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Top Tourist Places to Visit in Mtwara, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Mtwara is a city and the administrative centre of Mtwara Region in the African country, Tanzania. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, between 10°16′25″ S latitude and 40°10′58″ E longitude, around 570 km south of Dar es Salaam, the largest city of Tanzania. Mtwara is home to the soccer club Bandari F.C and the city also houses numerous bars and clubs that get crowded during the evening by both locals and visitors. Among tourists, Mtwara is famous as a great diving spot that can be enjoyed at Mikindani Bay and also many travel agencies in the city offer excellent eco tours for visitors.

 

How to get Mtwara?

Mtwara is well connected to the commercial centre of the country Dar es Salaam by scheduled flight services, catered by Air Tanzania, Precision Air and Tropical Air. The distance of 7 km from the airport to Mtwara can easily be crossed by minibuses and taxis.

Buses are regular between Mtwara and Dar es Salaam that will be around 8 hours journey. Taxis, Tuktuks and motorbike taxis are the prevalent options to get around Mtwara. Bicycle can also be used that is available for rent at the market for 2000-3000/day.

 

Food and Shopping in Mtwara:

Mtwara Market near the bus stand is a great point to bag some local clothes and traditional medicines at affordable prices. Some modern shops in Mtwara include:

• Ray shop
• Makonde Mini Mart
• Carving Stand

List of the major restaurants in Mtwara include:

• Korosho Lodge
• Msemo
• Dubai Restraunt

 

Things to do in Mtwara:

• Scuba diving
• Ayayoru Tours
• Dive safaris
• Visiting villages

 

 

Places to see in Mtwara:

 

Mikindani Bay beaches:

The Mikindani Bay beaches are the first preference of tourists visiting the city Mikindani. Beaches are excellent in condition, offering an amazing diving experience and are located towards the north of Mtwara.

 

eco2 Dive Centre:

Situated on Mnaida Street in Mikindani, around 20 minute taxi drive from Mtwara, the eco2 Dive Centre is recognized as the southern Tanzania’s first marine research, diving and education centre. This fabulous diving centre was opened in 2004 and offers unforgettable scuba diving and dive safaris.

 

Ayayoru Carvings and Tours:

The Ayayoru Carvings and Tours is a recommended tour operator in Mtwara, who conducts a wide range of day tours like Mikindani town historical tour, Makonde dance shows and Mnazi Bay Marine Park trips.

 

Mtwara Airport:

The Mtwara Airport is a nice and well built airport serving Mtwara City, situated around 7 km away from the city centre. Apart from travelers, the airport also receives visitors for its pleasant surroundings.

 

List of other places of interest in and around Mtwara include:

• Selous Game Reserve
• Lukuledi River
• Kilwa Kisiwani
• Kilwa Kivinji
• Mikumi National Park
• Beaches of Dar es Salaam
• Makumbusho Village Museum
• Dar Es Salaam Botanical Garden
• Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower
• Azania Front Lutheran Church
• Kilwa Masoko Airport
• Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve

 

Best time to visit Mtwara:

Mtwara is a year round destination, although the tour of can be experienced best between June and October.

 

Accommodation options in Mtwara:

There are hotels limited in number in Mtwara, so visitors are advised to reach nearby Lindi’s hotels or hotels near Selous Game Reserve that are cost effective and also good in facility and services. Hotels in Mtwara and its nearby areas are as follows:

• Naf Beach Hotel
• Naf Blue View Hotel
• Msemo Beach Hotel
• Ten Degrees South
• Lindi Beach Resort
• Paris Guest House
• Kilwa Pakaya Hotel
• Fanjove Private Island
• Kilwa Beach Lodge
• Mwangaza Hideaway
• The Retreat Selous
• Selous Mbuyu Safari Camp
• Lake Manze Tented Camp
• Sable Mountain Lodge
• Selous Great Water Lodge

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Mbeya, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Mbeya is a Tanzanian city situated in the southwestern part of the country, around 830 km southwest of Dar es Salaam, the largest city of Tanzania. Mbeya is the gateway to many game reserves and national parks in the country like the Kitulo Plateau National Park, Kipengere Mpanga Game Reserve, Uwanda Game Reserve and Usungu Game Reserve. Mbeya serves as the administrative centre of Mbeya region, located between 08°54′ S latitude and 33°27′ E longitude. Situated at an elevation of 1,700 meters, Mbeya experiences a subtropical highland climate with dry winters and humid summers.

 

History of Mbeya:

Mbeya originated as a gold mining town in the 1920s after the gold rush in the region in 1905.  The region of Mbeya was formed in the year 1961 and the town of Mbeya was incorporated into city on 1 July 2005. The construction of the railway line to the area increased the population of Mbeya substantially during the first half of the 20^th century.

 

How to get Mbeya?

Mbeya Airport is the airport serving Mbeya, situated around 3 km away from the heart of the city. This airport connects Mbeya to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Another airport in the area is Songwe International Airport, located around 25 km southwest of Mbeya city. It handles more flights than Mbeya.

Mbeya is also linked to Dar es Salaam by both train and bus services. Dalla-dallas (minibuses) and taxis are the primary options to move within Mbeya.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Mbeya:

Mbeya is home to the eminent football club Prisons FC, which represents Mbeya in the Tanzanian Premier League.

Shops are abundant in number in Mbeya, both traditional and modern options. Mbeya Hotel is an Asian restaurant, mainly famous for Indian and Chinese food.

 

Things to do in Mbeya:

• Trout fishing
• Hiking
• Forest walking
• Game safaris

 

Tourist Attractions in Mbeya:

 

Mbozi meteorite:

Situated around 65 km southwest of Mbeya, the Mbozi meteorite is famous as the world’s one of the largest meteorites. It measures a length of 3 metres and height of 1 meter. This iron meteorite was discovered in 1930.

 

Kitulo Plateau National Park:

The Kitulo Plateau National Park is located to the southeast of Mbeya, which characterizes diverse geographical features, including alpine grassland and montane forest. This nature wonder sprawls over an area of 412.9 sq. km and can be explored through a guided tour.

 

Mount Rungwe:

The Mount Rungwe is the 2^nd highest peak of southern Tanzania with an elevation of 2,960 metres. It is located above the town of Tukuyu, around 70 km south of the city of Mbeya.

 

Sokoine Stadium:

The Sokoine Stadium is the home ground of the soccer clubs Prisons FC and Mbeya United. This multipurpose stadium has a seating capacity of 10,000 people. It will be a nice half day trip for visitors.

 

List of other places of interest in and around Mbeya includes:

• Teofilo Kisanji University
• Mzumbe University
• Ngozi Crater Lake
• Isimila Stone Age site
• Neema Crafts Centre
• Gangilonga Rock
• Matumaini Women’s Centre
• Mkwawa Golf Course
• Iringa University College
• The Mikumi National Parks
• Ruaha National Park
• Mnazi Bay Marine
• Selous Game Reserve
• Iringa Cemetery
• The old Boma

 

Best time to visit Mbeya:

From June to October is the best time to visit Mbeya, except these months, Mbeya receives heavy rainfall.

 

Accommodation options in Mbeya:

Mbeya is a city with all sorts of tourist favor accommodation houses. If visitors head towards the outskirts of the city can find Utengule Coffee Lodge, where accommodation with facilities like swimming pool, tennis and squash courts are available at affordable budget. Here are some nice hotels in Mbeya:

• Mount Livingstone Hotel
• Mbeya Forest Hill Motel
• Hill View Hotel
• GR City Hotel
• Landmark Hotel
• Beaco Resort
• Mbeya Peak Hotel
• Kyela Resort
• Manyanya Inn Hotel
• Mbeya Hotel
• Peace of Mind Rest House
• Utengule Coffee Lodge
• Matema Beach View Lutheran Centre
• Crazy Crocodile Campsite
• Karibuni Center Hotel

Mafia Tourist Places to Visit in Mafia, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Mafia Island is an island belonging to the Zanzibar Archipelago in Tanzania, located at 7°51′ S 39°47′ E. It is one of the popular tourist destinations of Tanzania, drawing a substantial number of tourists, especially game fishermen and scuba divers. The island covers an area of 435 sq. km with a width of 17 km and length of 49 km. Kilindoni is the major town of the Mafia Island, situated on the southeastern part of the island. The economy of Mafia Island is concentrated on fishing, agriculture and touristic activities.

 

History of Mafia Island:

Mafia Island has a strong historical background, dating back to the 8^th century, used as a stopping point by Arab traders between Middle East and Africa. Mafia Island was acquired by the German troops in 1890 by the treaty with the Sultan of Oman. Mafia Island also witnessed the British rule in its long history.

 

How to reach Mafia Island?

There is an airport on Mafia Island, served by Coastal Aviation with flights from Dar es Salaam, Pemba, Selous, Tanga and Zanziba. The airport is located within the town premise of the island’s main town Kilindoni.

Probably buses are not available to get around Mafia Island, but one can rent a rickety Land Rover with driver in the vicinity of the market of Kilindoni. Bikes can also be hired that are gettable at the major hotels and resorts on the island.

 

Food and Shopping on Mafia Island:

Kinasi Shop is a well known handicraft centre on Mafia Island. Some nice food corners on Mafia Island include:

• Kinasi Lodge Restaurant
• Kinasi Bar
• Top Life
• Sunset Bar

 

Things to do in Mafia Island:

• Diving
• Snorkeling
• Boat riding

 

What to see in Mafia Island?

 

Mafia Island Marine Park:

The Mafia Island Marine Park is one of the highlights of Mafia Island, founded in the year 1995 with the financial aid of the WWF (World Wide Fund for nature). Apart from marine lives fishes and turtles, the park also offers a great diving experience.

 

Jibondo:

Jibondo is an island as well as fishing village, situated to the south of Mafia Island. It can be reached by boat from Mafia Island, which takes around 30 minutes. It is worth a trip.

 

Big Blu Mafia Island Diving Center:

The Big Blu Mafia Island Diving Center is a situated at Utende beach within the Mafia Island Marine Park. It is an excellent diving centre and also provides accommodation and dining facilities for visitors. Sea excursions and land excursions are also offered here.

 

Bwejuu Island:

The Bwejuu Island is an island situated between the Rufiji Delta and Ras Kisimani, towards the east of the main Mafia Island. It is home to beautiful beaches, where visitors can experience fabulous swimming. It is also a wonderful snorkeling point.

 

Other places of interest in and around Mafia Island include:

• Afro Whale Shark Safari
• Lighthouse at Ras Mkumbi
• Ras Kisimani
• Mafia Airport
• North Mafia Island
• Beaches of Dar es Salaam
• Makumbusho Village Museum
• Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower
• Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve
• Dar Es Salaam Botanical Garden
• Azania Front Lutheran Church
• Karimjee Hall
• Mbudya Island
• Askari Monument
• Zoological Gardens in Dar es Salaam

 

When to visit Mafia Island?

June to October and December to February are the best times to visit Mafia Island and visitors can also consider September – March for diving.

 

Where to stay in Mafia Island?

Mafia Island houses a wide range of accommodation options ranging from budget lodges to resorts to bungalows with all tourist favor amenities and services. The prominent hotels in Mafia Island are listed below:

• Mafia Island Lodge
• Mafia Beach Bungalows
• Butiama Beach
• Chole Foxes Lodge
• Ibizza Inn
• New Lizu Hotel
• Pole Pole Bungalows
• Whale Shark Lodge
• Meremeta Lodge
• Shamba Kilole Eco Lodge
• Chole Mjini Lodge
• Lua Cheia Beach
• Ras Mbisi Lodge
• Didimiza Beach Guest House
• Kinasi Lodge

Tourist Places to Visit in Lushoto, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Lushoto is one of the districts and towns belonging to the Tanga Region of Tanzania, covering a total area of 4,091.62 sq. km. It is a border district, bounded by the Muheza District to the east, Korogwe District towards the south, Kilimanjaro Region towards the northwest and Kenya to the northeast. Lushoto is geographically positioned at 4°47′55″ S latitude and 38°17′25″ E longitude, around 270 km southeast of the city of Arusha and 370 km northwest of the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam. West Usambaras Lushoto Mountain Reserve comes within the limit of Lushoto and is mainly famous among hikers and mountain climbers.

 

History of Lushoto:

Lushoto was earlier called Wilhelmstal during the German rule in Tanzania from the 1890s to 1918 and the name had come from the last German Emperor Wilhelm II. The real developments began in the district during the German rule and later it fell under the British rule along with the rest of Tanzania following the World War I and remained until the country’s independence on 9 December 1961.

 

How to reach Lushoto?

Tanga Airport is the closest major airport to Lushoto, situated around 100 km southeast of Lushoto. It operates flights from/to Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Pemba and Zanzibar.

Lushoto is reachable by direct bus services from Dar es Salaam but buses’ number is less, so it is advised visitors to board bus to Moshi or Arusha at Dar es Salaam Bus Station after getting down from the flight and then visitors have to reach Mombo, where direct buses available to Lushoto on regular intervals.

 

Food and Shopping in Lushoto:

Tumaini Restaurant is one of the famous food corners in Lushoto, serving visitors with both western and local food. There are also many standard shops in Lushoto.

 

Things to do in Lushoto:

• Mountain climbing
• Hiking
• Day tours

 

What to see in Lushoto?

 

Usambara Mountains:

The Usambara Mountains is one of the highlights of Lushoto district, located in the West Usambaras Lushoto Mountain Reserve. This scenic mountain range measures a length of 70 miles, while width ranges from 20 to 40 miles. The mountain reaches up to a height of 2,440 meters and is frequently visited climbers and hikers from all around Africa.

 

Amani Nature Reserve:

The Amani Nature Reserve was founded with the purpose of conserving dense and distinct flora and fauna of the East Usambara Mountains in the year 1997. Covering an area of 8,380 hectors, the reserve is also home to many spectacular waterfalls that can be explored best through a guided tour.

 

Mazumbai University Forest:

The Mazumbai University Forest is known as the East Usambaras’s last pristine forest. The forest is also the site of many substantial researches on ecology and natural history.

 

Mkomazi National Park:

Situated to the north of Lushoto, established in 2006, the Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania continues with the Tsavo West National Park in Kenya. Tanzanian part covers an area of 3,200 km², housing dense flora and a wide range of bird and animal species.

 

Other places of interest near Lushoto include:

• Irente Biodiversity Reserve
• Soni Falls
• Ngorongoro Crater
• Arusha National Park
• Tarangire National Park
• Lake Manyara National Park
• Cultural Heritage Centre Arusha
• Meserani Snake Park
• Kilimanjaro Golf
• The National Natural History Museum
• Mount Kilimanjaro
• Lake Manyara
• Bishop’s Cathedral of Arusha
• Arusha Clock Tower

 

When to visit Lushoto?

The best time to visit Lushoto depends on visitors’ interest, though the most preferred time to travel Lushoto is from June to October.

 

Where to stay in Lushoto?

There are several nice hotels, camping sites, lodges and guest houses in Lushoto that are also famous for arranging day tour for their guests with a well informative guide. The prominent hotels in and around Lushoto are as follows:

• Swiss Farm Cottage
• Lawns Hotel
• Irente Biodiversity Reserve
• Kanaani-Resthouse
• Avocado Lodge
• MamboViewPoint
• Mullers Mountain Lodge
• Shellu Lodge
• Eugene’s Lodge
• Kakakuona Lodge Lushoto
• Tumaini Hostel
• Irente View Cliff Lodge
• Highland Park Hotel
• Eddies Lodge
• Lushoto Sun Hotel