Lake Chala
Ziwa Chala
A deep blue crater lake on the Tanzania–Kenya border, with steep forested walls, good for kayaking and hiking.
Lake Chala lies on the southeastern slope of Kilimanjaro and straddles the border between Tanzania and Kenya. It is a crater lake about 90 m deep. Its water is a deep blue-green, fed by underground springs, and it is surrounded by steep walls nearly 100 m high. On the Tanzanian side there is an eco-camp, and you can hike down the crater wall to the shore to kayak. Blue monkeys are often seen by the lake, and on clear days Kilimanjaro is visible. There are crocodiles in the lake, so swimming is not recommended. It is about 1.5 hours by car from Moshi, and you can visit as a day trip or stay overnight.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- Marangu & Kinukamori Waterfall
- Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Village
- Moshi
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Chemka (Kikuletwa) Hot Springs
- Ngurdoto Crater
- Momella Lakes
- Arusha National Park