Exploring Tanzanian Rivers, A Journey Along Tanzania’s Lifelines. We may be biased, but Tanzania really does have it all: safaris, waterfalls, mountains, and, get ready for this, rivers! A lot of tourists want to climb mountains and explore jungles, but what they don’t know is that rivers are home to a wide range of animals, including crocodiles, hippos, and many birds. Let’s get right to it: let’s look at the biggest rivers that run through this East African country.

Six of Tanzania’s most important rivers

There are many chances to see both birds and sea life in the rivers of Tanzania. People can go on different boat cruises, hike along the shore, and eat breakfast on the side of the river while feeding the turtles and fish. They can also see sneaky crocodiles.

The Rufiji River

You may or may not have been to Tanzania, but you have probably heard of the Rufiji River. It is the country’s longest river and flows through the southern part. It starts where the Kilombero and Luwegu Rivers meet and runs into the Indian Ocean. It is 603 kilometers (375 miles) long. For people from other countries, the Rufiji River might look like a good place to get water for agriculture or personal use and a possible source of hydroelectric power. But the people who live there are proud of this one-of-a-kind river and see it as a symbol of biodiversity—a rich environment that has been well-preserved in the area.

The White Nile

During your trip to Tanzania, you can see the White Nile, which is the Kagera River that flows into Lake Victoria and is the source of the famous Nile. The White Nile starts in the mountains of Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania and runs all the way to Khartoum, Sudan, after leaving Lake Victoria. It meets the Blue Nile here, and the two of them form the great Nile River. If you don’t have any plans to go to Egypt soon, you can be proud of having seen or even swum in the longest river in all of Africa… This is just the beginning, but it still counts!

Congo River

The Congo River is the second-biggest river in Africa. It flows through several countries over 4,374 kilometers (2,900 miles). The river is 220 meters (720 feet) deep, making it the world’s deepest. The river starts in Lake Tanganyika and the mountains of Zambia. It flows through Tanzania, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, and also through Zambia. Want to know a fact that will impress people? Yes! The only other big river that goes across the equator twice is this one.

The Kalambo River

Many people love the Kalambo River because it leads to the beautiful Kalambo Falls, which are the second-highest waterfalls in Africa that don’t break. The Kalambo River is a border between Tanzania and Zambia, just like the Ruvuma River. Even though the river is beautiful on its own, the VIP waterfall that falls into Lake Tanganyika is what made it famous.

Ruvuma

The Matagoro Mountains are where the Ruvuma River starts its journey to the Indian Ocean. It’s 800 kilometers (497 miles) long, which is pretty long but not as long as some of the other rivers on this list. Still, it has earned its place because the river forms part of the border between Mozambique and Tanzania. In 2010, people worked together to make a bridge that connects these two countries. You can now be in Mozambique and Tanzania at the same time.

The Mara River

Without the Mara River, this list would be empty. It starts in Narok County, Kenya, and flows all the way to the Mara area in Tanzania. People from all over the world come there every year to see the Great Wildebeest Migration, which is when huge groups of animals cross the river and head to Kenya. One of the best places to see wild animals is in the Mara River. You can see hippos, alligators, wildebeests, and many more. You’ll understand why the Mara River is called the “river of death” if you can make it to the place where the movement happens.

There are a lot of different settings in Tanzania, and rivers are where most people and animals get their water. The powerful Rufiji River runs into the Indian Ocean and is a great example of how to protect unique species. The Nile starts at Lake Victoria, where the Kagera River starts. The Congo River flows through several countries, and it is so deep that no one knows how far down it goes. Between the countries are the Ruvuma and Kalambo Rivers. The Mara River is a great place to be during the Great Wildebeest Migration.