Data Zone
Country/territory: Tanzania
IBA criteria met: A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 300 hectares (3.00 km2)
Site description (2001 baseline)
This highland freshwater lake is situated south of Mbulu town on the road to Dongobesh in the Mbulu Highlands, to the west of the Nou Forest. It was formed naturally by the blocking of a stream flowing westwards from Nou Forest to the Yaida Chini swamps that lie to the south-east of Lake Eyasi (TZ023).
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. The only recent data available for this site are from January 1996, when records included a large flock of Fulica cristata, 104 Ardeola ralloides and 1,535 Chlidonias leucopterus. This lake seems to be one of few that may be important for the East African population of Fulica cristata. Historically, Moreau mentioned some dozens of Podiceps cristatus, but this is now a very rare bird in East Africa. There are historical records of Oxyura maccoa which probably bred.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Tlawi (Tanzania). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-tlawi-iba-tanzania on 26/12/2024.