Tanzania’s second-largest city, the largest city of Mwanza region, and the lake region’s economic heart, Mwanza is set on Lake Victoria’s shore, surrounded by hills strewn with enormous boulders. It is a major industrial centre and a busy port. Yet despite its rapidly rising skyline, Mwanza manages to retain a casualrelaxed feeling. In addition to being a stop on the way to Rubondo Island National Park, Mwanza is a great starting or finishing point for safaris through Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, ideally as a loop by adding in Lake Natron. It is about 130 km from Lamadi Village that is a point the Serengeti Marathon passes while the starting point of the Marathon is a short distance from the Lamadi village inside Serengeti National Park.
Mwanza Region
is one of Tanzania’s 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is the city of Mwanza. Mwanza region is home to Ukerewe Island, the largest lake island in Africa as well as Saanane Island National Park, the smallest national park in Tanzania.
The neighbouring regions are Geita to the west, Shinyanga to the south, and Simiyu to the east. Furthermore, Lake Victoria borders the region’s north frontier.
Culture
The Mwanza Region is occupied by Four tribes include the Wasukuma, the Wakerewe, Wakara and Wazinza. Mwanza city’s Makongoro Road is named after a prominent Sukuma chief who controlled the area in the late 1800s. Under British rule, the region was one district in the Lake Province, which became the Lake Region after independence. In 1963, the Mwanza Region was created.
The Wasukuma tribe is the major tribe occupying the Mwanza Region, though other regions that are occupied by Wasukuma include the Shinyanga Region, Geita Region and Simiyu region.
Transport
Mwanza region is well connected by road, rail, water and air transport
Roads
Paved trunk road T4 from Musoma to Bukoba passes through the district from east to west. While paved trunk road T8 from Mwanza to Shinyanga passes through the region from north to south.
Railways
The Mwanza branch of the Central Line railway passes through the region on its way from Mwanza to Tabora and there are several stations within the region’s borders
Maritime transport
Ferries connect Ukerewe Island with Mwanza city. Other ferries operate between Mwanza and Sengerema District.
Air transport
Mwanza International Airport is a major regional airport in northern Tanzania serving the city of Mwanza. It is located near the southern shores of Lake Victoria approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) from the city. It serves as the main hub for Auric Air and a secondary hub for Precision Air.
