also rests in the nearby area that provides not many, but adequate facilities for a comfortable lodging.
Not only can visitors enjoy the ravishing view of the lake and its mainland, but if one travels to this area during the month of October, being a part of the Kwanga Ceremony of the local Njumbo tribe is indeed a fascinating experience. The festival celebrates local Njumbo culture and traditions through an exciting display of regional costumes and traditional dancing.
Furthermore, one can also enjoy a truly entertaining motorboat ride at the marvellous water swaps clipping to the lake. Motorboating amid grey sky and thick blue water along with a nice relaxing breeze, make for a perfect experience at the Lake Bangweulu. The lake is indeed a mysteriously beautiful marvel of nature that can bring a totally exhilarating experience once visited.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.