human settlement
Mto Wa Mbu (River of Mosquito's in Swahili) is in Monduli District, Arusha Region, Northeast Tanzania.
Being quite a small place, there is not much to do in Mto wa Mbu but it is a very good place to rest and recover after having been to Ngorngoro crater.
Transport for tourists mainly consists of trucks and coaches that cross Africa overland between major population centres. There are no air or rail links in or around Mto wa Mbu.
Although there are local taxis and minibus', they are not recommended as Mto wa Mbu is as small as to be able to be crossed in 15 minutes by walking.
Mto wa Mbu has a lot of swamp land surrounding it, hence the name, and so there isn't much to see in the town. The town is one of the closest towns to Ngorngoro Crater which is one of the main tourist attractions in Africa.
Local craftsmen whittle and sculpt figurines and other wooden souvenirs which they sell to the tourists that pass through the town. Tanzania is known for its African Blackwood (Mpingo in Swahili) and the skill of the local craftsmen is well known.
Like every African town, there are people selling barbecued corn and ugali (cornmeal porridge). Other tasty street foods are ndizi-nyama (plantains with different meats) and Mshikaki (marinated beef). Sweet foods commonly sold in Tanzanian towns are Kashata (a sweet coconut cake) and sugar roasted nuts.
There is a hostel/hotel in the town with a bar selling beers, soft drinks and Konyagi (Tanzanian sugarcane spirit, 35%). The bar also has live shows with local dancers and acrobats.
There is a hostel/hotel in the town which has different accommodation options. If you are camping you can pay a very small fee and pitch your tent in their gated compound. There are also 10 double rooms for rent which can feel like a very welcome luxury after weeks of camping.
Chitimba Iringa