Mwanza

Busy Port City on Lake Victoria

The city of Mwanza is the major Tanzanian port on Lake Victoria and a major centre of economic importance in the region. Export and transport between the neighbouring countries of Kenya and Uganda is the foundation of Mwanza’s economy.

Around the city of Mwanza, the land is primarily devoted to agricultural enterprise. Tea, cotton, and coffee plantations throughout the area produce large volumes of cash crops that pass though Mwanza on their way to market. The town’s industrial harbour and busy streets make it a prosperous, and busy, place to explore.

Mwanza is also the centre of the Sukuma tribe, the largest tribe in Tanzania, who have inhabited and farmed the region for centuries. The Mwanza region was first under the Sukuma, Kerewe, Kara and Zinza empire until the Germans came and colonized Tanganyika where Mwanza region was a district.

For visitors, the city makes a good base from which to explore nearby Rubondo Island National Park and the western parts of the Serengeti. Rubondo Island National Park offers pleasant day-hikes and bird watching around the lake shore. Mwanza’s proximity to the western Serengeti makes it a necessary stop for visitors who want to experience a quieter part of the park and see the magic of the Serengeti without the parade of safari vehicles and seasonal crowds.

You can visit Ukerewe Island for lush forest and unspoiled beaches or take a boat trip out to Saa Nane Island which is a popular relaxation spot for Tanzanians themselves due to its gorgeous landscape and peaceful idyllic surroundings. There’s also Bwiru in Mwanza where you can watch the sun set on the ‘dancing rocks’, a beautiful experience not to be missed. 

For cultural attractions in Mwanza head to Halwego Handebezyo Museum and Bujora Museum where you are able to learn about daily life in Mwanza.

Highlights of Mwanza