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TOURIST ATTRACTION:

Mountain reserves and wildlife:

The area around Mbeya has been called the "Scotland 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 the town.

Mount Rungwe:

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 craters and domes. Rising above the small town of Tukuyu, at 2,960m, Rungwe is southern Tanzania's highest peak, and is third in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in the north. 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 Abbot'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 monkeys.

Poroto Mountains:

Poroto Mountains are located in south-east of Mbeya. A completely new species of large monkey has been 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.

Rivers:
(Natural Brdge)

Catchments from the reserve feeds numerous villages and towns from Kiwira 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.There are game watching safaris, and also trout fishing in the mountains to the south.

Walking and Hiking Tours:

Mbeya region has a favourable terain for hiking and forest walking. Its cooler climate, friendly villages and pure clear water in the river catchments are all there to be experienced. Well-defined hiking trails have been established to enable hikers to reach the elevated areas and bio-diverse highlands. Poroto Mountains around the small town of Tukuyu are some of the best, and least known trekking in Africa.

Kitulo Plateau:

Kitulo plateau is locally known as Bustani ya Mungu (God's Garden). For six months of the year it is covered with spectacular wild flowers, and is home to many species of birds, including the blue sparrow. The plateau has an enormous variety of rare flowers (with 350 species of vascular plants documented to date), including many species of ground orchid, and is one of the great natural flower gardens of the world. From October to April the flowers are in full bloom, creating an amazing carpet of color. Comprising 273 km2 of Afromontane and Afroalpine grassland, perched 2,600m above sea level, it is the most coldest part of southern highlands. The plateau is also home to variety of animal species.

It is the first protected areas in tropical Africa to be gazetted primarily on the merits of its floral significance.

IN GENERAL:

Mbeya is the best place in Tanzania for hiking and forest walking, which encouraged by cool weather. You can arrange natural excursions to the scenic part of the region like Lake Ngozi, Rungwe Mountain, Natural Bridge in Kiwira or flower garden at Kitulo Plateau, Songwe Bat Caves, and Mbozi Meteorite site.

 

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