Rock City rocks!

Mwanza is the second largest city in TZ, although it feels quite small and is home to the country’s largest tribe, the Sukuma. It is also known as Rock City due to the massive boulders around Lake Victoria and other places, they are quite amazing, how they balance on each other, some  people have made their homes around them on the hillside, which looks kinda scary having this massive boulder above your house!!

One such local landmark in particular is Bismarck Rock. Where elders of the Sukuma tribe used to perform traditional customs ontop of.

Bismarck Rock

Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake and second largest freshwater lake in the world and Mwanza is the economic centre for the lake region. It is very pretty due to the lake and the surrounding hillsides and has a good vibe to it, although we have only been here a short time, we are enjoying it.

A view over Lake Victoria from the Tilapia Hotel

Capri Point is where all the rich people stay including President Kiweke when he is here with amazing views over the lake.

Jason infront of Bismark Rock - 'aint he a cutey in Africa! Everywhere we go people think he can speak Kiswahili!!

Our first hotel we stayed in – Lake Hotel is questionable but you pay for what you get – it’s a cheapo hotel with a good location but scary ants around the basin and toilets that don’t flush properly and the shower, erm lets just say, the sooner your out of it, the better…but we are ‘high tailing’ it outta here, we just needed to find our bearings!!

Democracy people..

Also another interesting note, it’s the national elections this Sunday (31st Oct) and there has been mixed reactions to what the scenes on the roads maybe. Predictions are that Zanzibar will see some trouble but shouldn’t be too bad here on the mainland..

The ruling party CCM have been in power for 40 odd years and apparently are corrupt and no good for the country (for example they have closed all public, government universities so that the students return to their families who traditonally favour CCM, therefore encouraging their children to vote the same way rather then risk revolution of the young) however the main opposition party Chadema, only now, is slowly gaining support. But expectations are that the ruling government will stay in power, at least for the next 5 years… interesting stuff!

A crowd gathers in a protest march, against the ruling party CCM ( I think!). Scene taken from our balconey.