Mwitongo Lodge

Mwitongo Lodge is a cosy family-run hotel situated on the gentle highlands of Butiama, a tranquil volcanic setting in Northern Tanzania in the Mara Region. It is owned and run by Calogero Drago and Neema Nyerere-Drago Italian and Tanzanian citizens, respectively. Calogero and Neema are well travelled across Africa, Caribbean, Europe and the US during which they have developed a distinctive touch and taste for quality hospitality. Calogero took early retirement from the University of Trieste where he accomplished years of research in road construction and Neema recently resigned from international cooperation and diplomacy in Geneva. Environmentally-friendly and quality hospitality is their number one priority. Butiama lies at approximately 40 kms southwest of Musoma, the regional capital, 190 Kms northeast of Mwanza, famously known as the Rock City that lies along the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake and 60 Kms northwest of the Serengeti National Park, an internationally acclaimed Game Reserve that forms part of Tanzania's tourism northern circuit and easily the best developed, the most popular and the most easily accessible of Tanzania's tourism routes. "Mwitongo" which means "a deserted or abandoned place" in the Kizanaki language is also the name of the Lodge's location. Historically, Mwitongo was the area of Chief Burito Nyerere, the Chief of the Zanaki tribe and father of Tanzania's founding father and revered leader Julius Kambarage Nyerere, affectionately referred to as Mwalimu (teacher). Mwalimu Nyerere was Tanzania's first President, he ruled from 1961 to 1985 after relinquishing power at his own accord; he died in October 1999. Mwitongo is where Mwalimu Nyerere was born and buried and now hosts the Mwalimu Nyerere Mausoleum, the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Library and the Mwalimu Nyerere Museum, all of which are only a few meters away from the Lodge. Mwitongo is dominated by majestic and fascinating rock formations some of which still bear ancient rock paintings. It is also home to small ...