Mbeya
Mbeya is among the beautiful regions found in Tanzania. This region is located in the southwest of the country, while its capital is Mbeya city. First-time visitors to Mbeya will be astonished by the amazing weather conditions changing according to the season.
The region of Mbeya has been blessed with 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, some10 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 making a whirlpool and taking 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 way through the volcanic rocks some eight kilometers to Daraja la Mungu (Natural Bridge). Before reaching the natural bridge, there is a man-made bridge, at a point where the river banks are a bit close together.
Here, there is another myth: Anyone who attempted to leap across the banks lost his life. According to local people, those who attempted to leap across fell into the river perished.
From Kijungu, is Daraja la Mungu, or the God’s Bridge that was formed around 18 million years over the Kiwira River.
Other attractive places in the Rungwe district include Ngosi Crater Lake that was formed about a million years ago and Kaparogwe falls, natural caves, and a human footprint believed to be 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 could 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 at a time 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 you travel using public transport as a means of getting a better taste of the countryside and face some adventures.
Unlike most meteorites which consist of silica, 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 recounting its sudden falling out, but 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 and 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 a wonderful 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 in order 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 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 different decorations and colors, all done by women. You can stop and buy a beautiful pot at Kyela.
Near the Malawi border of Kasumulu, is the famous Matema Beach which is best for recreation with cool weather and soft sands of lake Nyasa. Various tourist investments including the construction of lodges are taking place on the shores of Lake Nyasa.
Lake Nyasa, which serves as a boundary for Tanzania and Malawi, could be among the leading tourism attractions in southern highlands. The 800-meter deep lake and shoreline offer pristine beaches for water sports and sun-basking recreation. The lake is the third-largest water body bordering Tanzania with a coverage of 500 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide.
Other than Matema, 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 although Mozambique shares the least water area, and the three countries form the Mtwara Development Corridor (MDC) – an area earmarked for investments through the joint undertaking of the Southern Africa Countries.
From the Lake Nyasa Shores, are the Uporoto Ranges, Kipengere, and Livingstone mountain ranges and 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 land faces of Mbeya into volcanic mountains, craters, and deep valleys full of water springs and permanent rivers. The most panoramic and breathtaking waterfalls worth visiting in the Mbeya region are Kapologwe, Nzovwe, Mlowo, Salala, Kitekelo, Nagwamo, Nyihemi, and Nyengenge.
Chimala and Matamba escarpments where the road with 57 hairpin bends (sharp corners) has been constructed is one other major natural attraction in Mbeya. The road snakes through nine kilometers on the escarpment, which is full of waterfalls and natural scenery.