Mara Tourism - Explore Tanzania
Mogabiri Caves - Tarime
These caves are located in the slopes of the Great Rift Valley specifically in a village known by the caves’ name, Mogabiri (village) or literally ‘let’s share it in between in the language of the Wakurya (Kurya) ethnic tribe.
East Africa Rift Valley
The scenic rift valley (pictured above and below) crosses through a number of countries in East and southern Africa. But one thing significant is that almost the entire 75km stretch of the valley could be viewed while standing just behind the Mogabiri village, the biological host of the ‘shared’ caves, in Tarime.
Murky caves
The inside of the vertically designed caves whose height is about six feet is pitch dark. Presumably, to enjoy the architectural inside décor of the caves, that resembles the famed Amboni caves in Tanga, Tanzania one has to use a flash light or torch, testimonies by visiting personalities could indicate.
Criss-crossing roads
A network of criss-crossing roads, make the viewing of the site once you have entered the inside of the caves, quite sensational at the same time depicting existence of beehive of activities.
Muriba Forest in Tarime
This is another tourist and natural attraction in Tarime district. It is host to indigenous tree species and it is
recommended for sightseeing and traditional bee keeping activities.
Five Islands of Iramba
These imposing Islands are simply known as the five Islands of Iramba. They are located between two peninsulas; the Bunda peninsula on the south and Majita peninsula in Musoma rural district, on the west respectively. You could easily view the islands from the Mtiro hills, whose one of its flat peak is believed to be the tallest in the Lake Zone bloc.
Butiama Julius K. Nyerere Museum
Mwalimu Nyerere museum is a historical institution established to preserve and exhibit the historical, social and political life history of one of the first president of Tanzania Julius Kambarage Nyerere also known as the father of Tanzania Nation.
The museum and its surroundings have some interesting things that can be seen and done when visiting the site. The idea of building the museum was germinated in 1985 after Mwalimu retired as the first president of Tanzania. The Museum also houses the mausoleum of Mwalimu, his grave another gem in Butiama.
Balili ranges Hiking
The hills stretch over a large part of Bunda coastline and jutting into the inland. It is stretched across a number of villages despite its imposing 1,604 -metres height above sea level
Nyamieri water falls
These unique falls are located on Mara River, and form the border between Serengeti and Tarime districts. The site consists of two waterfalls, a small one is known as male Nyamieri, and a larger one is known as the female Nyamieri (omukari). There is scant tales on the gender form of the sparkling falls.
Lukuba Islands
You can enjoy the setting of the sun while at the peak of the twin Lukuba Islands. The tiny one is just called ‘small Lukuba, and the larger one, is the Big Lukuba. Lukuba, comes from the ethnic Kijita language that means lightning.
The ‘Island’ usually known in symbolic singular and not in plural form, can be reached in ten minutes boat ride from the beach situated 13 kilometres from the Musoma town western-lakeshore by boats or canoes.
Tiny Lukuba island is now entirely owned/leased to an investor who has put up a lodge. But the larger Lukuba, has been predominantly fishermen property since time immemorial. Both islands have beautiful nature and wildlife such as birds, but since the small Lukuba has been ‘developed’ the population of the birdlife has dropped due to human economic activities. The islands offer nice opportunities to walk around and explore the twin islands.
Recent estimations show availability of 72 species of birds life on the island. Other animals also available on the island and in its water, include the naught velvet monkeys, spotted neck otters and monitor/ lizards. A successful trek to the peak of the island can give a visitor spectacular sunset views. At the other side of the island, (north western) there is a pristine beach which gives nice sunset views too. It is easily
accessible since the lodge operators own a ferry boat which plies up and down of the tiny Lukuba island. Up and down trips to the ‘great’ Lukuba can be arranged. Normally the lodge operators at the little Lukuba, would offer their boat for hire. Otherwise, traditional canoes service can be arranged at a negotiable fee.
Mara River Airboat Tour
Get a boat cruise over the blue waters of the mighty Mara River which gave birth to the name of the region. The service has been running since 2007 between Musoma on the south and Tarime, up north of Mara River. The service started just as recreational sport, but it has become popular and more visitors some coming from as far as Arusha over 350 km away, to participate in the cruise.
The airboat is unlike the usual boat. The airboat has a flat bottom and it uses propellers to float on the water surface just like an air-balloon. It is a new phenomena and it calls investment and awareness for interested investors to come solely, or form partnership with communities who live around the Lake or the River.
Nyatwali magic water - Bunda
This is another natural attraction that exists in Nyatwali fishing village stretching alongside the Lake Victoria beach south of Bunda, coolly stocking its traditional healing potency.
Chitaphubhu hill
The Chitaphufubu hill or simply ‘Chitafubhu’ is loosely translated as hippo (fubhu) killer (chita) hill (hippo killer hill) from the ethnic Waruri language who live in Bwai, over 45 km south west of Musoma. The hill offers nice views over the lake and its south western coast line and it is a great view point for watching the sun as it goes to sleep in the evening horizon. The hippo killer hill forms part of tourism attractions-cluster of the Majita peninsula, which include, Busekera beach, Majita hill, and Mtiro hill believed as being the tallest on the entire Lake Zone, and Nyachilima water spring.
The cluster offers wide range of tourism attraction packages such as sightseeing of the lower landscape
from hill tops, leisure tours, picnics at the Busekera beach, bike tour and visits to Nyachilima hot water spring which is located deep in the Nyachilima traditional forest on the Majita Peninsula, some 90 km away from Musoma. The cluster can be reached by public transport service vehicles that ply between Musoma and Majita and Musoma-Bwai, and vice-versa. Climbing Mtiro hill can be done with the service of a guide, usually, native boys and it is conducted strictly on designated routes or walking paths. Mtiro hill provides spectacular viewing, walking or having lunch up there because its peak is also round and flat!
Mukendo hill
While in Musoma town, take time out and make a climb to Mukendo hill, a rocky mountain that overlooks the Musoma town as its land mass juts into the Lake, the geographical formation that made the town to acquire its name Omusoma (the peninsula) and later corrupted into the current Musoma, presumably by the first colonial officials. At the base of Mukendo hill there is a network of caves which elders believe were used by the legend Mukendo who live in the mountain.
There is also an old German building just below the northwestern part of Mukendo hill now used as an
administrative office, and it is an attraction worth visiting. Wide range of hotels mushroom downtown Musoma, presumably to catch up with the increasing number of visitors to sample the existing attractions in Mara region and its districts.
Maji Moto spring (Hot spring)
This is a hot water spring found in Seregenti district It is located off the Musoma-Mugumu road in a village known as Ngoreme. Its waters can boil to above 30C degrees temperature just hotter enough to boil ripe maize for 15 minutes or nearby. The water is used as an alternative healing therapy. If you stick your fingers in the water, it is not really possible to hold them in longer than 5 or 10 seconds because the water is incredibly hot. There is also a number of hot springs in and around the Lake zone regions.
Healing water (visitors taking the cure)
Click here to learn basic tribal words, which you will encounter while in Mara.
- Serengeti Park
- Northern Circuit Tour
- Saanane Island Park
- Rubondo Island Park
- Beaches
- Rocks Tourism
- Igogo Caves
- City Tour
- Bujora Museum
- Gunzert House
- Markets & Shopping
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- Kageye Historical site
- Volunteer Tourism
- Sporting Tourism
- Investment Opportunities
- Butiama Museum
- Ukerewe Tourism
- Livestock Tourism
- Religion Tourism
- Slums Tourism
- Historical Sites
- Events Tourism
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- Transportation Adventure
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- Education Tourism
- Eating Tourism
- African Lifestyle
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- Misungwi G.R.
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- Mara Touring
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