Dodoma is the capital city of Tanzania. It is the center of Tanzania’s wine-growing industry. Historically, Dodoma was a stopover on the overland caravan routes that traveled from the coast towards Lake Tanganyika. It became a major rail transport hub with a line that carried agricultural produce to the port of Dar es Salaam for export.
Dodoma has many places and things of interest to recommend to the passing visitors. But here I am going just to put together the most exciting and fun activities you can do in or around Dodoma.
1. Discover the Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings
2. Bunge Tanzania Parliament
3. Visit the Gaddafi Mosque
4. Explore Majengo Market
5. Hike the Lion Rock
6. Visit the Museum of Geosciences
7. Taste the Local Food
8. Explore the NightLife
9. Do Shopping
10. Dodoma Cultural Tourism
For the rest of this article, I am going to give detailed information about the above-listed activities. So, keep reading to find out more. But first, I am going to share with you briefly about Dodoma.
The Dodoma City
Dodoma is a city located in the heartland of Tanzania. The city is situated on the eastern edge of the southern highlands.
Historically, Dodoma was a small market town. German colonialists established the modern Dodoma during the construction of the Tanzanian central railway in 1907.
Its layout portrays the typical colonial planning of the time with a European quarter isolated from a native village. Most of the inhabitants here are small-scale farmers.
Today, Dodoma is the nation’s official political capital and the seat of the Government in the country. Recently, all the government ministries and other agencies have moved to Dodoma. You will find many places and things of interest to do if you are in Dodoma or around.
Now let us explore in detail the most exciting activities you can do in or around Dodoma.
1. Discover The Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings.
Kondoa Irangi is home to one of the world’s most impressive collections of prehistoric rock art. The site is located between Singida and Irangi hills in Kondoa Irangi Village.
It is about 9 km east of the main highway (T5) from Dodoma to Babati, about 20 km north of Kondoa.
This historical site of humanmade markings and paintings is the latest World Heritage site. The paintings are a series of ancient caves carved into the side of a hill looking out over the plain. They were painted by local tribes using a mixture of animal fats, red tree sap, and ash.
The boundaries of the site are marked by concrete posts. You will see the caves containing some of the paintings which are said to date back more than 50,000 years.
The specific number of rock art sites in this place is currently uncertain. Though it is believed to holds an estimated 1,600 pictures covering a span of 200 different sites.
So, you can even discover new ones of your own when you visit this place. You will see the figures that represent part of a living tradition of creation and use by two communities. They are Sandawe and Hadzabe in their simbo healing ceremonies, and by Maasai people in ritual feasting.
One of the paintings here is said to depict a human figure holding a stick and an elephant. Some paintings depict people playing musical instruments and crossing rivers. Also, a humanoid figure is composed of concentric circles in the head and a continuous line from the head to the rest of the body. Other paintings depict giraffes, rhinoceros, and antelopes.
The most important and notable site you will see here is the Kisese II Rockshelter site. At Kisese II Rockshelter, you will find diverse paintings, beads, lithics, pottery, and other artifacts. It’s a nice place where you’ll learn about the major social transitions that were taking place during the late Pleistocene and Holocene eras.
From here, head to the Mungomi wa Kolo site where you will find fine-line red ochre drawings. These drawings portray various people and animals.
This rock art is the common heritage of humanity. The sites are still used by local communities in their ritual activities like rainmaking and traditional healing rituals.
From the paintings, you can head to chill at the nearby hot spring. This hot spring provides drinking for many inhabitants in the area.
I suggest you take a local guide who will explain everything to you including the “the Battle of Kondoa Irangi”. This was a battle of the East African Campaign of WWI.
2. Bunge Tanzania Parliament
Bunge Tanzania Parliament is the home of Tanzania’s national assembly. It is a typical African-style round building located in the city centre of Dodoma and a new earthquake-proof building.
You can visit this place during parliament sessions and the atmosphere during debates is quite lively. The sessions are only four times a year. During this period, there is no disturbance if you are invited.
Or you can meet with the Bunge reception to be permitted to get inside of the Bunge. But make sure you have your passport and you have made prior arrangements. It is interesting to watch members speaking with interest and nervous voices as they discuss bills and pass laws.
Also, the actions of the Executive arm of the Government are scrutinized here. And if you are not getting inside, the building is still well worth looking at from the outside.
Note that taking photographs is completely forbidden. Otherwise, make sure you have permission for the building to be photographed. From the Bunge, you can visit the College of Business Education (CBE) adjacent to the Bunge.
3. Visit The Gaddafi Mosque
The Gaddafi Mosque is the largest masjid in the country and the second-largest in East Africa. It has a capacity for at least 3,000 worshippers.
It is an attractive pink building that you will count yourself lucky to have seen. Its architecture is completely amazing and has nice views from every side. It is located very close to the Dodoma airport where you can easily reach everywhere from here in the city.
The mosque was named after the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Its construction fund was provided by Muammar Gaddafi through the World Islamic Call Society.
Alternatively, from here you can head to Nyerere Square Park. Nyerere Square is the icon of Dodoma, located at the center of the central business district. This is a place where people were gathering to listen to what Nyerere was saying about searching for independence from the British colonizers.
The Park aims at maintaining the memory and history of the founder of the nation, the late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere. The Nyerere Monument attracts many locals and tourists for taking pictures.
This is a nice place where you can meet with someone for an appointment, or just have fun stories and refresh. You will not be disappointed with the place as it is well maintained for visitors to enjoy. I heard this from my friend, and I decided to pass by when I was traveling from Iringa to Arusha.
I chilled there for about an hour for my lunchtime while snapping some photos. There is Chef Asili nearby selling nice wholesome food and freshly baked bread.
So, if you are in Dodoma and looking for where to go, consider visiting Gaddafi Mosque and Nyerere square on your list.
4. Explore Majengo Market
Majengo market is the high-energy street market in the city. The agricultural products here are enhanced by the small traders in the city. The market is located at Majengo ward. The market is full of life and color that will amaze you when you visit it.
Visiting this market, you will find a variety of items. They include vegetables, fruits, plastics, electronics, meat, fresh fish, and clothes.
At every step you will make, there are vendors full of smiles tempting you to buy their products. By the way, they are struggling to earn some income for survival, so it is great to support them. Also, you can buy some souvenirs to take home when you leave Tanzania.
This market is more interesting because you will experience local shopping. My friend visited this market in February 2019. He found himself being attracted by handmade wooden utensils and bought some.
If you are living in an apartment of air BNB, you can buy a chicken or fresh fish to prepare yourself. Alternatively, you can chill at one of the nearby restaurants and taste the already prepared local food. If you come here in the morning, you can taste chai and chapati. Or enjoy ugali or rice and beans in the afternoon. The food here is cheap but delicious.
If you are in Dodoma, visiting the Majengo market is highly recommendable.
5. Hike The Lion Rock
The Lion Rock is a hilly area on the outskirts of Dodoma city. It is a landmark of Dodoma city situated in the northern part of Dodoma. The Lion Rock hill is alternatively known as Simba Hill or in Swahili, Mlimwa.
Are you determined to climb an aggressive walk? It is quite a steep hike up the hill but hiking this hill will give you an exciting experience you cannot forget. You can hike this rock at any time of the day. It will take you about 50 minutes to 1 hour to get to the top.
While at the top, you will be given an unparalleled panorama of the entire city and the surrounding areas. From the top, you will view the Dodoma plains and farmlands.
This is a nice place where you can hang out with friends and families when you are in Dodoma.
To reach there, you can go by taxi because the place is well known or take a bike to tour the Lion Rock. Hiking the Lion Rock is worthwhile visiting. Several places in Dodoma rent out bikes from around 5,000 Tanzanian shillings.
6. Visit The Museum Of Geosciences.
Geoscience’s museum is home to a small collection of rock samples and geological information. Be aware that this is not the biggest drawcard to get anyone to visit a museum. For a small fee, you can play around with archaeological artifacts.
There is also a nice place to explore in Dodoma if you are a rock enthusiast. It is at the Geological Survey of Tanzania Laboratory behind the post office. So, if you do not get anything exciting at the Museum of Geosciences, then visit the Geological Survey.
This is one of the leading customer-oriented geo-scientific centers of excellence in Africa it is offering national geoscientific data at international standards.
Visiting this place, you can learn about different measures of monitoring and mitigating geo-hazards. So, if you have time in Dodoma, the Museum of Geosciences is a place to visit.
7. Taste The Local Food
Dodoma is a nice place where you cannot miss out on trying local cuisine. The city is packed with nice restaurants that provide typical Tanzania local food. They are small restaurants, but they offer tasty local food that you can miss in large hotels.
The facilities are just like those use in their normal households, but the food has the flavour of its kind. You may be surprised with the price because the food itself is very cheap. Service providers are charming and respectful to the guests. So, eating in these restaurants gives you the chance to know the real lifestyle of the locals.
More interesting is that they are happy to share their exciting stories with you while you are there. You can make friends from here.
So, if you are in Dodoma, you can try some of the local foods and you will not be disappointed. The common local food you can try including:
· Chai na Chapati
· Ugali Dagaa na Mlenda
· Nyama Choma
· Chips Mayai
· Pilau
· Wali Maharage
So, if you are in Dodoma, trying one or some of these local dishes is highly recommended. Also, you will find international food (Asiatic, Indian, and European) and vegetarian-friendly. Simply, you can eat anything you want at a reasonable price).
There are many places where you can taste nice foods. Here I am going to put together the most recommendable ones.
· Leone L’Africano
· Nav’s Restaurant and Pub
· Dodoma Wimpy
· Aladdin’s Cave
· China Garden
· Sipe Cafeteria
· Rainbow Pub
· KRose’s Café
· VETA
Another interesting thing you may want to try is Dodoma wine. Dodoma is the centre of Tanzania’s wine-producing activity. You will find excellent wine, mostly intended for local consumption. Some companies like Cetawico open their wine cellars to the public to publicize world-renowned wines.
So, if you’ve time, taste the food while interacting with the friendly locals to enjoy your stay in Dodoma.
8. Explore The Night Life
Nightlife in Dodoma can be attractive as in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Arusha. The nightlife in Dodoma is increasingly becoming more fun. Just spare time to explore the magic nightlife of this city with exciting spots for travellers in the city.
You will find many seedy bars in this city that are famous for playing nice music for you to enjoy.
Just put on a pair of jeans and sneakers and head to the city centre. This is a place with a collection of nice bars and restaurants for partygoers and crushing mobs. Here you will find places that you could not imagine in Dodoma.
If you want to meet office workers and business people in the city, head to the New Maisha Club. It is a well-stocked bar operated by a very professional barman, M-Tosh featuring a nice extensive dance floor. It is a nice spot to unwind after you have been having a busy working day. Have a drink, nice food, and share talks with friendly locals.
Another place where you can mingle with the middle class, politicians, and expatriate workers is Club 7 Dodoma. This place is stunning with its showy décor, brilliant blue lights, and smartly dressed waiters. Their food and drinks are world-class.
But if you are looking for a spot for the young and upwardly mobile, Saturday Night Bar is a place for you. It features a widescreen that streams premier football matches. After the games, you will see most of the customers in a party mood. The dancing is exciting, and it goes on throughout the night.
Alternatively, Club Laaziz is a perfect spot where you will find great music and bright lights. It is a favourite place for the younger crowd in the city. Or you can opt to visit the Acacia Bar and Restaurant to mingle with local fun-seekers. The night here is hot and stunning you cannot imagine in Dodoma.
My favourite place to spend my Friday nights in Dodoma is NK Disco. This is a famous place where younger people gather to enjoy exciting and rowdy nights. But if you just want to go to a place to have a quiet drink and watch TV, then VETA is your top-notch.
So, if you were looking at what you can explore in Dodoma, consider exploring its nightlife.
9. Do Shopping
Your tour in Dodoma is not complete without discovering its places for shopping. Here you will find nice supermarkets where you can get high-quality items. You will find most of the products are fresh and homemade.
The service providers are always charming and helpful to guests.
But do not expect a wide selection of goods. The most common items that you can shop include:
· Pasta
· Canned vegetables
· Chocolates
· Biscuits
· Frozen cheese
· Ground coffee
· Wine
· Candies
· Crisps
· Yogurts
· Frozen foods
· Indian cuisine snacks
· Cosmetics
You can find these products at many places in Dodoma.
But what are the most favourite places for most travellers in Dodoma for shopping? Here I am going to put together the top four places you can go shopping.
· The Shoppers Plaza
· Shabibi Supermarket
· Yashna’s Supermarket
· Two Sisters
A shopping tour in the city will give you the chance to learn about the locals as well. You will be interacting with locals on the way or at the supermarkets.
So, if you are in Dodoma and looking at what you can do there, consider adding a shopping tour to your list.
10. Dodoma Cultural Tourism
Dodoma Cultural Tourism is an organization offering cultural tour services. It is in Dodoma city. You will find nice accommodation services. Security and safety are highly ensured for guests to enjoy their stay with them. Their staff and guide are professional and charming, providing what tourists want.
Visiting the Dodoma Cultural Tourism is fun because you will not only enjoy the services but also the chance to share ideas with them. The organization is aiming at making the future generation. You can take your kids with you there because the organization is always happy to spend time with kids.
Another interesting part of Dodoma Cultural Tourism is that they have community-based projects. They direct and fully support the most vulnerable children around the city and local areas. They help to send children to school, buy them daily basic needs, and spend time with them.
Also, you participate with them in eco-tourism. You can participate with them in planting trees around the city and near the villages. Or you can go for a farming tour where you’ll have the chance to exchange ideas with farmers at the fields.
My niece did a cultural tour in 2014 with Dodoma Cultural Tourism. She had two-three days to explore Wagogo and Sandawe traditional lifestyles. She was excited to learn almost everything about the Wagogo tribe.
The guide was very informative and familiar with the tribe very well as he grew up there. She participated in traditional Ngoma and music. She learned about the Marimba; the Wagogo saxophone used during the traditional dances.
She was excited to learn how the food is cooked using a local stove and firewood. The food and local bear had the flavour of its king as are prepared freshly. The ugali mlenda was so nice that she cannot recommend enough to anyone to try while in Dodoma.
The last day before taking a bus to Dar es Salaam, she had time to learn the colonial history in Dodoma. With Dodoma Cultural Tourism, she visited the central railway station. She was excited about the history of German colonists and how they ruled the people.
Conclusion
It may be hard to find exciting activities in Dodoma as compared to other cities in Tanzania. That is the reason I have shared the most exciting and fun things to do just to make your life easy.
You may not be able to explore all the things there. So, choose the activities that suit better with your interests and the nature of your trip to enjoy your stay.
