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BWANJAI
Bwanjai is a ward in Missenyi District,
Kagera
Region,
in
the
extreme
northwestern littoral zone of Lake Victoria.
Bwanjai is about a dozen kilometers from
the Tanzania-Uganda boarder, and 26km
by road from Bukoba town. Due to high
elevation the Bwanjai plateau experiences
cool weather throughout the year; there
are only minor daily
temperature
fluctuations.

Bwanjai is surrounded by wetlands and is

evergreen; endowed with exotic plants and
animals. Precipices above Bwanjai caves,
present stunning views.
Given its untold natural features, Bwanjai
is a potential tourist magnet, beyond the
current religious attractions

Historical Tourism
Bwanjai is home to many caves, some of
them endowed with yet to be deciphered
ancient
prehistoric
rock
paintings,
scientifically determined to be over 2500
years old. One of these, Bihanga, is
visited by trickles of tourists, whereas
several others are hardly known nor
visited by anyone. There are local tales
on the ancient use of these caves during
local warfare or in divine offerings or as
graves for chiefs and diviners.

Before colonial rule, Bwanjai was home

to several dynasties of chiefs; some of
their tombs have been conserved, and
there are still tales of their escapades,
invasions and conquests of neighboring
chiefdoms;
gallows
were
at

Spiritual Tourism
The Marian Shrine at Nyakijoga
closely resembles the one of Lourdes,
France; it is popularly called The
Lourdes of Africa.

Throughout the year thousands of

thousands of pilgrims tour the site. At
the peak of the pilgrimage season,
often held in late October, over ten
thousand pilgrims visit the site in one
day, many drawing Nyakijoga water
which is believed to possess healing
powers.
Adjacent to the Nyakijoga Shrine
there
is
another
cave
in
commemoration of The Resurrection

Kabukomagwa.

During the early years of colonization

there was rapid assimilation of aspects
of European culture; some century old
homes emulating colonial housing will
be seen during nature walks or drives.

Tel: 0716 295353/ 0652 804 042 /0715 554 424

Email: wenlkilama@gmail.com; Postal address:
P.O. Box 202, Bukoba. Kagera.

Cultural Tourism
Visitors
to
Bwanjai
will
have
opportunities
to
witness
local
lifestyles,
the
local
peoples
architecture, art, food, and dance.

Cultural tourism occupies a major

portion in the documentary film
Ninshaba
Ontwale
Nyakijoga.
Tourists will have opportunities to
visit a traditional dwelling; see
preparations
and
serving
of
traditional meals, and participate in
eating
a staple meal of green
bananas mixed with different legumes
and meat, accompanied by a service
of edible grasshoppers. Within the
house
visitors
will
be
shown
traditional
implements,
drums,
instruments, containers and tools.
Visitors will also see the making of
bark cloth, weaving of baskets,
papyrus thread decorations and
artifacts. Opportunities will be taken
to show some Bahaya entertainment,
sports, and rituals.

Ecotourism

Bwanjai is endowed with several

natural forests. Visits will be made
into Kantare Forest Reserve, which
is a remnant of the Congo Tropical
Rain Forest. This forest has been
popularized in publications and
international photographic exhibitions
by the world renowned zoologist Dick
Persson who has presented its exotic
primates,
birds,
snakes
and
butterflies.

According to him There are many

rare plants, and it is the only place in
the whole of Tanzania where the
copper tailed white-nosed monkey,
Cercopithecus ascanius has been
sighted; it is extremely rich in
biodiversity. Visits may also be made
to smaller forests in Bwanjai to see
monkeys, other animals and plants.
Exotic woodlots of eucalyptus or pine
In previous grasslands emit pleasant
scent during nature walks.

Agro-tourism

Visits will be made to coffee shambas

during the flowering and harvesting
seasons, they
will be welcome to
participate in ongoing activities eg
harvesting,
sun-drying,
and
packaging.

A nature walk may include

banana shambas; explanations on
care and harvesting will be made,
showing the process of cooking,
making banana juice and banana
wine. Some tours will include
seeing indigenous Ankole Cattle
(huge size, hump less and long
horns) in a pen, or grazing or being
milked.

Explore

Bwanjai

Tel: 0716 295353/ 0652 804 042 /0715 554 424

Email: wenlkilama@gmail.com; Postal address:
P.O. Box 202, Bukoba. Kagera.