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The city of Mwanza is the major Tanzanian port
on Lake Victoria and a major
centre of economic importance in the region. The
lake borders the country’s East African
neighbours Uganda to the north west, and Kenya
to the north east, and export and transport
between the countries is a 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.
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 less bust part of the
park and see the magic of the Serengeti without
the parade of safari vehicles and seasonal
crowds. Mwanza is also the centre of the Sukuma
tribe, the largest tribe in Tanzania, who have
inhabited and farmed the region for centuries.
Cultural tourism programmes to their local
villages and farms can be arranged through the
local cultural centre. |
