Kenya & Beyond Safaris
Summit House
Moi Avenue, CBD
P.O. Box 4623-00200, Nairobi - Kenya
Telephone: +254.20.2163801
Cell: +254.780.720568
Cell: +254.722.720568
Email: info@kenya-and-beyond.com
Website: www.kenya-and-beyond.com
Lake Chala is a crater lake in a caldera on the borders of Tanzania and Kenya on the eastern edge of Mount Kilimanjaro, not far from the town of Moshi and 8 km north of Taveta. Depending on the time of year, it ranges in colour from deep blue to turquoise and green, it is surrounded by a 100 meters high crater rim. The lake is fed by groundwater flows, which come from Mount Kilimanjaro, feeded and drained under ground with a rate of about 10 million m³ / year. Even the Chala loses volume. It´s level had dropped in the last 6 years, by 2.4 meters, at the start of 2011 the water level has risen again by over 1 meter.
The lake is home to the endemic Lake Chala tilapia (Oreochromis hunteri). now an on the IUCN red list of threatened species
Crocodiles were introduced to Lake Chala in the early 1900s, and in 2002, a woman was killed by a rare dwarf crocodile while swimming in the lake. Since then the local fishermen, tired of having their nets ripped to pieces, started an eradication programme by shooting and poisoning. It is doubtful if any crocodiles remain in the lake today.
This stunning volcanic area is rapidly growing in tourism and it is now possible to stay at Lake Chala at the new camp on the Tanzanian side.
In 2002, Joash Were who has been instrumental in start up of many companies within Kenya and Beyond thought of it wisely that it was time to start up something tourism related. He had worked at great places. Bearing in mind that all the progressive people talk “WE” and not I, he has brought together a great team who are professional in their own rights.