Lake Bangweulu

When looking out over Lake Bangweulu, the waters are a grayish blue and mix seamlessly with the sky in the distance. The exact location of the horizon is unclear. "The Place Where the Water Meets the Sky" is what "Bangweulu" means.

More so than for its potential as a tourist destination, the Lake is used as a fish supply. This is terrible because it has magnificent beauty. There are rumors of plans to build a resort for tourists and offer a high-end cruise boat for hire. But for the time being, this makes for an interesting pit stop for the adventurous traveler by car or backpacker.

Cychlids (bream, tigerfish, yellow belly) and catfish are the most common catches in Lake Bangweulu. Each year, around 57 000 metric tons of fish are collected from the Lake. Although fish stocks are not in jeopardy, catches are decreasing and the preferred species are getting scarce.

The Bangweulu fisheries are among the largest in Zambia. This has resulted in some of the highest population densities surrounding the Lake, particularly in areas where professional fishermen have concentrated. Nonetheless, the fishing sector is not commercially developed, and insufficient regulations and marketing facilities jeopardize the business's overall sustainability and profitability. Many of the fishermen use a barter system to exchange their catches for necessities.

The main town on the lake, Samfya, began as a little fishing community in the middle of the 20th century. Fresh seafood and essential necessities are both available. There is a post office, a hospital, and enough fuel.

Location: Zambia's Luapula Province and Northern Province