Ukerewe Island is the largest island in Lake Victoria and part of Tanzania’s Mwanza Region. Located about 50 km north of Mwanza city, it is accessible by ferry from the Mwanza port. The island is known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and natural beauty.
The island has been home to the Sukuma people for centuries. It also has a unique history of being a refuge for people with albinism, as some local rulers offered protection from persecution.
Ukerewe was part of German East Africa (1885–1916) before coming under British control (1916–1961) during colonial rule. The island’s chiefs (Batemi) played key roles in local governance, even under colonial administration.
How to get there?
By Boat
The most common way to reach Ukerewe Island is by ferry from Mwanza to Nansio (Ukerewe’s Main Town). There are two options:
Slow boat leaves from Nyehunge Port in Mwanza in the morning (around 9 AM). It takes about 3-4 hours to arrive at Nansio.
Speed boat leaves from Kamanga Ferry Terminal In Mwanza in the afternoon (around 3 PM). It takes about 1.5 hours to arrive at Nansio.
I highly recommend asking around Mwanza for up-to-date departure times or contacting the guide in Ukerewe (Haruni Paschal: +255656974800) and he will help you to figure out the details.
By Road
Drive or take a bus from Mwanza to Bunda and then change to another bus heading towards Masahunga Ferry Port.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit Ukerewe Island depends on the weather and lake conditions. Generally, the ideal time is during the dry season, when travel is easier, and the island’s scenery is at its best.
Best Months:
June – October (Dry Season)
Pleasant weather with little rainfall. Easier ferry travel due to calmer waters. Best for outdoor activities like cycling, nature walks, and sightseeing.
January – February (Short Dry Spell)
Warmer temperatures but still good for travel. Cultural events and local festivals often take place.
When to Avoid:
March-May (Long Rainy Season)
Heavy rains can cause rough lake conditions and potential ferry delays. Some dirt roads on the island may become difficult to navigate.
November – December (Short Rains)
Some rain showers, but still possible to visit. The island is lush and green, but lake conditions can be unpredictable.
Where to stay?
My guide organized two nights for me at Monarch Beach Hotel, and it was a good choice. Clean, spacious room with mosquito net, only a few steps away from the beach at Lake Victoria.
Should you get a guide?
The short answer is yes. It is one of these places in Tanzania where having a guide will give you significantly better insight into the life of the local community. I spent two days with Haruni and he was a great guy, very communicative and knowledgeable. If I had gone alone, I certainly would not have been able to reach the sights that we did together, especially since they aren’t even marked on Google Maps.
I was offered different tour variants:
Village Cycling Adventure (12-14 km)
Caves Cycling Adventure (16-17 km)
Chief House Cycling Adventure (16 km)
Rubya Forest Cycling Adventure (35 km)
Bukondo Beach and Fishers Camp Visit (30-31 km)
Here are the contact details for my guide:
Haruni Paschal, +255656974800
unforgettableukerewetourism@gmail.com or harunipaschal@gmail.com
website: https://unforgettableukerewetourism.blogspot.com
My experience
Day 1
I left my big backpack at the hotel in Mwanza and took a tuk-tuk to Nyehunge Port. People were already queuing so I bought a ticket and joined the crowd. I got quite a comfortable seat in the first class on the top level but of course, I spent some time standing on the deck, observing the landscape.
When I arrived at Ukerewe, my guide was waiting for me at the port. He took me to my room at Monarch Beach Hotel where I could leave some of my things and then we went to eat lunch in a local restaurant. Don’t forget to eat some fish while visiting Lake Victoria!
With full stomachs, we were ready to pick up the bicycles and set off for a ride. We followed a wide dirt road and made our first stop at the beach. There was also a small shop where we could buy cold drinks. Then, we continued towards the German Fortress Ruins. We parked the bikes and climbed up to the viewpoint with the Catholic cross on top of the rock.
These ruins are believed to be part of an old German administrative post or military station built during the late 19th or early 20th century. The Catholic cross at the ruins suggests that missionaries or early Christian settlers may have used or repurposed the site after German rule.
The views from the top were wonderful and I was surprised how green the island is! We still had places to explore though, so after a short rest, we walked down and continued cycling to another beach. It was much more local one, with cows sunbathing and chilling on a sand on one side and villagers swimming naked and washing their clothes on the other side 🙂
Soon, we started heading to the last stop of the day which was another viewpoint. We were following the main road further until we saw a narrow path leading off to the right. We put the bikes in a safe place and continued on foot to the top of the hill. The views were even better than before and I was sure that the visit to Ukerewe was a good choice!
We took the same way back to Nansio, passing through many small villages with plenty of kids screaming “Mzungu! Mzungu!” as soon as they saw me. In Swahili, “mzungu” means “white person” or “foreigner”.
Day 2
We planned a much longer bike ride than the day before and the main objective was a visit to Bwiru Island and fishermen village there. However, I also wanted to see the Chief House, which is located near Bukindo Village. Two very distant locations and hard to visit in one day if travelling on a bicycle. Luckily, Haruni was very flexible and he came up with a solution! After coming back from Bwiru Island, we were supposed to arrange two motorbikes to take us together with bicycles to Bukindo and then we would cycle back to Nansio after sightseeing the Chief House. Sounded like an adventure so I immediately agreed to the plan!
The weather was again really hot and sunny. We passed the turn off to the viewpoint which was our last stop the day before and then continued further until we reached a place of Haruni’s friend where we left the bikes and ordered lunch. Then, we walked towards the departure point of the boat.
it was rocking a lot but the boat was big and stable. There were quite a lot of people crossing to the other side. When we landed on the shore, two other local guys joined us for exploration. I guess those were locals who just had to be given some money by Haruni because in Tanzania it’s never that you bring a white tourists to another place and can just walk around without paying contribution 🙂
We walked to the fishermen village which was quite interesting and provided lots of good photo opportunities. The places for drying fish were empty but still, it was a fascinating place to see. People live in improvised houses, similar to those that I have already seen before at Lake Eyasi.
As we still had some time left, we walked around the village to see the local market and school. Of course, we got a lot of attention from the kids but in a friendly way. Soon, we had to rush back to the boat as it was about to leave. Upon arrival on the other side, we had our lunch (fish in a sauce and rice).
Then, two boda boda drivers arrived and we packed bicycles on one motorbike and another one picked me and Haruni. It was about 30-45 minutes ride to the Chief House near Bukindo. There, a local man gave us a short explanation about the history of the place and about the local chief who used to live in this area. Very interesting place and certainly worth a visit, although inside the building there is not much to see, besides drums. At the end of sightseeing, you are expected to give a tip so don’t forget to take some cash with you.
In the end, we cycled back to the Nansio, passing by lots of cheerful pupils walking back to their homes from school. So friendly! We returned the bikes and I went back to the room to take a shower and rest. There was a local event going on in the restaurant opposite the hotel because of the Valentine’s Day, so me and Haruni agreed to meet there later on for a beer.
It was a great way to say goodbye to Ukerewe Island! I was coming here with zero expectations but spent twice as much time as I planned and it was certainly one of the most memorable and authentic Tanzanian experience.
