Tanzania Rivers
Brenda Bliss
Tanzania Rivers
It is with great pride and no apology that we confirm that Tanzania has it all. From waterfalls, mountains, national parks, lakes and…. drum roll please…… yes, rivers. Most travelers are lured into Tanzania to trek, mountains and see the different wildlife species, however, they don’t know that many large diversities of wildlife like hippos, crocodiles and numerous bird species proudly call these rivers home.
And Tanzania wins at that with the many rivers it has in all of its major region and some of them even flow across other neighboring countries too. So, without further delays, lets blow your mind with some of the major rivers in Tanzania.
6 Major Rivers in Tanzania
Are you in dire need to explore both marine and birdlife, well, guess what……Tanzania rivers are here to give you an untamed impeccable experience with these creatures. In addition to sightseeing the common Nile crocodiles, you get to launch an unforgettable boat cruise whether in the morning, afternoon or evening, go on a hike along the shores and of course the wild river bank breakfast as you feed the fish and turtles. Interesting right?…..well, that’s just a tip of the ice bag of what these rivers have to offer.
Rufiji River
Spreading through the southern part of Tanzania, river Rufiji is the longest river in Tanzania with about 603 kilometers ( 375 miles) length. So, whether or not you have been to Tanzania before, you have probably heard of the River Rufiji or read about it somewhere.
Formed as a combination of the Luwengu and Kilombero Rivers, it flows into the Indian Ocean. As a tourist, you probably see a potential power generation source and source of water for irrigation when you see the River Rufiji, however, for the local people that live around this water body, it is more than that.
They pride themselves in having a special symbol of biodiversity – a rich ecosystem well preserved for years. Not only do they have pride in this river for that reason, but also the fact that it’s a source of livelihood to them.
The Rufiji River
White Nile
We have been convinced by books that the famous river Nile has various sources in different countries. For Tanzania, the historic river derives its water from the White Nile.
The White Nile also known as the Kagera River gets its water from the mountains in Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania into the Lake Victoria.
After here. It flows all the way to Sudan Khartoum to be precise meeting the Blue Nile together forming the longest river in the world, The River Nile.
Most travelers travel to Egypt to see the Nile, however, if you want to experience it right from the source, you are probably better off coming to Tanzania, where the history kind of begins.
The White Nile
Congo River
With a length of 4,374 kilometers, The Congo River is the second-largest in Africa with its water flowing through multiple countries. Its depth reaches 220 meters (720 feet), making it the deepest river in the world. Its source derives from Lake Tanganyika and the Zambian highlands from which it flows through Zambia, Tanzania, the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Looking for a fact you can impress others with? Well, here it is….. It’s the only major river in the world that crosses the equator twice. This crossing happens in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the first being from North to South and the second from South to North.
The Congo River
Recommended Safari packages
Kalambo River
Leading straight to the Kalambo falls which takes a second place as the highest uninterrupted waterfalls in Africa, the Kalambo river is one of the most anticipated destinations to visit in Tanzania. Just like River Ruvuma, it is bordered by both Tanzania and Zambia
Despite its beauty, it is famously known as the waterfall fall that pours its water into the historic Lake Tanganyika.
Kalambo River
Ruvuma River
Located in Southeastern Tanzania, the Ruvuma River flows from the Matagoro mountains into the Indian Ocean. It stretches up to 800 kilometers ( 497miles) in length bordering both Tanzania and Mozambique.
The government of both countries came up with an initiative to build a bridge to ease transportation between these two countries and guess what….it didn’t just remain a dream, it was gracefully implemented in 2010.
Mara River
Just by a mere fact that Tanzania other than Kenya host the Great wildebeest Migration which sees millions of antelopes, zebras, wildebeest among other wildlife move for one park to another, this list wouldn’t be complete without the Mara River. With its origin in the Narok County in Kenya, this river flows all the way the Mara region in Tanzania.
Throughout the years, many travelers come all the way to Serengeti and Masai Mara to witness the Great wildebeest Migration and you and I can agree that the Mara River plays a great role in this once in a year event hosted in both Tanzania and Kenya.
With a large number of crocodiles, this river brings in all the predator prey drama during this event.
The Mara River
Although all the rivers play a great role in the tourism sector of Tanzania, they act as the number one and major source of water and livelihood for the people that live around them.
The Rufiji River in the south flows into the Indian Ocean and harbors a unique biodiversity. The river Kagera on the other hand known as source of Lake Victoria, marks the beginning of the great River Nile. The Congo River with its real depth still questionable flows through different countries. Ruvuma and Kalambo Rivers both form borders between countries, and the magical Mara River is exactly where you want to be wo witness the world great Wildebeest Migration.
In a nutshell, Tanzania is filled with great natural resources which attracts thousands if not millions of travelers to come witness this magic unfold and these rivers are just a tip of the iceberg of the things you will encounter.
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