Mtwara is the capital of the southern coastal region of the same name. It is an excellent location for relaxing on the beach, remote beautiful diving, excursions to the Mkonde and Rubondo plateaus and is definitely very much "off the beaten track".
Mtwara is a small town found on the coast of south-eastern Tanzania. It is positioned on the dramatic stretch of coastline that leads to neighbouring Mozambique. The town is elevated slightly by the Makonde Plateau. This area is one of the more remote locations in Tanzania and this makes it ideal for visitors keen to stay away from the crowds. Mtwara has one historic site of particular interest, St. Paul's Church, which has some superb murals of Biblical scenes created by German priests.
Mtwara's proximity to the Mnazi Bay Marine Park means that visitors can enjoy some of the most isolated dive sites on the coast. Severla new species have been recorded in the park including a species of Octopus.
Mtwara was originally developed by the British as a center for a large agricultural project of groundnut plantations along Tanzania's southern coast. The scheme was started after the Second World War, when the British had taken what was then Tanganyika from the Germans. The groundnuts were expected to make up for post-war food shortages in the United Kingdom and to generate revenue by export to the rest of Europe. The plantations failed, but the town of Mtwara remains. Mtwara makes a good supply stop for trips to the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park and is a good base for visiting Mikindani.
The town of Mtwara acts as a gateway into Southern Tanzania for tourism. Access to and from Dar es Salaam is easy with regular flights and boats. Mtwara is a laid back town that sprawls over a large area. To the north, around the affluent Shangani area, there are some good beaches. The main commercial area is in the venter of town and here you can find the Post office, banks with ATMs as well as some more expensive shops. The market is situated towards the southern end of Mtwara.
There is a good choice of bars and restaurants at which to eat and drink. Traditional bars such as Magomeni on the airport road offer freshly cooked local food and cool drinks or the is the Finn club where the expats hang out.
From the beach at Shangani it is possible to take a canoe or dhow across the bay entrance to Msangankuu peninsula. Here you will find superb beaches with good snorkeling and diving. To the north, past Shangani are the mangroves and coral flats with rock pools and diverse bird life.
We normally recommend that visitors to this area stay in Mikandani - a small town just north of the much larger Mtwara. There airport is however nearer to Mtwara.
For more information on visiting the Mtwara, please contact us.
