Atlas Trail
Africa's Waters, From Rift Lakes to the Sea
This path follows water across Africa, from the great lakes of the East African Rift to the rivers that carry the continent's rain to the ocean. It starts at the lakes, moves to the Congo, Zambezi, Niger and Gambia rivers, and ends where the Niger meets the Atlantic in the Gulf of Guinea.
Stop 1 of 8.
Bodies of Water
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the largest tropical lake in the world, shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. It is the principal source of the White Nile, and at about 68,100 square kilometres it is broad but comparatively shallow, with a maximum depth of 83 metres.
Stop 2 of 8.
Bodies of Water
Lake Tanganyika lies in the Albertine Rift branch of the East African Rift and is bordered by Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Zambia. After Lake Baikal it is the second largest freshwater lake by volume and the second deepest, reaching 1,470 metres, in contrast to shallow Victoria.
Stop 3 of 8.
Bodies of Water
Lake Malawi is the southernmost lake of the East African Rift system, lying between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, and also known as Lake Nyasa and Lago Niassa. Its surface area is about 29,600 square kilometres, and it holds more fish species, including at least 700 endemic cichlids, than any other lake.
Stop 4 of 8.
Bodies of Water
The Congo is the second longest river in Africa, at about 4,700 kilometres, and the world's deepest river, with soundings beyond 220 metres. It crosses the equator twice, so one of its basins is always in rainy season and its flow stays steady through the year.
Stop 5 of 8.
Bodies of Water
The Zambezi rises in Zambia and flows 2,574 kilometres through or along Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. It is the longest east flowing river in Africa, and Victoria Falls on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border is its best known feature.
Stop 6 of 8.
Bodies of Water
The Niger is the main river of West Africa, rising in the Guinea Highlands and running about 4,180 kilometres through Mali, Niger, Benin and Nigeria. Timbuktu and the Malian capital Bamako stand on its banks, and it ends in the Niger Delta.
Stop 7 of 8.
Bodies of Water
The Gambia River rises on the Fouta Djallon plateau in Guinea and runs about 1,120 kilometres west through Senegal and The Gambia to the Atlantic at Banjul. The country of The Gambia is named for it and occupies a narrow strip along its banks.
Stop 8 of 8.
Bodies of Water
The Gulf of Guinea is a broad bight of the Atlantic along the coast of West and Central Africa, covering about 2,350,000 square kilometres and bordered by Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. The Niger Delta opens into it, and its offshore waters hold significant oil reserves.
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