Mbeya
Mbeya is one of the beautiful regions in Tanzania. This region is in the southwest of the country, and its capital is Mbeya. First-time visitors to Mbeya will be astonished by the fantastic weather conditions that change with the seasons.
The Mbeya region has many tourist attractions; however, some have not been fully exploited. Some of the best attractions found near the city include Loleza Peaks and the Utengule viewpoint. Another attraction that can amaze you due to its tales and myths is the Kiwira River. This river is located just near Tukuyu town, 36 kilometers from Mbeya city.
This river is popular and well-known for its natural attractions, including the legendary “Kijungu”, or cooking pot, a naturally formed pot-looking landform in which the river empties its contents.
Not far from “Kijungu” is the “Daraja la Mungu”, or God’s Bridge, all under the mighty magic influence of the Kiwira River. The two attractions (Kijungu and Daraja la Mungu) can be reached after two to three hours of driving from Mbeya city on the Kyela highway, branching off at a village known as Keiki just after Kiwira town, some 10 kilometers along a dusty road that also leads to Kiwira Prisons Training College.
Kijungu acquires its name due to the ‘pot-like shape of the base, where the waterfalls make a whirlpool and take a course that takes seven days for the water to return to a nearby spot and continue with its journey downstream.
From Kijungu, the river continues its course through volcanic rocks for about eight kilometers to Daraja la Mungu (Natural Bridge). Before reaching the natural bridge, there is a man-made bridge where the riverbanks are a bit close together.
Here, there is another myth: Anyone who attempted to leap across the banks lost their life. According to local people, those who tried to jump across the river perished.
From Kijungu is Daraja la Mungu, or the God’s Bridge, which was formed around 18 million years ago over the Kiwira River.
Other attractive places in the Rungwe district include Ngosi Crater Lake, which formed about a million years ago; Kaparogwe Falls; natural caves; and a human footprint believed to be that of the earliest man.
A natural cave where 100 cows were hidden during tribal wars among the Wanyakyusa people is found near Kiwira town. This cave is a tourist-pulling attraction where guided visits can be arranged. On the way to the Zambian border town of Tunduma, some 70 kilometers from Mbeya city on Marengo Hill, you will find the Mbozi Meteorite.
The 12-metric-tonne meteorite was discovered in 1930, when only the top was visible. It is the world’s eighth-largest fallen meteoroid or a shooting star.
A visit to the Meteorite site is always fascinating, especially if you are in a group and travel by public transport to get a better taste of the countryside and experience some adventures.
Unlike most meteorites, which consist of silica, the Mbozi meteorite is uncommon in that it is composed mainly of iron (90.45 percent) and nickel (8.69 percent), with negligible amounts of copper, sulfur, and phosphorus. Locals in Mbozi refer to the meteorite by its Kiswahili name, “Kimwondo, but no tales or legends recount its sudden falling out. Geologists suggest that it might have fallen from the sky about 1,000 years ago, before the present inhabitants arrived in the area.
The Mbozi meteorite site has been planned to accommodate visitors, with a little reception house, benches, and tables. The warden lives in a small mud house about 50 meters from the meteorite and will ask you to sign the visitor’s book.
It is an excellent environment, good for picnicking. A visit would help you understand the primordial nature of the Earth and our universe at large.
The Mbozi Meteorite was declared a protected monument by Government Notice No. 90 of 3rd March 1967 (Antiquities Act, 1964).
It was not lifted to mount it on its plinth; a trench was dug underneath its central part, and a concrete bench was built to hold it. The trench was then enlarged on both sides, and the concrete bench was extended until the meteorite was resting on the plinth. The hillside was dug away all around it so that it could be seen more easily.
In Kyela, a quick visit is worth it. The area is famous for pottery. You will enjoy the culture-making clay pots, with various decorations and colors, all made by women. You can stop by Kyela to buy a beautiful pot.
Near the Malawi border, in Kasumulu, is the famous Matema Beach, best for recreation, with cool weather and soft sands along Lake Nyasa. Various tourist investments, including the construction of lodges, are taking place on the shores of Lake Nyasa.
Lake Nyasa, which forms the boundary between Tanzania and Malawi, could be among the leading tourist attractions in the southern highlands. The 800-meter-deep lake and shoreline offer pristine beaches for water sports and sunbathing. The lake is the third-largest water body bordering Tanzania, covering 500 kilometers in length and 50 kilometers in width.
Other than Matema, there are Mbamba Bay and Manda, all on the Tanzania side of the shoreline. Lake Nyasa, which lies 472 meters above sea level, is shared by the three countries of Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
However, Mozambique has the smallest water area, and the three countries form the Mtwara Development Corridor (MDC) – an area earmarked for investment through a joint undertaking by Southern African countries.
From the Lake Nyasa Shores are the Uporoto, Kipengere, and Livingstone mountain ranges, as well as the Rift Valley features.
Usangu Valley Game Reserve is famous for its wildlife and has been one of the best tourist hunting safari areas in Tanzania. The Great Rift Valley has transformed most of the land in Mbeya into volcanic mountains, craters, and deep valleys filled with water springs and permanent rivers.
The most panoramic and breathtaking waterfalls in the Mbeya region worth visiting are Kapologwe, Nzovwe, Mlowo, Salala, Kitekelo, Nagwamo, Nyihemi, and Nyengenge.
The Chimala and Matamba escarpments, where a road with 57 hairpin bends (sharp corners) has been constructed, are another major natural attraction in Mbeya—the road snakes for nine kilometers along the escarpment, which is full of waterfalls and natural scenery.
