The Crater Gate leads to the well-known Katwe Craters, a group of volcanic craters that cover about 210 square kilometers in Queen Elizabeth National Park, western Uganda. The largest of these craters is about 3 kilometers wide and 100 meters deep. These craters were formed over a million years ago after a series of volcanic eruptions. When magma came into contact with underground water, it caused strong explosions that created the deep, low-lying craters we see today.
Over time, many of the craters turned into saltwater lakes, such as Lake Katwe. This area attracts many visitors and also helps the local people earn income through tourism and salt mining, improving their standard of living.
Historically, Lake Katwe became known to the Western world through the explorer John Speke. He learned about the salt deposits near the “Mountains of the Moon.” By then, the lake had been mined for over 400 years, as salt was highly valued in precolonial Uganda—even more than gold or silver. This made kingdoms fight for control over the lake, with power changing hands many times.
During Speke’s visit, Lake Katwe was under the control of the Toro Kingdom. But in the late 1870s, Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro took over the lake, leading to a war between Bunyoro and the British-Toro forces led by Captain Frederick Lugard. In 1890, Lugard recorded that the lake was full of salt, some of it shining on the lakebed and some covered under grass. Today, Lake Katwe still exists, and local people continue to mine salt using modern methods.
Other major crater lakes in Uganda include the Bunyaruguru Craters along the Kichwamba Escarpment and the Ndali-Kasenda Craters in Kibale National Park. While heading to these craters, you can enjoy the beautiful Crater Drive, which leads to Lake Katwe or Lake Nyamunuka. Along the way, you may spot flamingos and other wildlife.
A visit to Lake Katwe may take about half a day, especially if you want to learn in detail about the area. Your tour guide can help you gather information, often with support from local residents.
