This document gives information to traveler who wish to pay a visit to Kyela Mbeya Tanzania, Lake Nyasa and around the area tourist destinations. Describes places to be, activities, accommodations and a gateway to Kyela and Lake Nyasa.

1. TOUR TO KYELA TANZANIA
Kyela is one of the famous districts of Mbeya Region in Tanzania, situated 140 km from Mbeya
Town. The district is the main gateway to the neighboring country of Malawi through road and
Lake Nyasa, the local crosses to Malawi via river Kiwila and river Songwe by canoes. The
district is among the Mbeya’s scenic land with fascinated beaches, Cultural heritage, History and
so many other geological features which boast a wide range of tourist attractions in the district.
Kyela is a hot plane land along the shore of Lake Nyasa making it with temperate temperature of
up to 32oC dulling dry season, with mean daily temperature of 23ºC. Kyela lies between 35º 41º
and 30º longitudes East of Greenwich meridian and 9º 25º and 9º 40º latitudes south of Equator.
The district receives heavy rains of about 2000-3000mm annually; the main rainy season is
between November and June while the heaviest rainfalls usually occurs in April and May.
Kyela is the only gateway town to Lake Nyasa from Mbeya Tanzania, the road through to Kyela
approaches the district as something of an anticlimax after the wonderful 1,000m way up from
Tukuyu with attractive glimpses through the green mountain escarpment to the transparent lake
far beneath. Scruffy, sweaty and scenically memorable, Kyela is fascinated. Like 10km interior
of the lakeshore port of Itungi, the district possesses impresses attributes of the tropical lakeshore
climate, hostelry the all redeeming waterside breeze. With Matema Beach beckoning to the
north, you could stay in Kyela out of choice; though should you intend to catch a ferry.
Fortunately, should you sleep over; Kyela’s long-standing collection of tawdry shoestring
guesthouses has of late been supplemented by a smattering of decent budget hotels.
LAKE NYASA
Split between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, this 585km-long Rift Valley Lake, enclosed
by tall mountains, is perhaps the most scenic body of water in Africa. Although the Malawian
part of the lake is more popular with travelers, the Tanzanian portion is more attractive,
particularly Matema Beach on the northeast tip of the lake; only that it is unpopular, where the
combination of a stunning location and affordable accommodation more than justify the
relatively minor effort required to get there. Unfortunately, the rest of the Tanzanian part of the
lake with the exception of the workmanlike Itungi Port and Ngonga Beach is somewhat difficult
to get to.
The only accessible place on the eastern lakeshore is Mbamba Bay, a lovely village that is linked
to Songea by road and to Itungi Port on the western shore by ferry. The Name Nyasa delivered
from the name of the tribe reside in this area of Mbamba Bay “the Nyasa People” (wanyasa).
Lake Nyasa possesses little in the way of terrestrial wildlife, vervet monkeys are common in
some areas, but it does support a wide variety of birds, most noticeably the vociferous fish eagle.
The lake is also known for its great variety of fish and in particular its colourful cichlids.To the
western part near Itungi port, Lake Nyasa boarder a little pond named Mbasi which hosts several
groups of Hippopotamus and Crocodiles.
During the colonial era, and in recorded descriptions predating colonialism, the lake was
universally referred to as Lake Nyasa. The term Lake Malawi as some people calls the lake,
came into use as recently as 1964, when the first post-independence government of the former

2. Nyasaland province renamed both country and lake in order to take care of popular mystical
relations between the new leadership and the legendary mediaeval Maravi Empire. Reasonably,
the neighboring states were not particularly tending to be influenced by this act of political
convenience, and today the same body of water is known officially and colloquially in different
names to each of the three neighboring states as it is known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania, Lago
Niassa in Mozambique and Lake Malawi in Malawi.
Climatically, arriving at the lakeshore might take some adjustment if you are coming from the
cool highlands around Tukuyu. Less than 500m above sea level, Lake Nyasa can be swelteringly
hot, though the breeze – sometimes a howling wind that comes off the lake generally cools
things down at night. Lake Nyasa has a reputation for cerebral malaria, so take your tablets and
continue to take them for four weeks after you leave the area, and I suggest you get to a doctor
quickly if you show malarial symptoms during that period.
ACCESSIBILITY
The normal approach route to Kyela is the 140km road from Mbeya, which passes through
Tukuyu at the midway point and is surfaced except for the last 5km stretch between the junction
to Songwe River; on the Malawi border and Kyela. In a private vehicle, this road can be covered
in two and a bit hours without stops, while regular buses from Mbeya take about four hours,
stopping at Tukuyu on the way. This is one of the most scenic roads in Tanzania, so be sure to
get a window seat. Regular minibuses run between Kyela and Tukuyu, taking one hour to make
the journey, and Mbeya taking around three hours.
Buses from Mbeya all stop at the junction for the Songwe River at border post, 5km before the
road from Mbeya enters Kyela, from where it is normally easy enough to catch a lift to the
border post, though bicycle taxis are also available. Be warned that if you are intending to travel
through to Kyela, local bus conductors are used to foreign travellers disembarking at this
junction, and it may require some convincing before they accept that you know what you are
doing! Arriving at the border in the late afternoon used to be unwise, because there was no
accommodation, and transport on to Karonga in northern Malawi was thin on the ground. These
days, however, there is an excellent guesthouse at the border and there is also plenty of onward
transport.
LAKE NYASA FERRIES
Due to the fearsome natural obstacle formed by the Livingstone Mountains and associated ranges
along the northeast of Lake Nyasa, no roads worth talking about connect the ports on the eastern
and western shores. The best indeed the only way travelers can take a look at the more remote
parts of Lake Nyasa, or get between the eastern and western shores is the variable ferry service
that connects Itungi Port to Mbamba Bay. It’s a wonderfully scenic trip, with the Livingstone
Mountains rising sharply above the clear transparent water of the lake, and visits a number of
ports that are otherwise practically cut off from the outside world. Luxurious, however, the boats
are not. Facilities are very basically third class, and schedules somewhat fanciful, as the ferry
stops interminably at one fishing village after the next, to be greeted by a armada of local
dugouts whose inhabitant push fish, fruit and other goods at the passengers in the hope of a sale.

3. All going well, two Tanzanian ferries carry out the Nyasa lakeshore, though it is often the case
that one or the other boat very occasionally both is at a port for repairs while the one which is on
its last stage said to be launched soon. Following flooding and the buildup of a sandbar blocking
the Itungi Port, in mid 2008 ferry services were abstracted to a temporary port in Kiwira around
5km further south along the lakeshore from old Itungi port. The Itungi Port is expected to be
dredged in 2009; until that time all services will continue to depart from Kiwira where the new
port has been built now.
The MV Songea leaves Itungi at around 07.00 on Monday and Thursday and arrives at Mbamba
Bay at midnight the same day, after stopping at Lupingu, Manda, Lundu, Nindai and Liuli. After
arriving at Mbamba Bay, the Monday ferry turns around more or less immediately, to arrive back
at Itungi at 17.00 the next day. The Thursday ferry continues travelling on to Nkhata Bay in
Malawi, arriving some time on Friday, before starting the return voyage to Itungi.
The smaller MV Iringa leaves Itungi at 07.00 on Tuesday and arrives back on Wednesday
afternoon. This stops at most lakeside villages, including Matema, but doesn’t go as far as
Mbamba Bay. The above timings are very approximate. Due to the unpredictable nature of the
service you are best advised to check the current schedule with the TRC office just outside of
Kyela. Meals are available on board, as are sodas and beers etc.
MV Ilala, which normally crosses between Nkhata Bay and Mbamba Bay and back once weekly.
It leaves Nkhata Bay at 01.00 on Tuesday morning, arrives at Mbamba Bay three to four hours
later, and then starts the return trip at 07.30. In practice, the MV Ilala is just about always six to
twelve hours behind schedule.
There are no accommodation facilities at Itungi or Kiwira. You will have to spend the night in
Kyela and get a vehicle to the port at around 05.30 on the morning of departure. Vehicles leave
from in front of the TRC office, 1km out of town. There is a booking office at the TRC building,
but as the ticket officer travels with the ferry it serves no practical function. You can buy a ticket
while you wait for the ferry to be loaded up.
If you go all the way to Mbamba Bay there is a fair selection of accommodation there, as well as
transport on to Makambako on the TANZAM Highway via Mbinga, Songea and Njombe, all of
which boast several guesthouses. Contact Mr. Mwema Hudson for more detail on these routes
(safarimaniac@gmail.com or call: +255 719 622 186 / +255 757 533 186 or visit
www.isanatours.com for inquiry.

4. ACCOMMODATIONS
Kyela Resort
Possibly better than anything in town, this pleasant new lodge 1.5km from town just off the road
to Tukuyu offers quiet, clean en-suite rooms with fans, mosquito nets & hot water. There’s also a
decent garden restaurant.
Matema Beach Hotel
This confusingly named hotel it’s nowhere near the beach & certainly not in Matema! 500m
before the junction to Kyela is another well-priced new option just out of town. The attached
restaurant serves meals in the spacious en-suite with AC & TV; executive suite with computer &
internet, sitting room & balcony.
The Oberoi Park
A smart hotel 200m from the bus station has spotless en-suite rooms with double bed, fan &
running water. It’s easily the best place in the centre, though the lack of mosquito netting in this
climate is a serious oversight.
MSM Lodge
This pleasant lodge is situated near Songwe River about 1km before the border post with
Malawi. All rooms have fans, netting & running water. There is a beer garden & snack bar in the
green grounds.
Pattaya Hotel
Also quite close to the bus station, this is an above average guesthouse & the rooms are clean &
have fans, but most beds have no mosquito netting!
Makete Half London Guesthouse with 7 rooms Situated right opposite the bus station &
market, this has rather overcast though reasonably clean en-suite rooms with fan & mosquito
netting.
The New Steak Inn Restaurant, opposite the market, is clean and comfortable, and while the
tantalizingly elaborate menu rather overstates the culinary options, it does serve a decent plate of
chicken and chips, rice and beef, Roasted plantains etc.
MATEMA BEACH
The long sandy tropical beach at Matema is perhaps the most beautiful anywhere on the shore of
Lake Nyasa. Situated on the lake’s northern tip, Matema lies in the shadow of the Livingstone
Mountains, which rise sharply to an elevation of nearly 2,500m within 4km of the lakeshore,
with the Poroto Mountains set further back on the western horizon.

5. Matema Beach is relatively keeps on developing for tourism, positively may be compared with
Nkhata Bay or Cape Maclear of the other side to neighboring Malawi. On the lesser amount
there are facilities, which might politely be described as unexciting some; a couple of decent
lodges and camps that serve basic meals of the fish and ugali or rice etc and there are also
churches hostel which operate with a no alcohol policy.
The other side of the coin is that, Matema is recently comes across as a potential option whose
soul is gradually being eroded in order to accommodate the requirements of international
travelers. Refreshingly rustic and uncompromisingly African, Matema is the kind of place you
could settle into for a while; swimming in the deliciously warm water and sand beach as well as
reputedly bilharzias free water, chatting to the local fishermen, undertaking local excursions, or
just waiting for the sun to set behind the Poroto, rambling to Lyulilo port market, Lyakyala carve
up to Ikombe village and the Mwalalo waterfalls as well as to Kingili crater lake.
Getting to Matema
The two main roads to Matema meet at the small junction town of Ipinda, about 10km inland of
the lake as the crow flies and 27km from Matema by road. Coming from Mbeya or Kyela, the
normal route to Matema leads from the surfaced road between these two towns about 3km north
of Kyela, from where it’s a straightforward 14km run to Ipinda. Coming from Mbeya, a rougher
but shorter 46km back route to Ipinda, via Masoko Crater Lake, runs from Tukuyu, where you
need to turn left at the main intersection on the Kyela road, passing Langboss Lodge to your left
after about 1km.
Direct public transport to Matema is restricted to a daily bus to and from Mbeya, passing through
Tukuyu, Kyela and Ipinda, but since this bus arrives at Matema after dark and leaves again at
05.00, it’s not all that convenient. It is easier to get to Matema using light vehicles. If you can’t
find a pick-up truck running directly between Kyela and Matema, you should find one from
Kyela to Ipinda. There is also the odd pick-up truck running between Tukuyu and Ipinda via
Masoko Crater Lake.
The daily bus aside, there is normally some private transport between Ipinda and Matema,
especially on Saturdays, and most vehicles will stop to pick up passengers for a small fee. Should
you need to spend the night in Ipinda, there is a basic but adequate guesthouses at a small rush
town. It is also possible to walk between Ipinda and Matema in two to three hours, following the
Lufirio River to its mouth 3km west of the mission.
The ferry that leaves Kiwira/Itungi at 07.00 Wednesday arrives at Matema an hour later. It also
stops at Matema on Thursday afternoon on its way back to Kiwira/Itungi. A ferry to Mbamba
Bay does not stop at Matema. Alternatively while in Matema can arrange for a local canoe to
take you to Itungi Port for a reasonable amount, and it should presumably be possible to make a
similar arrangement privately for a transfer in the opposite direction (back to Matema).

6. ACCOMMODATION
Blue Canoe Safari Camp
Formerly called Crazy Crocodile Campsite, this relaxed beach camp offers the choice of en-suite
beach bungalows, simple bamboo huts or camping. Activities include snorkeling, birding and
various guided excursions. A good restaurant and bar are attached.
Matema Lake Shore Resort
With 8 rooms this smart beach resort on the western fringe of Matema is popular with expatriate
families. The comfortable en-suite double-storey beachfront villa, have private verandas and a
restaurant serves decent meals & chilled soft drinks but no alcohol.
Matema Beach View Lutheran Centre
This well established church-run hostel, 14 rooms has bandas (huts) with 2–4 comfortable beds
& mosquito nets clustered above the beach. May one should have to bring own packed food; as
here the canteen serves substantial but uninteresting set meals, which must be ordered in
advance. No alcohol served.
EXCURSIONS FROM MATEMABEACH
Lyulilo Pot Market
In the stifling heat of the lakeshore even the shortest stroll can feel like a major excursion, for
which reason the best time to explore is the early morning. One pleasant 15-minute stroll leads
along the beach east of Matema to the small village of the fishermen Lyulilo Pot Market,
famous locally for its Saturday pottery market. If you walk out there along the beach, you
might return by a rough dirt road that runs a short distance inland, passing through lush tropical
vegetation – plenty of birdlife – and neat traditional Nyakyusa homesteads.
Lyakyala Cave
Close to the lakeshore, about 500m past Lyulilo, there is Lyakyala Cave which was an important
Nyakyusa sacrificial site in times of drought, before missionaries arrived in the area and forbade
the practice. The cave harbors a significant bat colony and a small waterfall close by tumbles
into a cool, clear pool. The rocky lakeshore between Lyulilo and the cave hosts a large variety of
colorful cichlids, and makes for excellent snorkeling, but you’ll need your own gear to explore it.
If you don’t feel like walking, local boat/canoes can be arranged to take you to the market or to
the cave. A carve also said to be a caravanserai for southern slave’s rout, the name Lyakyala
means God’s for Nyakyusa vernacular.
The Ikombe Potter’s Village
Although the main regional pottery market is held at Lyulilo, the pots are mostly crafted at the
village of Ikombe, which is the place to visit if you want to see potters at work or buy pottery on
days other than Saturday. Ikombe can be reached on foot by following a rough footpath along the
lakeshore past Lyulilo. Better, however, to travel there by canoe, which takes about 30 minutes
in each direction, and costs Tsh1,500 for the round trip if organized through the Lutheran
Mission in Matema.

7. Lufirio River mouth
In the opposite direction heading along the beach for about 3km west of Matema, the extensive
papyrus beds at the Lufirio River mouth offer excellent birding as well as a chance of seeing
crocodiles. Hippos are resident a short distance upriver. Once again, you have the option of
walking from Matema or of arranging a local canoe.
Mwalalo Waterfall
A one hour walk inland of the beach leads to the Mwalalo Waterfall or more accurately a series
of waterfalls formed by the Mwalalo River as it tumbles down the escarpment of the Livingstone
Mountains. The Mwalalo River is the sole source of fresh water for the village and mission, who
are concerned that travelers visiting without a guide might pollute it. For this reason, you need
permission from the village council and a local guide to visit the waterfall, all of which can be
easily arranged by Local Guides. More energetically, the Guides can also arrange guided day
walks up the Livingstone Mountains.
Notably; crocodiles are not resident on Matema Beach but they are common on rockier and
shallower stretches of the lakeshore and at river outlets, where they kill villagers with a
frequency that suggests you should definitely ask local advice before swimming, except on the
main beach. It is best too, to avoid swimming anywhere after dark since crocs have been known
to travel long distances at night.
INVESTIMENT OPPORTUNITY
With presence of Crater Lake, geothermal activities may be carried out by who are able to
produce electricity. The Lake Nyasa lacks suitable and frequent ferries, this may give chances to
investors to devote on Lake Nyasa transportation which is very reliable to people from Malawi to
Tanzania and from Kyela to other nearby in country’s ports. Other areas of investment to Kyela
are Cocoa plantations, Palm nuts oil production, Fishes business, and other agricultural products
like Rise, ground nuts, peanuts etc.
For tourism investors accommodations might be the first concern, especially near beaches and
other tourist attractions areas. Also transportation and water sports activities and gears as well as
camping facilities and other related services.