How to get to Mwanza

Just 2 hours drive from Mwanza City, where you will reach to the Tanzania’s oldest and most popular National Park – Serengeti, also a World Heritage site and recently proclaimed a seventh worldwide wonder.

 Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. 

Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

Saanane is the nearest park from Mwanza city center, which is about 2 km. Saanane Island is a fully fledged National Park since July, 2013, covering an area of 2.18 sq km comprises of three islets and aquatic environment. The islets lie on the southern part of the main Island.

The park made a record of being the first ever National Park to be located within the City and the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa. The Park is the home of mammals like Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys and Wild Cats. 

The presence of “De-brazas Monkey” underscores its potential as the only Park in the country inhabiting the species. Reptiles are also dominant; they include crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Agama Lizards, Pancake and Leopard Tortoises, Snakes particularly Python. The aquatic part of the Park inhabits a variety of fisheries life, mainly Tilapia and Nile Perch.

To Do
Saanane Island is an ideal place for game viewing, bird watching, rock hiking, boat cruise, walking, picnics, bush lunch, photographing/filming, meditation and sport fishing. Special occasions like wedding, engagement, team building, family day and birthdays can also be organized.

Best Time To Visit
All year round, birdlife is most varied and scenery greenest over Nov-March. June-August is the dry season and great for picnics, game viewing and rock hiking.

Rubondo Island National Park includes Rubondo Island and several other small islands of Lake Victoria. About 80% of the park is covered by a dense forest thus providing a variety of habitats to wildlife ranging from Savannah, open woodland, papyrus swamps to dense forest. 

These habitats form a home for various wild creatures such as sitatunga, bushbucks, vervet monkeys, genet cats, spotted necked otters, hippopotamus and crocodiles which share the ecological niches with introduced species such as chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes, black and white colubus monkeys, suni and African grey parrots.

The park boasts for its rich and diverse variety of butterflies and bird life, more than 200 bird species easily viewable from the lake shore. The rare Sitatunga, an extremely endangered amphibious antelope, can sometimes be viewed escaping from the charging predators by hiding and camouflaging itself in the lake shore marshes.

Location and Size
The park is located on the south-western corner of Lake Victoria in Geita region about 150 km (95 miles) west of Mwanza. The Lake (Victoria) is the second largest lake in the world. The lake is also the sources of the longest river in the world, River Nile. The park has 456.8 Km2 of which 236.8 km2 is dry land and 220 km2 is water comprising of 11 small islets of varying sizes.

Tourist Attractions
• A variety of water birds, Eurasian migrants and introduced African grey parrots
• High density of African fish eagles distinctly seen
• Animal species including sitatunga, elephants, giraffes, hippos, bushbucks, pythons, crocodiles, chimpanzees (not fully habituated), bush pig and suni
• The lake Victoria forming a spectacular sight for the visitors with the deepest point in the lake (Irumo) forming part of the park
• Magnificent view of the one of the last remaining representatives of evergreen dense primary lowland Congolese forest with a unique habitat mosaic in the midst of high biodiversity value
• Beautiful and attracting beaches such as Fly catcher, Mchangani and Michicoco
• Important gulfs of Irumo and Kamea
• Clear sighting of both sun rise and sun set
• Cultural sites such as “Ntungamire”, “Maji Matakatifu”, “Altare” and “Solo” which explain the life of natives who once stayed in the park
• “Birds Islands”, breeding sit for water birds
• Crocodile Island

Tourist Activities
• Sport Fishing – This is the main activity in the park done at specified areas. It is the most exciting recreational activity in which there is great possibly of getting a big catch to make a wonderful and challenging record of catches among others. This activity is done throughout the year.
• Boat excursions – one can view a spectacular beauty of the Island, beaches, terrestrial bird species, water birds / shore birds e.g. malachite kingfishers, paradise flycatchers, herons, storks, egrets spoonbills, fish eagles and African Grey Parrots. You can visit the crocodile island, the deepest point in the lake “Irumo”, also while on the boat, you can see hippos, otters, plants species along the shores as well as enjoying the cool lake breeze.
• Walking safari (guided) in the natural forest / along the beach. There is both short and long walks (2 – 7 hours). While hiking, one can enjoy by viewing mammals like Sitatunga, bushbucks, Suni, Mangoose, bush pigs, genet cats and primates like Black and white colubus monkeys vervet monkeys; reptile such as monitor lizards, snakes, tortoises and pythons. Also, one can see forest birds species, grey parrots and water birds; colourful butterflies and viewing the lake and its shores.
• Game drive – in which there are responsibilities of watching big game such as elephants and giraffes; other mammals, reptiles, amphibious and bird species can also be seen.
• Bird watching in the forest and along the shore in the evening and morning time

Best Time To Visit The Park
Dry season (June – September) and wet season (November – March) when wild flowers are flourish and plentiful of butterflies. For birds watchers, December – February is the best time as most migratory birds are nesting in the Park.

Accessibility
Rubondo Island National Park can be reached by charter, air and road. Visitors who prefer to travel by air should check in advance with us for flight schedules to the island.
The park can be accessed by road in approximately 4 hours drive on tarmac road from Mwanza to Geita and a morum road from Geita to Nkome. Visitors travelling through this route can be picked up by the park boat at Nkome, and will take maximum of one hour and half hours cruising to Rubondo Island (Kageye, The Park HQ). Another route is from Mwanza/Bukoba to Muganza/Kasenda village where it takes a maximum of 5 hours from Mwanza to Muganza/Kasenda and only two hours from Bukoba to Muganza/Kasenda (this route also connects Tanzania with neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Uganda and Kenya). Visitor travelling through this route can be picked by the park boat at Kasenda village, and will take about 20 – 25 minutes to Rubondo National Park.

The Northern part of Mwanza is surrounded by the water of Lake Victoria which is nearly 69000sq kms, and the African largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water Lake in the world. Mwanza has so many beautiful beaches for your desire, with a beautiful scenery and view of the Lake Victoria and Mwanza.

Malaika Beach Resort
Malaika Beach Resort the nearest Hotel from the Airport lie at the shore of Lake Victoria and to the other side built on granite rocks of Mwanza. Has the beautiful and large beaches of beautiful scenery.

Tunza Beach
An oldest and good beach for swimming at the Lake Victoria without worries

Tilapia Beach and Boat ride
The Nearest Hotel from the City center with beautiful beach and view of the Mwanza, and the Kapri-point hills and amazing houses on Rocks. The boat ride to the Lake very beautiful especially at the sun set.

LUCHELELE BEACHES
Luchelele has got so many beaches, designed beautifully and are the best beaches to interact with the locals and to dance Music at the beach. Some of the beach are:

Jembe ni Jembe Beach and Club
Is the beautiful beach with a night club, you can have a lot of fun at Jembe ni Jembe, with a Boat ride.

Mwanza History

Mwanza the city with more than 120 year old also known as the “Rock city” because of it’s beautiful rocks around the city. Mwanza and Tanzania in general was colonized by the German and British, before independence 1961 under Julius Kambarage Nyerere the first president of Tanzania.

Mwanza formerly known as the Sukumaland was founded by a German Colonial agent Emin Pasha in 1892. The word Mwanza was founded from the word “Muansa” where German called a rock where they built their house, probably a misunderstanding from a Sukuma word “Nyanza” which means Lake.

In 1908 Mwanza consisted of 1200 Africans, 64 European inhabitants and 50 Indian traders. There were a handful of European firms and a district office. Others were a company of soldiers, a post and Telegraph line to Tabora, a hospital and a hotel . In 1953, Mwanza was elevated to the status of a town council by the then British colonial governor, sir Edward Twining. In 1980, Mwanza became the second municipality after TANGA. In 2000, president Benjamin Mkapa elevated Mwanza into city status, becoming the second city in Tanzania after Dar es salaam. 

Essential Places
A visit to important places around Mwanza city; Bismark rocks, Kamanga ferry, Samaki samaki, Airport, Kapri-point, Rock city shopping mall, CCM Kirumba stadium, Nyamagana stadium, The Hanging tree, Municipal Council, Soko kuu and the old Mwanza Bus stand, Courts, Regional Commissioner Office, Mwaloni Fish market (Eastern and central Africa’s largest fish market), Mlango mmoja, Makorobi (if interested in shopping), Mwanza port (if interested), Germany Gunzet house, Indian old buildings, Maasai market, Railway station and Bugando Hospital.
 

Economic Activities
Main economic activities are farming, livestock keeping, transportation, businesses, mining, fishing and processing industry. Favorable climatic condition for agriculture. Also Mwanza is a major transport transit point for the railway, connecting the Indian ocean port of Dar es salaam via Mwanza by rail and watery by Lake Victoria reaching 2 other East African countries Uganda and Kenya.

Nightlife
Clubbing

Mwanza Hotel Casino and Gambling
If you wish to go to the Casino at night or to do some Gambling at Mwanza Hotel Casino.

Bujora Museum – Sukuma Culture History
The Bujora Museum centre is located at the north-eastern village of Kisesa, 13 kilometres from Mwanza city centre. Bujora is an amazing Museum of the Sukuma, showing how they used to live in the ages of Iron age. Their kinship leaders, elders and division of labour and their economic activities of that time.

Traditional Houses
 
At Bujora there is a huge Church building in which residents who live nearby, or visitors from far afield, could learn how to recite the Catholic liturgy. Liturgy lessons have been conducted in the Church, since its inception by Canadian missionaries 60 years ago ( in 1952). The Church was designed by architectural designers who had vast knowledge of cultural buildings, and since then it attracts thousands of visitors annually, who have keen interest of sampling the richness in traditional cultures that exist in the majesty of the Sukumaland.
Wasukuma are the natives of Mwanza formerly known as the Sukumaland, the main tribe used to live in Mwanza since it has been a village. The largest tribe in Tanzania and the most kind people of all in Tanzania. They are very welcoming, helpful and happy, they don’t to fight with anyone, just peace. Get to know about their culture and ways of living by visiting Mwanza.

A visit to Bujora Museum is a half a day tour in order to experience everything Bujora Museum offers, including the traditional Sukuma Dance and dance with the snake.

Iron technology used to make Iron tools for farming, hunting and weapons.
 

Kisesa Sukuma Cultural Tourism
Kisesa Eco and Cultural Tourism is a designed place to show the Sukuma Cultural and where you can meet and greet the Sukuma tribe people. At Kisesa Eco and Cultural Tourism, you can experience the real African life, Outdoor adventures, Unique beaches rich of fishing culture, experience amazing natural attractions, social and cultural uniqueness of new tourism package Tanzania.
Service offered
There are varieties of choices; well designed trips and tours for groups and individuals. Just few to mention are like:-
• Walking Safaris and cultural activities (3 – 4 hours)
• Meet and greet Sukuma and Zinza families (5 – 7 hours)
• Search the source of River Nile (researched), (3 days)
• Cycling trips within Sukuma villages (5 – 7 hours)
• Sunset cruise (on the privacy island) (5 – 7 hours)
• Boat trips to the unique Islands (Ukerewe or Ukara), (2 days)
• Medical, Flora and Fauna Tourism (3 – 4 hours)
• Historical and Heritage activities, (full day 5 – 7 hours)

Utamaduni Camp
On your way to Serengeti from Mwanza or to Mwanza from Serengeti a visit to Utamaduni camp is not to miss. Utamaduni campsite, located just 12km from the Ndabaka, the entry gate to the Serengeti. At the gate you will be treated to a recipe of introductions of great names such as Lake Victoria, formerly known to the Lake natives as inyanja, which means ‘mass of water’ and the Sukumaland, Bujora Museum and the Bismarck hanging stones, among others.
Major activities at the Utamaduni camp would include, fishing and, canoeing tours in locally assembled boats and dhows. A visit to a home of a traditional healer could be an intriguing experience. But don’t forget savouring the sensational Wasukuma dance sprees such as fire eaters dance, the igobogobo dance in which groups of smallholder farmers assemble and begin tilling the land in their maize fields by hand-hoes as they follow the rhythm of an igobogobo drumbeats, a huge traditional drum. It could be fascinating to watch rhymes , and if you are active enough, then take bait and get involved in the farming dance. There are also some other activities such as the snake dance, healing dance and ecotourism. There are also so many soothing or war songs to be sung at the Utamaduni Camp.

Learn few words of Sukuma while visiting Mwanza, Shinyanga and Simiyu rural areas
Welcome – tuliho
Come in – tuliho
Good morning – mwadila
Come – zogo
Go – jaga
Way/road – nzera
Water – minze
Food – shilewa
Thank you – wabheja
Chair – ghite
Mother – maayo
Father – baaba
Grandmother – maama
Grandfather – goko
Money – hela