Ngozi crater lake hike
Mbeya Highlands, Tanzania
About
Walk up through forest to the rim of Lake Ngozi, the second-largest crater lake in Africa, wreathed in myth and mist.
Opening hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Where it is
Getting to & around Mbeya Highlands
From other cities: Songwe Airport (MBI), about 20 km from Mbeya, receives scheduled domestic flights from Dar es Salaam; the TAZARA Railway and long-distance buses along the Tanzam Highway also connect Mbeya to Dar and to the southern borders.
Getting around: Around town and the highlands, use taxis, bajaji, boda-boda motorbikes and daladala minibuses; reaching Kitulo, Ngozi and Lake Nyasa usually requires a hired 4x4, especially in the wet season.
Full getting-there guideMore in Mbeya Highlands
National Park
Kitulo National Park
The flower-carpeted 'Garden of God' plateau, the first national park in tropical Africa protected mainly for its flora.
Lake
Lake Ngozi (Ngosi)
A stunning crater lake near Tukuyu, the second-largest in Africa, set within a forested caldera rich in birds and monkeys.
Mountain Peak
Mount Rungwe
A dormant volcano and forest reserve near Tukuyu, home to the endemic kipunji monkey and rewarding hikes.
Hotel
Matema Beach (Lake Nyasa)
A tranquil beach on the northern shore of Lake Nyasa, backed by mountains, with fishing villages and pottery markets.