Mbeya
Encyclopedia
Mbeya is a city located in southwest Tanzania
, Africa. Mbeya's urban population was 280,000 in 2005. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region
(population, with Mbeya, totals approx. 2 million).
Mbeya is the first large urban settlement encountered when travelling overland from the neighbouring nation of Zambia
. Mbeya is situated at an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,500 ft), and sprawls through a narrow highland valley surrounded by a bowl of high mountains. The main language is colloquial Swahili
, and the English language
is extensively taught in schools.
rush, Mbeya was founded as a gold mining
town in the 1920s. The TAZARA railway later attracting farming migrants and small entrepreneurs to the area. Mbeya and its district was administered by the British
until 1961. Mbeya Region was created in 1961.
Mbeya City is now a growing metropolis and business centre for the southern regions and neighbouring countries like Malawi,Zambia and Congo.
The City is well connected with an al weather road that forms part of the "Great North Road" running from Cape Town to Alexandria.
The City also boasts several tribes like the Safwa, Nyakyusa,Nyiha all being agriculturals people.
Mbeya also boasts as one of the regions that form the bread basket of Tanzania.
Services and corrugated iron roofing are seemingly the main business activities, after smallholder agriculture
. Local crops include maize
, rice
, banana
s and potato
es. Tanzania has a free market
in agricultural produce, and Mbeya transports vast amounts of its maize to other areas of Tanzania. There is also extensive animal husbandry, with dairy cattle predominating. Smallholder agriculture is not standardised; methods vary greatly and are often innovative. High-value export crops are also grown, such as tea and coffee. There is some smallholder cultivation of tobacco
. Firewood is collected by women and girls, from the wooded valleys and mountainsides. Bamboo
is naturally abundant in the forests, and there are plans to teach local people about this versatile plant and its many uses. Some gold is still mined in the rural Chunya District, by artisan miners.
Since 2004 Mbeya has advanced considerably. A plethora of hotels and guest houses have sprung up in Mbeya, as well as many other banks now offering ATM/VISA services.
There is a large 450-bed hospital in Mbeya. It serves the whole of the Southern Highlands region, although there is a severe shortage of trained medical staff.
There are also number of schools, churches, hotels, a regional police headquarters, and several petrol stations in Mbeya. As well as the usual shops, there is a fixed vegetable and fresh produce marketplace. Mbeya provides a variety of services, including the Apricort Restaurant, Sindi Chinese Restaurant, 'Babu Kubwa' Indian restaurant, Metro Cuisine and internet cafes.
Mbeya has extensive outskirts, with the worst poverty concentrated at the fringes.
, Mbeya has some institutes of higher learning education:
(Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification
), with humid summers and dry winters. The general range of temperature is between -6 °C in the highlands and 29 °C on the lowland
s. Mbeya's cooler climate can be deceptive in terms of sun exposure - sun screen lotion is recommended when hiking, even in what seems to be overcast weather. The weather from June until October, is dry and cold. The best weather is from December to February, although the heaviest rainfall occurs during the months December to March - it is somewhat warm (relatively speaking).
The area around Mbeya town (especially in Tukuyu) enjoys abundant and reliable rainfall which stimulates abundant agriculture on the rich volcanic soils. Average rainfall per year is around 900mm. The rainy season is from March to May. It is cool in Mbeya much of the time. Sometimes visitors will need warm clothing, such as a sweater or hat, to keep warm.
Because it is in the Southern Hemisphere, winter is June-Oct while summer is from Dec-Feb.
of Africa", and with good reason. The hills are clad in heather
and bracken
, but botanically
they are more closely related to the Fynbos
(fine bush) of South Africa
’s Western Cape Province than the Highlands of Scotland. The nearest mountain to Mbeya is Loleza Mountain
, which rises over and behind the town. Mbeya Peak is visible but some distance away.
Mount Rungwe
is the highest mountain in the wider Mbeya region and it dominates the skyline for several kilometers around. It is composed of ten or more dormant volcanic crater
s and domes. Rising above the small town of Tukuyu
, at 2,960m, Rungwe is southern Tanzania's highest peak, and is among the highest in the country after some of the peaks in northern Tanzania such as Mount Kilimanjaro
(5,895m) and Mount Meru
(4,565). Mount Rungwe is surrounded by the catchments forest reserve that was gazetted in 1949. This forest reserve incorporates montane
forest
, upper montane forest and montane grassland, with lesser amounts of bushland
and heath
at the upper elevations, found in low bushes along streams and at the edges of montane forest. The forest is home to a variety of significant forest flora and fauna, including the threatened Abbott's Duiker
. The forest is regarded as important bird area, with two species listed as vulnerable. The most notable creatures are Rungwe bush viper and Colobus monkey
s.
Also ecologically important are the Poroto Mountains
, south-east of Mbeya. In 2005, a completely new species of large monkey was discovered living in the southern highlands to the south-west of Mbeya. The Mbeya region has not yet been closely studied by scientists, and doubtless there are also many new species of plants to be discovered there, and perhaps even new animals.
The Kitulo Plateau, famous for its orchids and display of native flora is now within the designated Kitulo National Park
.
Forests in the area, even in the reserves, continue to be encroached upon and degraded. However, there has also been extensive tree and forest planting, which ensures the local firewood supply. There is a small illicit trade in orchid bulbs, which is thought to be endangering the survival of some species.
to Katumba
to Tukuyu
and Kandete
, and all settlements in between. All streams from the north, west and southwest flow into the Kiwira River
. These streams include the Marogala
, Sinini
, Kipoke
, Kilasi
and Mulagala
. In the southeast is the source of the Mbaka River
, with the Suma River
feeding into it. In the east the Mrambo
and the Mwatisi
flow out of the reserve. All of the above rivers flow into Lake Nyasa. The region's rivers are generally clear and fresh, and the area is outside the mosquito
zone. Freshwater fish abound in the rivers. Other rivers flow from various sources in a catchment divide at the area called Igoma in Mbeya rural district. Also, Igoma is a dividing watershed for the two river systems, those flowing southward to lake Nyasa and those flowing northward towards the Usangu plains. The rivers flowing norhtwards are Ipatagwa, Mlowo Mwambalizi and other minor ones and are among tributaries of the great Ruaha River which flows into Indian Ocean.
A major airport is under construction about 20 km south west of Mbeya but is not yet functioning for commercial flights.
There are game watching safaris, and also trout fishing in the mountains to the south. There are efforts to widen tourism
beyond animal and wild game viewing, which can best be done in Madibila and Rujewa
.
Mbeya is the best place in Tanzania for hiking
and forest walking; which is aided by the cooler climate, friendly villages and pure clear water in the river catchments. Well-defined hiking trails have been established to enable hikers to reach the elevated areas and bio-diverse highlands, although the trails need to be properly map
ped. For self-sufficient hikers, some of the best, and least known trekking in Africa is in the Poroto Mountains
around the small town of Tukuyu
.
Botanical excursions are also promoted, due to the presence of the natural flower garden at Kitulo.
Recommended lodgings include: the Karibuni Center in Mbeya, the Mbeya Hotel, the Holiday Lodge, the Highlands and the Moravian Youth Hostel for budget travellers. South of Mbeya, signposted off the main road into Zambia, the Utengele Country Resort is a charming country hotel with excellent food and a vibrant pub.
by Prisons FC
; the team is owned by the Tanzanian Prison Service based in Mbeya and the home venue is Sokoine Stadium
.
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Africa. Mbeya's urban population was 280,000 in 2005. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region
Mbeya Region
Mbeya is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is Mbeya. It is bordered to the northwest by Tabora Region, to the northeast by Singida Region, to the East by Iringa Region, to the South by Zambia and Malawi and to the West by Rukwa Region...
(population, with Mbeya, totals approx. 2 million).
Mbeya is the first large urban settlement encountered when travelling overland from the neighbouring nation of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. Mbeya is situated at an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,500 ft), and sprawls through a narrow highland valley surrounded by a bowl of high mountains. The main language is colloquial Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
, and the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is extensively taught in schools.
History
Following the 1905 goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
rush, Mbeya was founded as a gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
town in the 1920s. The TAZARA railway later attracting farming migrants and small entrepreneurs to the area. Mbeya and its district was administered by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
until 1961. Mbeya Region was created in 1961.
Mbeya City is now a growing metropolis and business centre for the southern regions and neighbouring countries like Malawi,Zambia and Congo.
The City is well connected with an al weather road that forms part of the "Great North Road" running from Cape Town to Alexandria.
The City also boasts several tribes like the Safwa, Nyakyusa,Nyiha all being agriculturals people.
Mbeya also boasts as one of the regions that form the bread basket of Tanzania.
Economy and infrastructure
Local government is administered via the Mbeya Urban District authority and a Regional Commissioner.Services and corrugated iron roofing are seemingly the main business activities, after smallholder agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Local crops include maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s and potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es. Tanzania has a free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
in agricultural produce, and Mbeya transports vast amounts of its maize to other areas of Tanzania. There is also extensive animal husbandry, with dairy cattle predominating. Smallholder agriculture is not standardised; methods vary greatly and are often innovative. High-value export crops are also grown, such as tea and coffee. There is some smallholder cultivation of tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
. Firewood is collected by women and girls, from the wooded valleys and mountainsides. Bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
is naturally abundant in the forests, and there are plans to teach local people about this versatile plant and its many uses. Some gold is still mined in the rural Chunya District, by artisan miners.
Since 2004 Mbeya has advanced considerably. A plethora of hotels and guest houses have sprung up in Mbeya, as well as many other banks now offering ATM/VISA services.
There is a large 450-bed hospital in Mbeya. It serves the whole of the Southern Highlands region, although there is a severe shortage of trained medical staff.
There are also number of schools, churches, hotels, a regional police headquarters, and several petrol stations in Mbeya. As well as the usual shops, there is a fixed vegetable and fresh produce marketplace. Mbeya provides a variety of services, including the Apricort Restaurant, Sindi Chinese Restaurant, 'Babu Kubwa' Indian restaurant, Metro Cuisine and internet cafes.
Mbeya has extensive outskirts, with the worst poverty concentrated at the fringes.
Education
Besides a growing number of secondary schools like Meta, Sangu, Loleza, Mbeya day, St Mary's MbeyaSt Mary's Mbeya Secondary School
St Mary’s Mbeya Secondary School is a school in Mbeya, Tanzania, located on the Tanzania-Zambia Highway. It serves students from the Tanzania Southern Highlands, Dar Es Salaam, Morogoro, Arusha, and Iringa regions. Students also attend from Malawi and Zambia. The school is a branch/campus of the...
, Mbeya has some institutes of higher learning education:
- Teofilo Kisanji University is a young institution of the Moravian Church in Tanzania offering courses in theology,business, arts, sciences and educational studies, as well as training pastors and. Since 2005, it has grown out of the earlier Moravian Theological College. The college is situated at Soweto suburb.
- Mbeya Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) is a public institution offering degrees, advanced diplomas, and ordinary diplomas in various engineering disciplines. MIST was formerly known as Mbeya Technical College (MTC). The College is at Iyunga area. Currently, it is under the process of being transformed into a full University
- Mzumbe UniversityMzumbe University- External links :**...
(MU) Mbeya Campus is situated in Forest area next to the Bank of TanzaniaBank of TanzaniaThe Bank of Tanzania is the central bank of the United Republic of Tanzania. It is responsible for issuing the national currency, the Tanzanian shilling....
. This public University offers bachelor degrees and diplomas in law and business, as well as providing evening programs in postgraduate studies.
- Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) is another public University, offering advanced diplomas and ordinary diplomas in Accountancy, Procurement, and Material Management. The Institution is situated at the Mafiat area, along the Tanzania-Zambia Highway.
- Agricultural Research Institute (ARI Uyole), with a training college and a large research library. This was previously the Ministry of Agriculture Research and Training Institute (MARTI).
- MARTI-Igurusi is a training college in agricultural sciences, and is similar to the ARI Uyole. Its uniqueness is based on being the only agricultural institution in Tanzania which offers various irrigation courses
- Shukrani International College of Business Management and Administration is an institution operated by The Salvation Army in Tanzania. Located in the Soweto area of Mbeya, it offers diploma courses in Business Administration, Sales and Marketing, Computer Studies, Office Management and Administration.
- VETA Southern Highland Zonal Centre is another vocational training college, situated in the Ilomba area.
- Tumaini University has also opened its centre in Mbeya, at Uzunguni area, which offers various diplomas and certificate courses. The processes are underway in order to open the University College at Uyole
- The University of Arusha has already opened its centre at SOWETO suburb, which offers various courses there.
Geography and climate
Mbeya has a subtropical highland climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
(Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
), with humid summers and dry winters. The general range of temperature is between -6 °C in the highlands and 29 °C on the lowland
Lowland
In physical geography, a lowland is any broad expanse of land with a general low level. The term is thus applied to the landward portion of the upward slope from oceanic depths to continental highlands, to a region of depression in the interior of a mountainous region, to a plain of denudation, or...
s. Mbeya's cooler climate can be deceptive in terms of sun exposure - sun screen lotion is recommended when hiking, even in what seems to be overcast weather. The weather from June until October, is dry and cold. The best weather is from December to February, although the heaviest rainfall occurs during the months December to March - it is somewhat warm (relatively speaking).
The area around Mbeya town (especially in Tukuyu) enjoys abundant and reliable rainfall which stimulates abundant agriculture on the rich volcanic soils. Average rainfall per year is around 900mm. The rainy season is from March to May. It is cool in Mbeya much of the time. Sometimes visitors will need warm clothing, such as a sweater or hat, to keep warm.
Because it is in the Southern Hemisphere, winter is June-Oct while summer is from Dec-Feb.
Mountain reserves and wildlife
The area around Mbeya has been called the "ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
of Africa", and with good reason. The hills are clad in heather
Calluna
Calluna vulgaris is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to tall, or rarely to and taller, and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade...
and bracken
Bracken
Bracken are several species of large, coarse ferns of the genus Pteridium. Ferns are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells . Brackens are in the family Dennstaedtiaceae, which are noted for their large, highly...
, but botanically
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
they are more closely related to the Fynbos
Fynbos
Fynbos is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate...
(fine bush) of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
’s Western Cape Province than the Highlands of Scotland. The nearest mountain to Mbeya is Loleza Mountain
Loleza Mountain
Loleza Mountain is a mountain of Tanzania. It is located in the Mbeya Region, behind the city of Mbeya.-References:*...
, which rises over and behind the town. Mbeya Peak is visible but some distance away.
Mount Rungwe
Mount Rungwe
Mount Rungwe is a potentially active volcano in the Mbeya region of the southern highlands of Tanzania. At an altitude of , it is southern Tanzania's second highest peak. Rungwe stands at the junction of the eastern and western arms of the Great Rift Valley of Africa. It dominates the mountainous...
is the highest mountain in the wider Mbeya region and it dominates the skyline for several kilometers around. It is composed of ten or more dormant volcanic crater
Volcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
s and domes. Rising above the small town of Tukuyu
Tukuyu
Tukuyu is a small, of 50,000 inhabitants, hillside town that lies about south of the city of Mbeya, at an elevation of around in the highland Rungwe District of southern Tanzania, East Africa. The local language is colloquial Nyakyusa together with the national language Swahili. Secondary and...
, at 2,960m, Rungwe is southern Tanzania's highest peak, and is among the highest in the country after some of the peaks in northern Tanzania such as Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
(5,895m) and Mount Meru
Mount Meru (Tanzania)
Mount Meru is an active stratovolcano located west of Mount Kilimanjaro in the nation of Tanzania. At a height of , it is visible from Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and is the tenth highest mountain in Africa. Much of its bulk was lost about 8,000 years ago due to an eastward volcanic blast,...
(4,565). Mount Rungwe is surrounded by the catchments forest reserve that was gazetted in 1949. This forest reserve incorporates montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, upper montane forest and montane grassland, with lesser amounts of bushland
Bushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
and heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
at the upper elevations, found in low bushes along streams and at the edges of montane forest. The forest is home to a variety of significant forest flora and fauna, including the threatened Abbott's Duiker
Abbott's Duiker
Abbott's Duiker is a large forest dwelling Duiker found only in a couple of scattered enclaves in Tanzania. It is believed by some to be a subspecies of the Yellow-backed Duiker...
. The forest is regarded as important bird area, with two species listed as vulnerable. The most notable creatures are Rungwe bush viper and Colobus monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s.
Also ecologically important are the Poroto Mountains
Poroto Mountains
The Poroto Mountains are a mountain range in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. They are located east of the city of Mbeya.-References:...
, south-east of Mbeya. In 2005, a completely new species of large monkey was discovered living in the southern highlands to the south-west of Mbeya. The Mbeya region has not yet been closely studied by scientists, and doubtless there are also many new species of plants to be discovered there, and perhaps even new animals.
The Kitulo Plateau, famous for its orchids and display of native flora is now within the designated Kitulo National Park
Kitulo National Park
Kitulo National Park is a protected area of alpine grassland and montane forest in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The Park covers an area of , lying partly in Mbeya Region and partly in Iringa Region. The protected area includes the Kitulo Plateau and the adjoining Livingstone Forest...
.
Forests in the area, even in the reserves, continue to be encroached upon and degraded. However, there has also been extensive tree and forest planting, which ensures the local firewood supply. There is a small illicit trade in orchid bulbs, which is thought to be endangering the survival of some species.
Rivers
Catchments from the reserve feeds numerous villages and towns from KiwiraKiwira
Kiwira is an administrative ward in the Rungwe district of the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 20,119.-References:...
to Katumba
Katumba
Katumba is an administrative ward in the Rungwe district of the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 10,965.-References:...
to Tukuyu
Tukuyu
Tukuyu is a small, of 50,000 inhabitants, hillside town that lies about south of the city of Mbeya, at an elevation of around in the highland Rungwe District of southern Tanzania, East Africa. The local language is colloquial Nyakyusa together with the national language Swahili. Secondary and...
and Kandete
Kandete
Kandete is an administrative ward in the Rungwe district of the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 9,727.-References:...
, and all settlements in between. All streams from the north, west and southwest flow into the Kiwira River
Kiwira River
Kiwira River is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
. These streams include the Marogala
Marogala
Marogala is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
, Sinini
Sinini
Sinini is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
, Kipoke
Kipoke
Kipoke is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
, Kilasi
Kilasi
Kilasi is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
and Mulagala
Mulagala
Mulagala is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region.Mulagala is also a family name or clan name commonly found among telugu speaking people in northern Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Regions....
. In the southeast is the source of the Mbaka River
Mbaka River
Mbaka River is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
, with the Suma River
Suma River
Suma River is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
feeding into it. In the east the Mrambo
Mrambo
Mrambo is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
and the Mwatisi
Mwatisi
Mwatisi is a river of Tanzania. It flows through the Mbeya Region....
flow out of the reserve. All of the above rivers flow into Lake Nyasa. The region's rivers are generally clear and fresh, and the area is outside the mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
zone. Freshwater fish abound in the rivers. Other rivers flow from various sources in a catchment divide at the area called Igoma in Mbeya rural district. Also, Igoma is a dividing watershed for the two river systems, those flowing southward to lake Nyasa and those flowing northward towards the Usangu plains. The rivers flowing norhtwards are Ipatagwa, Mlowo Mwambalizi and other minor ones and are among tributaries of the great Ruaha River which flows into Indian Ocean.
Tourism
The rains normally start in October and end around May, followed by a dry and cold spell between June and September. Mbeya can be reached by bus services along tarmac roads, or via the TAZARA railway line from the capital (approx. 600-miles, two overnight passenger trains per week). An airport is marked on maps, this grass strip handles quite a number of aircraft weekly including Missionary Aviation Fellowship Flights, AMREF air ambulance and various charter and government planes.A major airport is under construction about 20 km south west of Mbeya but is not yet functioning for commercial flights.
There are game watching safaris, and also trout fishing in the mountains to the south. There are efforts to widen tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
beyond animal and wild game viewing, which can best be done in Madibila and Rujewa
Rujewa
Rujewa is an administrative ward in the Mbarali district of the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 27,553.-References:...
.
Mbeya is the best place in Tanzania for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and forest walking; which is aided by the cooler climate, friendly villages and pure clear water in the river catchments. Well-defined hiking trails have been established to enable hikers to reach the elevated areas and bio-diverse highlands, although the trails need to be properly map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
ped. For self-sufficient hikers, some of the best, and least known trekking in Africa is in the Poroto Mountains
Poroto Mountains
The Poroto Mountains are a mountain range in the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. They are located east of the city of Mbeya.-References:...
around the small town of Tukuyu
Tukuyu
Tukuyu is a small, of 50,000 inhabitants, hillside town that lies about south of the city of Mbeya, at an elevation of around in the highland Rungwe District of southern Tanzania, East Africa. The local language is colloquial Nyakyusa together with the national language Swahili. Secondary and...
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Botanical excursions are also promoted, due to the presence of the natural flower garden at Kitulo.
Recommended lodgings include: the Karibuni Center in Mbeya, the Mbeya Hotel, the Holiday Lodge, the Highlands and the Moravian Youth Hostel for budget travellers. South of Mbeya, signposted off the main road into Zambia, the Utengele Country Resort is a charming country hotel with excellent food and a vibrant pub.
Sports and culture
As for football, the city is represented in the Tanzanian Premier LeagueTanzanian Premier League
Tanzanian Premier League is the top division of the Football Association of Tanzania, it was created in 1965. The competition was simply known as national league and later First Division Soccer League until the name Premier league was adopted in 1997.-Format:...
by Prisons FC
Prisons FC
Prisons FC is a Tanzanian football club owned by the Tanzania Prisons Service based in Mbeya. Their home games are played at Sokoine Stadium.-Performance in CAF competitions:*CAF Champions League: 1 appearance...
; the team is owned by the Tanzanian Prison Service based in Mbeya and the home venue is Sokoine Stadium
Sokoine Stadium
Sokoine Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Mbeya, Tanzania. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home venue for Prisons FC and Mbeya United, previously known as . It currently holds 10,000 people...
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External links
- Accommodation in Mbeya
- Rail timetable details.
- Karibuni Center in Mbeya.
- A tourist diary of a visit to Mbeya.
- Extensive photo gallery of Mbeya, its people and activities in 2001.
- Map of the forest reserves around Mbeya.
- Southern Highlands Conservation Programme is based in Mbeya.
- Detailed 1936 study of the Mbeya region's topography (German only, but English map).