Places to Visit in Sumbawanga, Rukwa, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa
Sumbawanga is a city and the administrative centre of Rukwa Region in the western part of Tanzania. Located at 7°58′ S 31°37′ E, Sumbawanga is situated around 380 km northwest of the city of Mbeya and 900 km southwest of Dodoma, the capital of Tanzania. Sumbawanga is home to the Rukwa General Hospital, the largest hospital in Rukwa Region. Agriculture is the backbone of Sumbawanga’s economy, mainly from the production of maize and rice. Being the capital of the region, Sumbawanga holds all types of facilities like hotels, restaurants, shops, colleges and recreational centres.
Connectivity to Sumbawanga:
The Sumbawanga Airport is located 3 km away from the city centre and offers flights from/to the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, served by Auric Air. Sumbawanga is situated around 390 km from Mbeya Airport, where flights from Dar es Salaam are also available.
The bus transportation of Sumbawanga extends to its nearby cities, both towards the north and south directions, including the cities of Mbeya and Mpanda. Visitors can hire taxi and rental car at the local travel agency for airport travel, intercity travel and to move within the city.
Food and shopping in Sumbawanga:
Kifipa is a widely spoken language in Sumbawanga and locals also speak Kiswahili as their second language. Sumbawanga houses a mid size traditional market, where local specialties like plastic goods, handicraft products and traditional jewels can be bagged for reasonable prices. There are also many nice restaurants in the city.
What to do in Sumbawanga?
- City tour
- Walking
- Shopping
What to see in Sumbawanga?
Conference centres in Sumbawanga:
Sumbawanga is the site of many famous cultural centres, especially conference centres, including Libori and Moravian conference centres, where cultural events take place regularly.
Sumbawanga Memorial:
Sumbawanga Memorial is a manmade rock formation, erected in the circle directing a way to the city of Sumbawanga. It is a nice construction and also one can bring camera to take pictures of this typical structure.
Lake Rukwa:
The Lake Rukwa is situated to the east of Sumbawanga, covering an area of 5,760 square kilometers with a length of 180 kilometers and width of 32 kilometers. The lake is a perfect place to enjoy boat riding and swimming.
Uwanda Game Reserve:
Adjoining Lake Rukwa, the Uwanda Game Reserve sprawls over an area of 4100 square kilometers, featuring a dense forest with the opportunities of trekking, hiking and many other outdoor activities.
Katavi National Park:
The Katavi National Park is located around 150 km from the city of Sumbawanga and is the 3rd largest national park of Tanzania with an area of 4,471 square kilometers. Established in 1974, the park features Katuma River, Lake Katavi and Lake Chada and houses abundant animal species, Cape Buffalo, hippos and elephants. It is worth a trip.
List of other places of interest in and around Sumbawanga includes:
- Luafi Game Reserve
- Mahale Mountain National Park
- Lukwati Game Reserve
- Rukwa Game Reserve
- Sokoine Stadium
- Mount Rungwe
- Kitulo Plateau National Park
- Mbozi meteorite
- Teofilo Kisanji University
- Ngozi Crater Lake
- Gangilonga Rock
- Matumaini Women’s Centre
- Mkwawa Golf Course
- Isimila Stone Age site
- Neema Crafts Centre
Best time to visit Sumbawanga:
The best time of the year to visit Sumbawanga is from June to October when the weather dry and supportive for outdoor activities.
Where to stay in Sumbawanga?
In Sumbawanga proper, hotels are limited, but most hotels of the region are located around Katavi National Park. Tourists can also consider that hotels to have better hospitality services. The prominent hotels in and around Sumbawanga are listed below:
- Chada Katavi
- Lake Shore Lodge & Campsite
- Katavi Wildlife Camp
- Katuma Bush Lodge
- Flycatchers Camp
- Palahala Luxury Camp
- Super City Hotel
- River Side Camp
- Lupita Island Resort & Spa