Excursion
Bujora Cultural Museum Tour
The Sukuma Museum's main site — traditional dwellings, a healer's grass house and dance artifacts, with elders sharing Sukuma history and arts first-hand.
View Bujora Cultural Museum TourHome → Programs → Kageye Historical Site
Kageye Historical Site
Located 40 km northeast of Mwanza in the village of Kayenze, this tranquil fishing community was once the most important port on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in the late 19th century. A tree-filled meadow of monuments and graves, managed by the Sukuma Museum, traces the site's Sukuma, Arab and missionary history.
Location
Kayenze village, Lake Victoria's southern shore
Best For
History, heritage & cultural site visits
Distance from Mwanza
40 km northeast of Mwanza
Managed By
The Sukuma Museum
About this excursion
Located 40 km northeast of Mwanza in the village of Kayenze, Kageye is a tranquil fishing community that was once the most important port on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in the late 19th century. The site was once a centre for the slave trade until missionaries ended it in 1878, and is today a tree-filled meadow of monuments and graves managed by the Sukuma Museum — a quiet, reflective half-day trip that traces the area's Sukuma, Arab and missionary history.
- Traces of one of the oldest Sukuma chiefdoms
- Remnants of former Arab settlements
- Slave market remnants — a centre for the slave trade until missionaries ended it in 1878
- Graves of missionaries and travelers
- Remnants from different historical periods
- Once the most important lake port on Lake Victoria's southern shore in the late 19th century
Nearby Excursion
Pair It With Bujora Cultural Museum
Bujora's Sukuma Museum manages the Kageye site, so many volunteers combine the two into one cultural and historical day out from Mwanza.
Excursion
Mwanza City Tour
Capri Point, Bismarck Rock and Rock City Mall — an easy way to see the rest of Mwanza on the same trip or another free day during your placement.
View Mwanza City TourGood to Know
Requirements & what's included
Do I need to book this in advance?
We recommend telling us a few days ahead so we can arrange the 40 km transfer and a guide, but the trip can often be added to your schedule at short notice if you're already volunteering with us — just ask the VOT team.
What should I bring or wear?
Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a water bottle for the meadow site. As Kageye includes graves and historical monuments, we ask visitors to be quiet and respectful while exploring.
Can I visit if I'm in Mwanza on a short trip, not a full placement?
Yes — this excursion is open to current volunteers and short-term visitors alike. Contact us and we'll arrange the visit around your dates.
What's included
✓ Return transport from VOT Hostel (40 km)
✓ Sukuma Museum site access
✓ Local guide throughout the visit
✓ Historical commentary on the monuments & graves
✓ Bottled water for the trip
✓ Easy pairing with Bujora Cultural Museum
In Their Words
What volunteers say
★★★★★
"Combining my volunteering with the Zanzibar Island tour was a dream come true. VOT makes it so easy to experience the real Tanzania while contributing to a great cause."
James O'Connor — Ireland, Tourism & Hospitality