Thursday 16 December 2010

Bus Dar es Salaam - Mwanza

Hello,

I want to travel from Dar to Mwanza, is it necessary to go through Kenya? Is the Scandinavia Group the only company running between Dar and Mwanza? How long does usually take from Dar to Mwanza and what's the price?

Thank you very much!
Manon (from France!)

Dear Manon,

Thanks for your mail. Scandinavia Express is not longer doing the Dar - Mwanza route via Nairobi.

I new company (Golden Inter-City) is operating via Morogoro, Dodoma, Singida, Nzega and Shinyanga. You don't need to pass Kenya and the duration is about 10 - 12 hours.

The bus will stop several times - offering breaks for buying food and drinks.

The rate is about 35,000/= to 40,000/= TSH and it departs at 6:30 AM from Ubungo Bus Terminal in Dar es Salaam. Buy your ticket in advance - and ONLY at the booking office in the bus terminal. DON'T buy your ticket on the street.

Welcome to Mwanza 'The City of Lake Victoria'.

BONUS info: 1€ = 1,904/= TSH.

Regards

Hans Kristoffersen
Editor
Mwanza Guide 'online'

Thursday 5 August 2010

Visit in a fisherman's village

Hello, Mwanza's Q&A.

I saw your web page and wanted to ask you some.

I am planning to visit to Mwanza and now am seeking the fisherman's village where it is possible to stay or going along their fishing.

I know this must be quite difficult but, I am deeply interested in and want to know their fishing culture. If you now a guide who knows such a information or a study tour programme such like that, please give me the information.

I am waiting your reply.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Best Regards

Shinichi Taguchi From Japan


Our comments:

Dear Shinichi,

Thanks for your mail to Mwanza Guide's Q&A - your interest in fishing and the people behind.

To visit and be a part in the work in a remote fishing village is probably not possible. First of all - almost no one is speaking English out there and I think you will be a disturbance to the fishermen.

However - I have an idea for you.

A small project out in a fishing village called Mwaburugu Village at Speke Bay Golf - is open for tourists and researchers.

Take a look at the village project here:

http://www.mwanza-guide.com/safari/safari4/Safari4.htm

The village is located near Serengeti Stop Over Lodge, where you can find relatively affordable accommodation, but also Speke Bay Lodge - a top end lodge direct at the lake shore.

We can help you with the accommodation - bookings and so on.

The village is quite far from Mwanza (about 135 km), but the bus to Musoma stops at the door step to the lodge. The bus fares are low in Tanzania.

I think the idea of going to the village project is the best – they are nice people at JS Paradise (I have been there myself) and they are speaking English very well. You can go on the lake in an original canoe and fish with traditional fishing gear, meet a traditional Sukuma healer - and learn about the daily life in an ordinary fishing village.

If you need further - please mail us again.

Regards


Hans Kristoffersen
Editor
Mwanza Guide ‘online’

Monday 24 May 2010

New mail address

Dear user,

We have today changed the e-mail address from qanda@mwanza-guide.com to: questions@mwanza-guide.com due to too many spam mails to the address.

Regards

Hans Kristoffersen
Editor
Mwanza Guide 'online'

Saturday 17 April 2010

About The Mwanza Guide website

Hi,

I am a student in New Zealand studying travel and tourism and had spent about an hour looking for prices for the ferry across Lake Victoria from Mwanza to Bukoba.

I came across your site which gave me accommodation and prices in Mwanza and lots of other information as well as the ferry prices and times.

Just wanted to say thank you so much for this fantastic website, it stands out as one of the best that I have seen and used.

Very easy to navigate.

Margaret Macaulay


Our comments:

Dear Margaret,

Thank you very much for your sweet words concerning our website. It's nice to have feed backs, suggestions, comments - and of cause positive views.

We have recently developed and uploaded our own group on Facebook:

Find it here: Mwanza Guide on Facebook.

It’s our hope, that the Facebook group/-page will be useful for visitors and friends of Mwanza.

Yours sincerely

Hans Kristoffersen
Editor
Mwanza Guide ‘online’

Friday 2 April 2010

Nairobi - Mwanza by bus

Hello,

My name is Laura and I am going to Mwanza for a cooperation project for three months. My friend and me are going by bus to Mwanza via Nairobi. Scandinavian express timetables have not been updated since 2005, so I am not very sure about the timetables. I do not really know neither which would be the best company to travel. Do you know if there is a day bus? or all buses to Mwanza leave at night?

I really appreciate if you can help me with this issues!

Thank you very much,

Laura

Answer from Mwanza's Q&A:

Dear Laura,

Thanks for your mail - concerning transport by bus from Nairobi.

Scandinavia Express is unfortunately out of business on the Nairobi - Mwanza Route - and has been for a number of years by now.

Another option is AKAMBA. Akamba's telephones are: +254 20 556062 / 553000 / 650834. Cell phones: +254 733 333659/+254 722 203753. Booking in advance is not possible, but call and ask how to book and procedures in relation to your travel.

Akamba is departing from Nairobi Central Bus Stand in the evening with arrival in Mwanza the next morning.

The duration is about 12 hours. You will cross the Kenyan/Tanzanian border at about 6 AM and you can have your Tanzanian visa issued here (50 US$ in cash - US$ 100 for American citizens).
NOTE: Bring a light blanket (+ a small pillow for your comfort) - it is cold in Kenya during nights.
NOTE 2: Busses for Mwanza are leaving Nairobi late in the evening and are crossing the border to Tanzania at first light. Travel by night in Tanzania is forbidden - that's why the busses are taking the 'Kenyan' part during the night.

By the way: Please check the new 'Budget' airline Fly540.com - they are offering a promotion fare on the Nairobi - Mwanza route at this moment: Check here.

Please mail us back - if you need further information.

Regards

Hans Kristoffersen
Editor
Mwanza Guide 'online'

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Train from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza

Hi there,

I want to travel from Dar to Mwanza by train, is it possible these days? Because many guide books say that the track between Dar and Dodoma is supposed to be closed.

Greetings from Zanzibar,
Uwe


Dear Uwe,

I apologize for the delay in responding your email about Train from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, to any of the inconveniences we may have caused towards you plan of visiting Mwanza please bare with us.

The truth of the matter is, train is still under construction, some serious technical issues are taking place to let it be back to normal again.

Due to heavy rains around the country which caused damage of railway, the authority (Tanzania Railways Cooperation) in coordination with other stakeholders are working hard to get solution with this problem.

Information from the right source are saying, at the mid April 2010 the train will start working again with the same time table though there might be slightly changes to be informed.

I would advise you either take a plane from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, or a Bus ticket from same route.

Keep us posted in your plans as we are ready to help in booking and necessary information.

Once again sorry for the delay, but you are welcome to Mwanza 'The City of Lake Victoria'.

Regards

Joseph

Thursday 28 January 2010

Nyegezi and Pasiansi - how far from Mwanza?

Habari za asubuhi.

I am returning to the Mwanza area soon and am trying to place some villages and their relative distances. Are you able to assist please?

I have friends in Pasiansi Ndama and Ndofe and I am going to be working in a place near Nyegezi (I think) called Shadi or maybe Sweya. I have no idea how far away these places are say from Mwanza centre or in which direction they are !!

Asante sana

Carol

ANSWER ONE:

Dear Carol!

Thank you very much for mailing us.

Pasiansi is located on airport road about 7 km from city centre, and about 4 km from the Mwanza airport.

Also Sweya area of Nyegezi is located at Kenyatta road, highway to Shinyanga, it's 15km from Mwanza City centre.

It's all for the moment, once again you are welcome to Mwanza the Capital of Sukuma Land.

Regards

Joseph


ANSWER TWO:

Dear Carol,

Thanks for mailing us. As for the maps - I don't think you can buy a map with those fine details (yet).

However - try 'Google Maps and Street View'. Type: Pasiansi, Mwanza in the search box, enter and Google Maps will find Pasiansi in no time.

When you have the map open - you can scroll (with the pointer 'hand') south/east and find Nyegezi.

Mr. Joseph is correct about the distance, but your two villages are in a different direction to each other - with Mwanza City in between.

Take a look at the map of Mwanza City here: http://mwanza-guide.com/jpg/bigmap0309.jpg Pasiansi is in direction to the airport and Nyegezi is south/east and in the direction to Shinyanga out of Kenyatta Road.

I/we hope you will 'locate' the two villages with our humbe help.

Regards

Hans Kristoffersen
Mwanza Guide 'online'