Mwanza
Mwanza is a lakeside city on Lake Victoria in northwestern Tanzania, and many travelers on the northern circuit use it as a stop between safari parks and the lake.
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Mwanza is a port city on the southern shore of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa by area, in northwestern Tanzania. It is the country's second-largest city after Dar es Salaam. The waterfront, fish market and ferry docks give it a working lakeside feel, with granite hills above the streets. Travelers often use it as a stop between the northern safari parks and time on the lake.
Two to four days is enough to walk the shoreline, visit the Sukuma Museum at Bujora outside the city and rest between safari legs. The dry season, roughly June to October, has less rain and cooler evenings than the rest of the year. Book airport and road transfers early, since distances in Tanzania are long and road conditions vary.
Mwanza in five
- Get the Tanzania visa before you flyMany nationalities need a visa or e-visa for Tanzania, and airlines may ask to see it at check-in. Apply on the official immigration portal before you book flights.Visas and entry
- Set up a local SIM with your IDVodacom, Airtel and Tigo sell local SIMs, and registration needs your passport or other ID. Mobile money such as M-Pesa is widely used, so a local number helps you pay.Phones and eSIM
- Carry small shilling notes for marketsMarkets, motorbike taxis and many small shops take cash only. Small notes are easier to spend than large ones at a stall.
- Ask for a helmet before a boda boda rideBoda bodas, the motorbike taxis, are a common way to get across town. Agree the fare before you set off and ask for a helmet.
- Carry proof of yellow fever vaccination if your route needs itSome travelers are asked for a yellow fever certificate on arrival, depending on where they have been. Check the requirement with your airline and clinic before you leave.
Need to know
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
- Entry
- Visa or e-visa for many nationalities; check your passport on the official portal Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for police, fire or ambulance
- Tipping
- Appreciated for guides and drivers; check whether a service charge is added
- Time
- UTC+3, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain19 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Hot, dryJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, dryFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MarchRain19 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Long rainsMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 172 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long rains
- AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Long rainsAprilRain
Poor
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 202 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long rains
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Rains endingMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains ending
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Dry, coolerJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Dry, coolJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Dry, pleasantAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
- SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Dry, warmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- OctoberRain20 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, dryOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Short rainsNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 251 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short rains
- DecemberRain23 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Short rainsDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 180 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short rains
Average daily high and low in Mwanza, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Mwanza
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 24°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
Mwanza
08:03 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today27°20°96%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Wed28°19°53%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Thu26°19°63%Thursday: Rain. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Fri28°21°43%Friday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Sat27°20°53%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Sun26°20°51%Sunday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Mon25°20°61%Monday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 61%.
Updated 04:01 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2,645 TZS
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Sukuma MuseumCheck the travel time locallyExhibits on the Sukuma people, the largest ethnic group in Tanzania.Read the guide
- Rubondo IslandCheck the travel time locallyA national park island in Lake Victoria, reached only by boat.Read the guide
- Ukerewe IslandCheck the travel time locallyFishing villages on a large island in Lake Victoria, far quieter than the city.Read the guide
Before you go to Mwanza
Rules for Mwanza, checked
- Tanzania requires most visitors to hold a visa or e-visa; apply through the official immigration portal before you travel.Source
- Plastic bags are banned in Tanzania; bring a reusable bag, as bags can be confiscated on arrival.
- Register your local SIM with a valid ID, such as your passport, before you use mobile service.
- Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from or through a country with yellow fever risk; check the requirement with your airline.
Plan around Mwanza
Entry, transport and money for a Tanzania trip
Read the guideGetting around TanzaniaBuses, flights and car hire between Mwanza and other cities
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and where to apply
Read the guideMoney and costsShillings, cards and mobile money for a trip
Read the guideWhere to stayHotels and guesthouses for a few nights by the lake
Read the guidePhones and eSIMSIM registration and mobile data for Tanzania
Read the guideMwanza FAQ
Is Mwanza worth visiting?
Yes if you want a working city on Lake Victoria rather than a resort. Its appeal is the lakeside, the markets and boat trips, so it suits a few relaxed days. It has fewer set-piece sights than the national parks.
How do you get to Mwanza?
Fly into Mwanza Airport from Dar es Salaam or other Tanzanian cities, or travel by long-distance bus. Check the journey time with the bus company before you book, since road trips can take many hours.
How many days do you need in Mwanza?
Two to three days covers the town, the lakeshore and a boat or island trip. A single day works if the lake is your only aim.
When is the best time to visit Mwanza?
June to October is the drier and cooler period. The long rains fall from March to May and the short rains in November and December.
Do you need a visa for Mwanza?
Many visitors need a visa or e-visa for Tanzania, so check your nationality on the official immigration portal before you book flights.
Can you pay by card in Mwanza?
Cards work in some hotels and larger shops, but markets, boda bodas and small vendors take cash in shillings. Mobile money is also common.