We spent a day in Iringa, a small city situated at 1,600 meters on a cliff overlooking the Ruaha River Valley. Iringa – once built by the Germans as a bastion against the local Hehe people – is now a convenient base for the southern parks of Tanzania, notably Ruaha National Park, the famous Isimila Stone Age site, and the Igeleke rock drawings.
Iringa’s history is defined by the resistance of the Hehe people under Chief Mkwawa against German colonial rule, followed by its growth as a commercial centre under British administration. We walked through the centre of town with German colonial buildings and a popular market. We also visited the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, which commemorates soldiers who died in local battles during World War I and World War II. From Gangilonga Rock, which was once a vital meeting spot for chieftains, we got great views over the town.
This large rock, located northeast of town, is where Chief Mkwawa meditated and where he learned that the Germans were after him. Its name, gangilonga, means ‘talking stone’ in Hehe. It’s an easy climb to the top (🎟️10,000 TZS). After a long day, we had an excellent dinner, including delicious pizza, at Mama Iringa Pizzeria.
Parking location – Iringa: 7.779303S 35.699100E (🚻,🅿️15,000 TZS)