Did you know about The God's Bridge in Rungwe Tanzania (Swahili "Daraja La Mungu")

Daraja-La-Mungu (The God's Bridge) is located along Kiwira river at Tukuyu, Rungwe-Mbeya

Mbeya region, lying far south of Tanzania bordering Zambia and Malawi, is among the areas of Tanzania blessed with many attractions and wonders most of which are natural. The region is lately called “the Green city” for its evergreen vegetation covering most part of its areas. There are mountains such as Rungwe, Loleza, Mbeya, Livingstone to mention just a few, which represents some of the important catchment areas which takes Mbeya city and the residents within it, far from water shortage. The landscape is characterized by various relief forms created by old volcanic powers and the African Rift Valley that cuts across this region. Those old volcanoes created many natural features that lie scattered all over the region, making it rich in tourist attractions and destinations. The perennial rivers flowing down along these mountain ranges enrich the field soils making the land amazingly productive with spectacular appearance.

Rungwe district on the southeast part of Mbeya region, derives its name from the famous Mount Rungwe (2,960 meters = 9,710 ft) which is the southern Tanzania's second highest peak. It is in this district where this “astonishing-wonder” resides, a bridge called “Daraja-La-Mungu”. It is a natural bridge, of the famous kiwira river, estimated to have been formed around 1800 million years ago by water flowing through cooling lava that spewed out from the nearby Rungwe volcano.

Daraja la Mungu (photo by mister-nolegs)

The Name “Daraja la Mungu” is a Swahili word carrying the meaning “God’s Bridge”. This came from the fact that this bridge was naturally formed without any human engineering and yet remained ironic stronger till today. Scientific research believes that, the bridge’s formation is a product of powers of a fast flowing river down along the rocky valley, creating a hole through a hard surface hence leaving behind a rocky span that cuts across two sides of the river in the shape that looks exactly like a single lane bridge, big and strong enough to allow more than hundreds tons load across. Local people call this miracle 'Daraja la Mungu' for its providential existence and for the traditional beliefs attached it.

The bridge spans a small waterfall at a distance not more than ten meters down the river and further south along the Kiriwa River are the pretty Kaporogwe Falls. Also nearby is Kijungu (Cooking Pot), where the river tumbles through a small rocky gorge creating heavy drop sounds of water several meters down. Residents call this pot-hole like feature “Kijungu” reflecting a Swahili word “chungu” which means a pot. Just before “Daraja-La-Mungu”, lies the new bridge called “Daraja la ujenzi” or Construction-bridge being built by Chinese engineers under the administration of Tanzania government in order to assist and may be take over the use of natural “Daraja-La-Mungu”.

a small rest-point closer to the bridge (photo by Edes)

Despite the attractiveness and potentiality of this area as a tourist attraction, “Daraja-La-Mungu” like many other attractions found in Tanzania’s rural, is not being well advertised. It is yet unmistaken fact that the ministry responsible for natural resources and Tourism-MNRT does not recognize this feature as a tourist attraction. This has lead current visitors (residents and non residents) to enjoy this astonishing wonder without paying anything because there is no well recognized administration in place to manage the area as well as provide visitor-use services and facilities. As for now, transport to the area is very difficult while there are none accommodation facilities for visitors since the closest residence is the police camp (Magereza).

Mbeya region, as it is in most parts of Tanzania-contains a vast collection of natural attractions which if would have been well administered by the responsible authorities, could have created a valuable source of income through tourism. Wonderful natural resource like “Daraja-La-Mungu” could bring about another famous tourist attraction to Mbeya region and the whole Tanzania even without any structural or physical modification to the area, it could also add another source of income through tourist sector and with-no-doubt benefit the locals around that area through income multiplier effect.

Daraja la Mungu (View from far) (photo by Full-shangwe)