Lake Victoria - Tanzania - page 408

LAKE VICTORIA FACTS
Lake Victoria is:
»69,484 sq km in area, about half of which is in Tanzania
»the world's second-largest freshwater lake by surface area after Lake Superior
in North America
»infested with bilharzia in many shoreline areas (swimming isn't recommended)
»inhabited by some of the world's largest tilapia (Nile perch).
SIGHTS
'Rock City'
The surrounding hills and boulders give Mwanza its nickname and make it one of Africa's
most beautiful cities. Mwanza's icon, Bismarck Rock , is a precariously balanced boulder
atop the lovely jumble of rocks in the lake next to the Kamanga ferry pier. The little park
here is a brilliant sunset spot.
Even more interesting is Jiwe Kuu (Big Rock), which some people call the Dancing
Rocks. Many round boulders sit atop this rocky outcrop north of town and have managed
to go eons without rolling off. Dalla-dallas to Bwiru run west down Nyerere Rd and their
final stop leaves you with a 1.5km walk.
Smack in the city centre is Robert Koch Hill , with an attractively decrepit German-
built mansion at the top. Several Maasai now live here, but if you introduce yourself and
give them Tsh5000 you can look around. Follow the trail up through the beer garden.
The rocky island 500m off Capri Point is Saa Nane Game Reserve ( 028-254 1819;
office on Capri Point; adult/child 5-17yr US$30/15; 6.30am-6.30pm, last entry 5pm) ,
one of the biggest jokes in Tanzania. Even though it's only 0.76 sq km and home to noth-
ing more exciting than monkeys and impalas, visiting costs more than some huge wildlife-
filled national parks. Plus, add Tsh50,000 for the return boattrip. You can check out the old
bones and stuffed animals in the office for free. It's likely to become a national park within
the lifetime of this edition, at which point the price may drop to US$20.
Markets & Temples
Central Mwanza along Temple St and west to Station Rd has an Oriental feel due to its
many temples (both Hindu and Sikh) and mosques as well as Indian trading houses lin-
ing the streets. The street-side market and ambience continue west through the Makoroboi
area, where the namesake scrap metal workshop is hidden away in the rocks. Kerosene
lamps ( makoroboi in Swahili), ladles and other household goods are fashioned from old