Lindi & Mtwara Travel Guide
Travel to Lindi & Mtwara - Perfect for Beaches and Scuba Diving
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The small town of Mtwara is located on the coast of south-eastern Tanzania, along the rugged patch of coastline that leads to the country's border with Mozambique. Elevated slightly along the Makonde Plateau, the area is one of the more remote locations in Tanzania. The town has one site of particular interest, St. Paul's Church, which houses some remarkable murals of Biblical scenes painted by German priests.
Mtwara's proximity to the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park means that visitors can experience some of the most isolated dive sites on the coast. Mtwara was originally built by the British as a centre for a vast agriculture scheme that involved groundnut plantations along Tanzania's southern coast.
The scheme was implemented after the Second World War, when the British had taken control of what was then Tanganyika from the Germans, and the groundnuts were expected to make up for post-war food shortages in the United Kingdom and to export to the rest of Europe. The plantations eventually failed, but the town of Mtwara remains.
Mtwara makes an excellent supply stop for trips to the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park and is a good base for exploring nearby Mikindani.
Lindi was founded in the 1700s as a port from which to ship slaves and ivory. Also caravans from Lake Nyasa terminated here. Until the 1950s, Lindi was an ex-patriot community. Nowadays, Mtwara has replaced Lindi as the major port and market town on the south coast.
Attractions in Lindi & Mtwara
Attractions in Lindi are mainly its stunning beaches; however there are also markets and monuments such as the Commissioner's Residence, the obelisk in the garden near the harbour and the Omani minaret. In Mtwara you can take a canoe ferry to Msangamkuu for even more pristine beaches or you can go to the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park for fantastic beaches as well as the chance to dive and snorkel at Ruvula Reef.
Activities in Lindi & Mtwara
It’s possible to go swimming at both Lindi and Mtwara as well snorkeling and scuba diving. If you want to be a bit more adventurous it is possible to rent canoe with the owner to see the river estuary, which has unspoiled beaches, bays, mangroves and limestone formations. Also here you are able to spot crocodiles and fruit bats at the island of Kisiwa cha Popo aka Bat Island.
Relaxing
Relax in Lindi on its superb beaches with its sheltered coves before going to the small market at the fishing harbour where you can get freshly grilled fish or head to one of the numerous bars such as Titanic Bar.
It Mtwara there are also palm fringed beaches on which to relax or there’s a market to take a look at. Mtwara also has a large variety or bars and restaurants to choose from including Cross Point which stays open all night.
Getting Around
Lindi has two harbours: the commercial harbour and the fishing harbour, both of which you can get dhows from which go to Kilwa Masoko, Kilwa Kivinje and Mafia. There are also cargo boats to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Mozambique. To get into Mtwara there’s a road. You can also hire bikes, catch a taxi or walk around the towns.
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