Going down the winding sharp road between Kizungu village and Muze village on the shores of Lake Rukwa, one holds their breath at the advancing sight of steep rocky sets of mountains as the car struggles to decelerate.
Boarding a powerful Japanese made Toyota Land Cruiser VX which was primarily built to tread on such terrain, I and three other Tanzania Media Fund fellows, Erick Kabendera, Orton Kiishweko and Salome Sumbya, watched helplessly as groups of passengers dropped from overloaded vehicles walked up and down the mountain.
The walking passengers who included women and children, were forced to disembark from overloaded Toyota Land Cruiser and Stout pick-ups, Fuso trucks and Land Rovers station wagons, struggling to reach the top or bottom of the steep winding road mountain.
For some 10 to 15 minutes, our vehicle descended cautiously as the driver negotiated sharp ‘v’ shaped corners sometimes almost pouncing into roadside wall barricades built to protect vehicles from rolling over down the steep mountains if the driver loses control.
As I went out of the car at the foot of the over 2,000 metres high mountain where the winding road descends the steep slopes to Lake Rukwa valley, I looked up and wondered at the crafty work of engineering that built this road and felt relieved that someone managed to put up a road where probably one couldn’t have existed, in the first place.
I compared this high-rise not so well done work of engineering in terms of quality, something similar to the Great Wall of China and thought of a future when some serious investment will be done here and turn this frightening part of the road between Kizungu and Muze villages into a tourist hot-spot. Mountain trackers may find a new place to go here, so too are people who enjoy steep mountainous sceneries
I have been there so i know the place very well,very interesting and nice place.
safi sana,nimefika pale
Yap, sure Morgan, its fantastic. Hope to go back before end of this year.
if you had images or photos it could have made a difference
5 year ago I went up and down this road several times – the view is really imazing. As fare as I know this road was last repaired by NOREMCO – a scandinavian Coop. But after NOREMCO have left the road became dangerous!
The story is touchable and explains the real colour of forgorten areas in this country, not only Kizungu but also there is Lyamba Lya mfipa, Kamawe area, The great artificial forest in Kale near by Kalepula owned by Mzee Zeco Munkondya.
If you get a time get there and got a story from him as he told my that he wants a gum boots and piano.
The place is not encouraging as per your information. Let us think about the development of a particular place by introducing some road curves to give a comfort environment for both road users and other citizens living there.
I am planning to visit the above said place to know what i can contribute on the exercise of finding possible solutions for the benefit of Tanzanian societies.
this is where I belong some times I ask drivers if they have seen Kitonga and lukumburu mountains then they should go and drive this Muze mountain to prove their compitance there are same places in this coutry where people realy doesn’t know the potantial of tourism and one of it is this Rukwa valley I wellcome all advanture lovers in this coutry to come and have heart threatening journey along Muze mountain not anly that but agricuture oportunities. 04/08/2011
I have been to that place.It,s really frightening to drive through the road although one could enjoy the scenery but still something needs to be done to improve it.I recall one vehicle almost overturned when the driver was maneuvrering through the road.
Can I communicate with you Sir? Mj Charles J Kazeze Ret. My mobl no is 0717 300412, i have got special request to you sir.