Mbeya

Situated close to the Zambian boundary, Mbeya is a scenic farming town in Tanzania's southwestern highlands famous for its tea, coffee, cocoa and banana crops and its proximity to the iron-rich Mobozi meteorite and Kitulo National Park. A nature lover's haven, visitors can enjoy a range of activities in the city and on its outskirts, including horse-riding and nature walks through the colourful wildflowers, orchids and native flora of Kitulo Plateau National Park. The Loleza Peak (also known as Mt Kaluwe) rises above the city, soaring at 2656m and can be mounted at an easy half-day hike. The mythical Kiwira River is known for its fables, waterfalls, rapids, and whirlpool. Just south of Mbeya is Lake Ngosi, a vast, sapphire-green crater lake surrounded by the dense Uporoto forest and reachable through a 2-hour route past waterfalls, gorges and valleys.