The River Kilombero is a tributary of the Rufiji, the second largest river in East Africa. In Mikumi on the state road Nr. 1 (called “Tanzam”) leading from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, a road branches off to Ifakara in a south western direction. After 25km on good tarmac, the road is rough and bumpy over a distance of about 50 km. During the rainy season this part of the road is passable only with great difficulties, sometimes it is impassable at all. Road near Ifakara in the rainy season “Tazara”, a railway built in the 60ies with Chinese development aid, passes through Ifakara on its way from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka. The passenger trains are lovingly restored relics from communist times. They run three times a week, mostly with enormous delays. Schedule: /www.tazarasite.com Schedule Tazara
Kilombero ni mto uliopo kando ya mto Rufiji. Rufiji ni mto wa pili kwa ukubwa katika Afrika Mashariki. Barabara inayoelekea Ifakara katika uelekeo wa kusini magharibi, inajigawa kutoka Mikumi kwenye barabara kuu namba 1 (iitwayo “Tanzam”) itokayo Dar-es-Salaam kuelekea Lusaka mji mkuu wa Zambia. Baada ya barabara nzuri ya rami yenye urefu wa Km 25, inalazimu kukabiriana na barabara mbaya yenye mabonde, na yenye urefu wa takribani Km 50 hadi kufika Ifakara.. Hii hupitika kwa taabu sana wakati wa masika na wakati mwingine haipitiki kabisa. Reli ya “Tazara” iliyojengwa na shirika la msaada la kichina katika miaka ya 60 kutokea Dar-es-Salaam, inapitia Ifakara kuelekea Lusaka. Treni za abiria ni masalia yaliyotunzwa vizuri kutokea enzi za kikomunisti.