They used trade routes from Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean to Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika to Mweru and then to the Lunda, Luba, Yeke or Kazembe kingdoms, the last being on the southern shores of Mweru. It also drains out from the lake in the north. Lake Mweru Wantipa fishery is located in the Northern Province of Zambia.The lake is shared by three districts namely:Kaputa,Nsama in the Northen province and small part is in Chiengi district of Luapula Province. Though the thriving crocodile and elephant populations once found within the National Park have been almost entirely wiped out by poaching, the park remains a good place for viewing various waterbirds and a good spot for camping. The lake is especially inviting for adventurous souls searching for off-the-beaten-path destinations during their travels. The last of the The western shore of Luapula-Mweru became part of the The first Belgian outposts on the lake were set up at Lukonzolwa and Pweto which were at various times the headquarters of their administration of Katanga. Sources and Drainage Rivers and streams, none very large, flow into Lake Mweru Wantipa and its swamps from the Mporokoso plateau about 32 km south, and the hills to the north-east in DR Congo. See Commercial fishing on Lake Mweru and the Luapula River was pioneered by In recent decades the catch has declined due to over-fishing, and is estimated at 13,000 tonnes caught from 4,500 small craft, mainly plank boats. The area is almost a microcosm of what Tropical Africa could be if left to its own devices.Tourist facilities, however are limited to a few ‘guesthouses’ of varying standards. It was thought to drain via its south-western swamps and a dambo called the Mofwe into the Kalungwishi River, which flows into LakeMweru. There are also a number of scenic waterfalls along the Luapula River that feeds the lake, and the countless small villages you pass by help to further enliven the journey.The road south from the lake is mostly good tar road all the way back to Ndola, beside the odd pothole, whilst the gravel road heading north-east towards Lake Tanganyika is also fairly comfortable
Western trade routes went from those kingdoms to the Atlantic, so Mweru lay on a transcontinental trade route.
The lake was known to Arab and Swahili traders (of ivory, copper and slaves) who used Kilwa Island on the lake as a base at one time.
LAKE MWERU This truly beautiful lake is located on the far north-west border of Zambia and is shared more or less equally with Zaire/DRC. The lake was known to Arab and Swahili traders (of ivory, copper and slaves) who used Kilwa Island on the lake as a base at one time. The lake is surrounded by local fishing villages. It is the second largest lake in the Congo valley (after the world-renowned Tanganyika), situated on the longest arm of the Congo River. They used trade routes from Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean to Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika to Mweru and then to the Lunda, Luba, Yeke or Kazembe kingdoms, the last being on the southern shores of Mweru. Congolese fishermen catch the most despite have the slightly smaller share of the waters.Southern end of the lake from space, June 1993 (false color)Camerapix: "Spectrum Guide to Zambia." Its elevation is 917 m, quite a bit higher than Tanganyika (763 m).Mweru is shallow in the south and deeper in the north, with two depressions in the north-eastern section with maximum depths of 20 m and 27 m.Livingstone witnessed the devastation and suffering caused by the slave trade in the area to the north and east of Mweru, and his accounts did help rally opposition to it. Mweru's average length is 118 km and its average width is 45 km, with its long axis oriented northeast–southwest. The main towns on the Zambian side are The Congolese side of the lake was affected by the The Mweru area was served only by dirt roads until the main The dirt roads on the Congolese side have been neglected and are in poor condition, and many people cross into Zambia to travel by road. Water temperatures range from 21o C to 29o C. While air temperatures range from 27.5o C to 35o C. The lake is chemically very fertile and contributes substantially to the fishing industry in Zambia.Known to only a handful of visitors, the lake lies on the edge of Mweru Wantipa National Park.