Lake Jipe Day Trip

Lake Jipe is a shallow, narrow lake ringed by thick beds of tall papyrus, straddling the border between Kenya and Tanzania in the Mwanga district of the Kilimanjaro region. It is fed mainly by the Lumi River, which runs down from Mount Kilimanjaro through Kenya, with extra water from streams in the Pare Mountains. Its outflow is the Ruvu River. The lake sits close to Mkomazi National Park and is known for its endemic fish, waterbirds, mammals, and the swamps and wetland plants that stretch up to 2 km from the shore.

The lake is up to 19 km long and 4.8–6.4 km wide, covers about 30 km² and is no more than 3.5 m deep. On its southern bank the Ugweno Mountains rise to 1,800–2,100 m (6,000–7,000 ft), in sharp contrast to the flat plain on the opposite shore. On clear days Kilimanjaro's Kibo Peak can be seen from the water. As a shallow backwater of the Lumi, Jipe drains into the Ruvu, which flows into the Nyumba ya Mungu reservoir and joins the Kikuletwa to become the Pangani River, finally meeting the Indian Ocean at Pangani.

The lake's water is safe to drink only after it has been boiled and skimmed. Weather varies with the season, but Lake Jipe can be visited all year. It is one of the Kilimanjaro region's best destinations, whether for a full-day trip or an overnight stay.