Location: Mbeya
Top Things to do in Mbeya
Top Restaurants in Mbeya
Countries
Top 6 Things to do in Mbeya, Tanzania
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).
Restaurants in Mbeya
1. Ngozi Crater Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Jae_Kim_22 - Seoul, South Korea
It is the second largest crater lake in Africz and surprisingly unknown... it is a good hike to the top. But don't go to the downhill to the lake if you are not confident in climbing.. very steep and difficult!
All in all, it worths visiting if you are around Mbeya!
2. Kitulo National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Maria123761 - Kuta, Indonesia
This park is really stunning, but rarely visited. From chitimba there are two ways to drive up. There is one dirt road that is Nice and also has a bus driving to matamba, and there is one very bad road with lots of hairpins a few kilometer outside chitimba. Make sure you take petrol in chitimba! If you are a very experienced driver and have a very good 4WD you can take the road with the multiple hairpins (we Did), but I wouldn't recommend IT as IT is only frequented by motorcycles.
In Matamba we stayed at a local hostel called Hotel Bustani ya Mungu, a little further than Gods Eden which is well indicated. Contrary to what is written in Lonely planet is doesn't have a blue roof but red and blue Stones. The rooms are very cheap (15000 tsh), and clean enough. In the morning (OR on request in the evening) you Will get a Bucket of hot water to shower. Rooms have their own bathroom with toilet but there is NO running water. Make sure that you order your breakfast day before so they can prepare and agree on a price, otherwise they Will make you pay too much. We had Chapati, coffee and thee and brought our own marmelade. They don't serve dinner, we had a Nice and very cheap dinner in Gods Eden (also hotel closer to the main road, but with a noisy bar so we didn't want to stay there). Order your dinner also before otherwise IT Will either take long OR not be possible.
3 km from Matamba to the Kitulo gate is the national parks office (300 meter on the left, well indicated). They have free WiFi and even let us use their computer with internet. You pay your park fees there. They have a small map but that is usefull. You don't need to take a ranger but if you are looking for a Nice hike IT is handy as they can show you the route. I'm not sure if there is a bus from Matamba to Kitulo but there are several bussen crossing the national park. The main entrance is 12 km from Matamba, so you could hire a motor cycle as well and hitchhike back.
The park is truely amazing and a must see. We wanted to hike to the waterfall (5 km one way) and Parked our car there, but met a ranger who said IT was not possible due to very agressieve bees and indeed there was one other car with people who got bites all over and were quite sick. The other waterfall is a 19 km road just after the main gate to the left which we found too far away. Instead we Did a wonderful hike to a summit from where we could not only see the park, but also the Vally with the village of Matamba and further away bevond the rif. The entrance of this hike is very hard to spot. You take the road to the camping site, and about 50 meters before arriving on the camping site the road Turns to a right and the hiking path is straight ahead. On the higher parts you can see the path clearly and IT is a great path to hike. Another way is behind the main office buildings just after arriving inthe park. Ask a ranger. Only the first part of the path is hard to spot, after that is really easy to find your way.
After visiting Kitulo we drove through the park the next morning as we were going to Malawi. IT is a dirtroad, very scenic and easy to find and is a lot shorter than back via chitimba. NO extra park fees needed, just say you are driving through.
3. Mbeya Peak
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Zmhcote - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Well worth hiking Mbeya Peak while you are in the area. Depending on where you start, it is between 5 and 6 hours total for the average hiker. Relatively easy and pleasant, done with one or two local teenagers happy to show you the way for a few thousands TSH, arranged at the "starting" point.
4. Gazelle Safaris
Overall Ratings
5 based on 5 reviews
Flights / Safari Packages / Beach Holidays and Charters
Reviewed By HSchu - Washington, DC, USA
We have just returned from an absolutely astonishing and beautiful three-day safari with Gazelle to Ruaha National Park! It was an amazing experience, and we loved loved working with Umang and Beena, the two delightful owners -- who were accomodating with our schedules while giving us lots of ideas, providing door-to-door service to Ruaha and a FABulous tented lodge there, and giving us a weekend that far exceeded our expectations.
The stay in Ruaha was beautiful, and FULL of wild animals. Umang and Beena personally accomanied us on the weekend trip, and Umang expertly guided us around the park, including to areas which no one else knew of (meaning we were the only car for miles). We found tons of lions, elephant, giraffes, zebras, impala, kudu, baboons, and even a leopard sleeping in a tree! They coordinated a lovely schedule, arranged for delicious food throughout the weekend, and provided an individualized itinerary based on our interests.
We have been so thrilled that we are using Gazelle to book a week in the north of Tanzania as well as time in Zanzibar for later on in our travels, and could not have been happier with them. Wholeheartedly recommended to any and all.
5. Mbozi Meteorite
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By stefano s
That's the 8th biggest in the world with its 16 tons and 3 m length. Mainly Iron with some Nickel. Damaged by souvenir producers, it remains a massive spectacular cosmic object. If you put your ear onto it and you knock it then you shall get a bell sounding note. Enjoy!
6. Daraja la Mungu
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By moonlight2urse - Arusha, Tanzania
Ten millions to love and having more interest to visit mbeya to have new experience and very unique memory i remember i did it when i was with my wife just for funny but we experienced more than we expected you can't believe the way this bridge is it is so wonderful till to be nicknamed daraja la mungu in their local language which means {god's bridge}. really the name it goes with the appearance of the bridge i can't have enough words to express my fillings and experience rather than saying go and see
