Mwanza is the fastest-growing city in East Africa and the second-largest city in Tanzania. Mwanza is the economic heart of the Lake Region.
Mwanza is famous for its strong Indian influences as well as for being a major industrial center and a busy port. Mwanza is exciting because it manages to maintain a casual feel despite its rapidly growing skyline. Mwanza is an excellent starting or ending point for safaris through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro because of its geographical formation and economic importance.
Mwanza has a lot to offer. But here I will share the most exciting things you can do while you are in or around Mwanza.
1. Explore the Bismarck Rock
2. Rock City Mall
3. The Bujora Sukuma Museum
4. Explore Saanane Island National Park
5. Hike the Robert Koch Hill
6. Mwaloni Fish Market
7. Dancing Rocks
8. Visit Maasai Market
9. The Boat Cruise on the Lake Victoria
10. Explore Rubondo National Park
In the remaining part of this article, I will detail the activities listed above. But first, let me give you some basic information about Mwanza. So, read on to find out more.
What Do You Know About Mwanza?
Mwanza is the second-largest city in Tanzania and the economic heart of the Lake Region. It is a port city on the southern shore of Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in the world. The region is surrounded by hills dotted with huge rocks. This is one reason why Mwanza is famously called “Rock City”.
Mwanza is home to the Rock City Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in Tanzania. Fishing is the main occupation of the people of Mwanza along the coasts of Lake Victoria. Mwanza is also commonly known for being a gateway to major tourist destinations in the Northern Circuit.
Are you in Mwanza or planning a trip to Mwanza? It is a worthwhile idea to take a day or more to explore what Mwanza has to offer.
Let us now explore in detail the most exciting activities you can do in Mwanza or the surrounding areas.
1. The Bismarck Rock
Your stay in Mwanza will not be complete without exploring this iconic rock. Bismarck rock is an icon of the city of Mwanza. It is a precariously and magically balanced rock that no one can imagine. The rock is located within the Mwanza Gulf in Lake Victoria.
When you visit this gigantic rock, you will not only get an amazing view but also a historical explanation. Here is a point where a statue of the late German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck was erected. The statue was then lowered into the water nearby when the British took over the Germans.
This is when the rock took its name until today. Since that time, this rock has become the top attraction for locals and tourists in the city. Just take a taxi and go to the Kamanga ferry or you can walk there if your hotel is in town. Or you can just use the daladala – the public transport. Whether you take a taxi or the daladala, they are usually affordable.
When you reach the ferry, hire a boat to take you to the rock so that you can have a panoramic view of the rock. This tour will give you the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise or sunset on the freshwater.
Here, you will be amazed at how such a boulder balanced on another rock without any support. For even more excitement, you can leave the boat and explore the base rocks of the iconic Bismarck.
If you are adventurous, you can try to climb the Bismarck. But keep in mind that most of the rocks here have steep sides, making it almost impossible to climb to the top.
It is exciting to get a glimpse of the lake from here and see how the locals live. You will find yourself putting on your camera because this rock is worthy of a photo. But be careful with the rock itself, even though they say it is stable, No one dares to push it.
If you are determined not to leave the lake without climbing the rock, then you can try the other nearby rock which is more stable.
It is located on the shore next to the park. After you are exhausted from the rock, you can chill in the nearby park and enjoy the view of the rock. The environment is cool, the restaurant is nice, and the food here is world-class.
My colleagues and I came here on our work trip from Musoma to Geita through Mwanza in 2018, and we enjoyed lunch here. I cannot forget the chips, mayai, mishikaki and fresh juice. From here, you can also walk past the nearby Mwaloni fish market.
Sample freshly caught fish or buy raw to cook later if you like, or head to the town’s port from here and take the sea transport to other parts of the lake. It is still worth exploring.
2. Shopping At Rock City Mall
The Rock City Mall is the largest mall in Mwanza and one of the largest malls in Tanzania. Rock City Mall is the most innovative business complex in East Africa. It is a business centre for local and international shoppers and visitors.
You will find a range of services such as supermarkets, offices, shops, banks, conference halls, cinema halls, boutiques, hair salons, taxi services, travel services, indoor and outdoor activities, bars and restaurants, a large car park, business agencies, and other services.
I came here with my colleagues on a work trip from Mara to Kagera via Mwanza in March 2020. Security and management are provided here for customers to enjoy their visit. Among the exciting things we enjoyed was going through the shops and supermarkets to do shopping.
Then we accompanied one of our colleagues to the Eyecare pharmacy, which was located on the second floor. The store was staffed by specialized customer service personnel. From there, we went to the cinema for a 3D movie.
The cinema here is stunning and has the customer firmly in mind. One is given the ultimate all-around cinema experience. It was of the high quality, comfort, and value for money that a modern cinema is known for.
After about an hour, we went out into the garden and enjoyed taking a few photos before heading out for the evening meeting. We did not try the food here as one of our colleagues has siblings in Mwanza who had already prepared dinner for all of us. If you have enough time, you should spend at least three hours here.
2. Bujora Sukuma Museum
The Sukuma Museum is an open-air museum based in the city of Mwanza. Its mission is to promote and celebrate the history and culture of the Sukuma tribe. Sukuma is the largest tribe in Tanzania and many of their traditions are still practiced today.
You will enjoy seeing Sukuma elders teach the younger generations the acceptable rules of conduct in their area. You will also be able to interact with the locals to learn about their culture and hear their good stories.
You will have the chance to interact with local artists who make crafts that showcase their culture. The structures of the museum are even more interesting as they resemble the actual life of the Sukuma people.
You will have the opportunity to explore the royal pavilion of the Sukuma. Hear stories about their chiefs of the tribe called “Mtemi”, their battles, their fighters, and their lifestyle. I even suggest taking a nice photo while sitting on one of their chairs holding a spear and shield.
To make your tour even more adventurous, but also fun, spend some time with one of the snakes that are kept in a cage here. It is said that these snakes are taken from the wild where they hide by singing and dancing. This is the same technique that was used by snake charmers, traditional healers, and witch doctors.
Snakes are considered important animals in the Sukuma tribe and are well cared for. Under the guidance of their keeper, you can hold one or two of them and take a photo with them. The keepers here know snakes well and are very concerned about your safety.
You can also ask for a sukuma dance group or learn sukuma drumming if you like and agree on the price. Learn more about their traditional marriages and daily practices. Afterward, head to the artifacts where you will be tempted to buy some souvenirs.
If you are lucky enough to be there during the Bulabo Dance Festival, you will be amazed. The festival is held every year and features two traditional dance troupes: the Bagika and Bagalu. They dance with a variety of animals, including snakes as props.
What is even more interesting is that the event also invites any group of dancers. The groups get to perform and compete with their own designed traditional costumes and style.
Then take a tour of the traditional Sukuma homestead and feel the real local lifestyle. Visit a traditional healer and an African clinic to learn how to heal traditionally. If you still have time, explore the Bujora with its unique traditional Sukuma architecture.
If you feel exhausted, you can cool off with drinks and snacks at the shop. The shop is located near the main entrance.
Accommodation is available but rarely used. So, make sure you book in advance. At least a half-day tour here is enough to get real information about the Sukuma tribe. It is a beautiful experience.
3. Saanane Island National Explore Park
Saanane Island National Park is the only national park located within the city and the smallest national park in East Africa. This Park is also one of the two national parks in Tanzania that are located on the island of Lake Victoria. It is located 2 km southwest of Mwanza city center on an island in Lake Victoria.
The Park consists of small islets of Chankede Kubwa and Chankende Ndogo. The Park was named after Mzee Saanane Chawandi who was the owner of the island at that time. He was a local farmer and fisherman. Take a boat to the park to explore this beautiful park on a guided tour. It is about 10 minutes from the park headquarters at Capri Point to the island.
When you reach the park, you will be amazed to find a lot of exciting activities. It is a walking tour of sorts, so get ready for hills and long walks. But still, it is part of the adventure and to get your body fit. The history of the park itself is something you cannot miss here.
Did you know that this park was established in 1964 as the first zoo in Tanzania? Here, you will learn how different animals came into existence. Animals like buffaloes, bushbucks, elephants, impalas, and rhinos were transported to the island.
Other animals brought to this island are Dik Dik, wildebeest, zebra, topi, warthogs, giraffes, porcupines, crocodiles, primates such as patas monkeys, velvet monkeys, and others. The dangerous animals were caged while others were in the wild.
The Park was bombed once on March 29, 1979, during the 1978-1979 Uganda-Tanzania War. The mission was to attack Mwanza, but the Tu-22 missed the town and its five anti-personnel missiles hit the island instead. One worker was injured and several animals, especially antelope, were killed.
Whether on a guided walk or a boat ride, you will still see many animals up close. These include buffalo, warthogs, lions, bushbuck, elephant, wildebeest, and zebra.
You will also find the black rhino, impala, rock hyrax, spotted hyena, velvet monkey, and colobus monkey. The Park is also home to leopard tortoises, crocodiles, monitor lizards, agama lizards, and pythons.
If you love bird watching, this park is a perfect place for you. More than 70 species of birds are recorded here. Among them are native bird species, migratory birds, and waterfowl.
I can almost guarantee that you will see African Darters, African Gray Parrots, Gray Kingfishers, Herons, Cormorants, and Ospreys.
Another fun and interesting thing to do here is guided sport fishing in a designated area. Look forward to catching tilapia or Nile perch and other fish by catching and releasing them. For more fun moments, you can picnic, camp, film and eat in the bush if you wish.
4. Hike Robert Koch Hill
You may have heard of the German Nobel award winner, Robert Koch. This hill was named after him. What makes this hill so special is its mansion, built on its top in the center of town.
This old mansion is a landmark of Mwanza with great views of the city and the lake. If you visit this hill, you will have the opportunity to see the old mansion of the German Nobel awardee. Several people, including Maasai, live unofficially in the abandoned mansion.
It is quite easy to climb the hill if the weather is not very scorching. But make sure you put on your adventurous shoes because there is no clear path to get to the top. Your tour will take you through the paths, bushes, and busy market.
It is not advisable to hike up here late in the day and you should not go alone. But it’s still a fun adventure that’s historically interesting and gets your body fit. So, make sure you take the local guide and have fun.
5. Mwaloni Fish Market
Mwaloni Fish Market is an international fish market in East Africa, located in Mwanza town. The market is located under the roof with a huge Balimi display. It is a common understanding that no visit to Mwanza is complete unless you have visited this place.
This is a beautiful place where you can experience some of the vibrant city life from the ground. The usual products you will find here are a wide variety of fish straight from the fishermen.
No one visits Mwanza and misses out on consuming fresh fish, especially tilapia or Nile perch. These tasty types of fish can only be found in Lake Victoria.
Everyone who comes to Mwanza wants to taste the delicious and tasty fish that the lake offers. Here, you will simply find everything fresh.
So when you visit this market, you will have the chance to buy some of the fresh fish and cook them later like the locals. Or you can sit down at one of the restaurants here and enjoy the food that is already prepared. Fruits, vegetables, and other fresh agricultural products are also abundant here.
These products are mostly shipped in small boats from the surrounding areas. You will find as many marabou storks as vendors.
Your visit to this market will give you the opportunity to see and learn how some of the products are prepared and packaged to be shipped to other countries which include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, and Mozambique.
6. Finding The dancing Rocks
The Dancing Rocks are rocks at Jiwe Kuu (big rock) in the north of the city. This is one of Rock City’s more rock formations. These round granite boulders sit on top of the larger rocks and have managed to last ages without rolling off. You will be amazed when you see one of the rocks here that looks like someone left their fingerprints all around it.
I came here with my colleagues on a work trip from Mara to Kagera via Mwanza in March 2020. We took a local guide with us who showed us the way and explained the superstitious stories about it. It is said that a powerful witch doctor once went to the Dancing Rocks.
There he left his mark on the rocks and softened them to show people his power. It’s a fun story to hear, you will be thrilled to see both the city and the lake from here. Watching the sunrise and sunset is another interesting thing to do from here.
To get here, take the Daladala to Bwiru and run west on the Nyerere road. From their terminus, it is only 1.5km to the rocks. Or organize a taxi from your hotel as it can be quite difficult to find the rocks if you ask people on the road.
8 Maasai Market
The Maasai market is the usual Maasai market in Mwanza. Here you will find a few dozen Maasai selling beaded jewelry on both sides of the jetty. It is certainly not the largest Maasai market in the country, but you will still find beautiful handmade items here. All the items are of good quality and made by local people.
An interesting part of this place is that it is not only a place to shop but also a place to see Maasai arts and crafts. They are well designed with beautiful colors. You can also find local Maasai medicines and other things related to Maasai culture. So when you are in Mwanza town, walk past the footbridge and enjoy the Maasai market.
9 Boat Cruise On The Lake Victoria
A boat tour is another way to enjoy your stay in Mwanza town. This tour gives you the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise and sunset on the freshwater. My colleagues and I had a great moment on the water here. We were passing through Mwanza from Musoma to Geita on our work trip and decided to explore the lake by boat. We hired a traditional boat at Kamanga ferry and took it to the water.
It is a beautiful experience to watch the sunrise and see the rock city from the lake. You will be thrilled to see some locals who have built their dwellings on the rocky hills. I remember taking photos of Bismarck Rock from the boat as we passed near it.
The view of the water itself is thrilling, almost blue. None of us could manage not to touch and feel the freshwater of the second largest lake in Africa.
I thank our tour guides; they were helpful and willing to answer anything we could ask. Then we return to the park for lunch while we go through the photos we took on the water. It was a beautiful experience that I cannot forget.
10. Rubondo National Park
Rubondo National Park is one of the most off-the-beaten-track parks in Tanzania. The Park is one of two national parks in Tanzania located on an island in Lake Victoria. Rubondo National Park hosts the record of being the largest national island park in Africa.
Rubondo National Park is located on the southwestern coast of Lake Victoria. Rubondo National Park includes Rubondo and other small islands from Lake Victoria. If you are in Mwanza or nearby, be sure to take time to explore what this park has to offer.
It is as if you are in a dense jungle, in the tall trees and the wide range of fine green plants. The best part is that some days you may find that you are the only visitor here.
Best of all are the guided walking safaris where you can see the animals up close. Among the animals you will get to see are the chimpanzees, but they are not yet fully grown. Rubondo National Park is home to a very special group of chimpanzees.
Their ancestors were brought here in the 1960s by Professor Bernhard Grzimek from the Frankfurt Zoological Society. They were 16 captive-born apes rescued from zoos and shows all over Europe. Here they were given a free life in the wild.
The chimps loved their freedom and quickly established a healthy breeding population. Today, there are over 40 chimpanzees on the island.
The most common animals you are guaranteed to see here are black and white colobus monkeys, elephants, giraffes, and antelopes.
The parrots are at home here and you will find them everywhere here. Other popular animals that you can see here are hippos and crocodiles.
Are you a bird lover? You will find that birds are everywhere here. About 300 species of birds are recorded here. You will easily see large flocks of magpie kingfishers, open-billed and marabou storks. Cormorants, terns, ospreys, and egrets are also commonly spotted here.
This Park is a great place to watch the sunrise from the beautiful beaches. The beaches include Flycatcher, Michicoco, and Mchangani.
Another interesting activity here is walking through the forests to observe butterflies. There are about 40 species of orchids that attract stunning butterflies. So expect to see a lot of amazing butterfly species.
Conclusion
In general, you will find a lot of exciting things to do in Rock City. You may find it hard to decide which activities you should go for.
That is the reason why I have listed only the most exciting and fun ones for you. It is okay that you can’t try them all, but what you can do is combine some of the activities. Choose activities that fit your interests.
