Western Tanzania
 

First time post for me. Just joined today.

Has anybody recently travelled the road from Sumbawanga (South-West Tanzania) via Katavi National Park to Kigoma and the on to Rusumo Village in Rwanda. We had stories of bandit activity near Uvinsa.
Thanks

Arrie

be careful around Kibondo and anywhere in the Kagera province. A boot full of your cash and a few thousand shillings in your pocket wouldn't be a bad idea. Expect to drop 200,000ish shilling along the way getting yourself out of a few scrapes. And the police have just (as of January) brought in pillion insurance, which you can get stung for. The RPC up there are complete wan'kers, so expect a bit of grief off them. And remember the coca cola rule. If you can buy a bottle in a village, you're probably alright.

Thanks Mzungu,

It sounds like you are from the area.
In view of your input we will rather use the Dodoma route. We will still go to Kativi National Park and then travel back towards Iringa

No worries mate, its a shame given the relatively unstable nature of the are, because it is truly breathtaking out there. I'm planning a similar jaunt during April/May, skirtng your route, south of the serengeti and up through to Uganda. If you swing by Arusha way, drop me a PM and we'll grab a couple of Tuskers.

Hey Mzungu,

We'll be passing by Arusha around August this year and would love to share a couple of Tuskers and get some local knowledge...

Can you perhaps PM me your email address?

www.pictureafrica.org

Mzungu,

After your advise, we got the following reply from a guy in the United Nations.

However, its good to note that the Eastern side of DRC has never been stable for some time, starting all the way from Uganda downwards to Burundi. In Dec last year we had to go with some good security escort when we were doing some work in the GOMA direction. Infact, areas where we have refugee camps are never safe because of various factors within those confinements.

When in Arusha, we will be in Masai Camp and will try and contact you.

Hi guys, the political stability of the area is fine, there are still major issues with robberies in the area and many of the residents of the IDP camps have returned, it's certainly possible to traverse the route, it just requires security. I live about 10 minutes from masai camp so drop me a pm when you're here and we'll grab a beer.

Mzungu want to come down from Rwanda,Burundi to Katavi N.P. crossing the border at Mugina down to uvinza to mpanda, doable????? best place for tanzania visa Kigali or Bujumbura?? LES