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Places to Visit in Dodoma, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Dodoma is the capital of the African country Tanzania, situated in the heart of the country, around 500 km northwest of the country’s largest city and commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. It is also the seat of Dodoma Region, covering an area of 2,669 square kilometers. Dodoma is located at 6°10′23″ S 35°44′31″ E and experiences a semi-arid climate with warm weather year round and an average rainfall of 570 millimeters annually. Dodoma is the site of the two recognized universities the St John University of Tanzania and the University of Dodoma as well as an international school, the Canon Andrea Mwaka School.

 

History of Dodoma:

The history of Dodoma begins with its foundation made during the construction of the Tanzanian central railway during the German colonial rule. Dodoma was designated as the capital of Tanzania in 1973 for its central location in the country’s geography, replacing Dar es Salaam. The city’s development project was made by the United States architect James Rossant in 1986.

 

How to reach Dodoma?

Dodoma hosts a small airport with flights from Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Lake Manyara, Ruaha, Tarangire, Zanzibar, Iringa, Mbeya and many other prominent cities. The airport is situated 1.5 km away from the heart of the city.

Dodoma has upgraded road and railway networks that lead city to the country’s commercial hub Dar es Salaam and many other important domestic destinations. Minibuses (dala dala) are the common way to get around Dodoma and there are taxis and rental cars also abundant.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Dodoma:

The culture of Dodoma is concentrated on its reputed universities St Johns University of Tanzania and University of Dodoma, where regular cultural events organized that showcases the significance of Dodoma’s and Tanzania’s culture and history.

Here are some well known shopping options in Dodoma:

• Yashna’s Supermarket
• Two Sisters
• Shabibi Supermarket

List of the prominent food corners in Dodoma include:

• VETA
• Roses’s Cafe
• Leone l’Africano

 

Things to do in Dodoma:

• Kondoa town tour
• Kolo village walking tour
• Sambwa hill trekking tour
• Royal Village Tour
• Rock paints Tour

 

Places to see in Dodoma:

 

Gaddafi Mosque:

The Gaddafi Mosque is one of the identities of Dodoma being Tanzania’s largest mosque and East Africa’s second largest, following the Uganda National Mosque. The mosque got its name from the Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, who funded for the mosque’s construction through the World Islamic Call Society. The interior of the mosque can hold 3,000 worshippers.

 

Lion Rock:

Situated in the northern part of Dodoma, the Lion Rock or Simba Hill offers the striking views of the city and surroundings. Hiking of the hill will also be a thrilling experience for visitors.

 

Swimming pools in Dodoma:

Visitors can find swimming pools in Dodoma at the New Dodoma Hotel and Climax Club. Apart from swimming, one can also enjoy the day there by watching TV and shopping.

 

University of Dodoma:

Officially opened in 2007, the University of Dodoma is situated 8 km away from the city centre of Dodoma. It currently trains around 22,000 students in different departments and through latest courses. There are also regular cultural events taking place that exhibits the city’s and country’s culture.

 

List of other places of interest in and around Dodoma include:

• Bunge
• Shabibi Supermarket
• Dodoma Cine Club
• Saint Johns University
• Lake Munguri
• Ruaha National Park
• Muhesi Game Reserve
• Usungu Game Reserve
• Udzungwa Mountains National Park
• Tarangire National Park

 

Best time to visit Dodoma:

Generally from June to August is the best time to visit Tanzania’s capital Dodoma as when the city recives relatively less rainfall and remains dry.

 

Accommodation options in Dodoma:

There are several modernized hotels in Dodoma offering a wide range of upgraded amenities like air conditioning, AC, wireless internet, spa, sauna, bar and restaurant, food on request and 24 hour electricity. The major hotels in and around Dodoma are listed below:

• Gasper Hotel
• New Dodoma Hotel
• EOTAS Foundation Camp
• Dear Mama Hotel
• Nam Hotel
• New Planet Hotel
• Humble House
• Golden Crown Hotel
• Amarula Tent Camp
• The Retreat Selous
• Didimiza Beach Guest House

Tourist Places to Visit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Dar es Salaam is the largest city and former capital of the African country Tanzania, covering an area of 1,590.5 sq. km. It is situated on the eastern coastline of the country, around 500 km southeast of the country’s present capital, Dodoma. Dar es Salaam comprises three important administrative districts, Ilala, Kinondoni, and Temeke. Dar es Salaam geographically is positioned between 6°48′ S latitude and 39°17′ E longitude and features a tropical wet and dry climate with relatively hot and humid weather year round. Dar es Salaam offers diverse attractions for visitors like museums, botanical gardens and sports venues.

 

History of Dar es Salaam:

Earlier called Mzizima, Dar es Salaam originated as a village in the 19^th century and the village enlarged its limits towards becoming a city in 1865-66, founded by the Sultan Majid bin Said of Zanzibar. It served as the capital of Tanzania since the German rule in the country, later during the British reign, it was replaced by Dodoma as capital in 1974.

 

How to get Dar es Salaam?

Julius Nyerere International Airport is the airport serving Dar es Salaam, handling flights from many Africa, Asian and European cities, including Amsterdam, Cairo and Johannesburg. The airport is located around 12 km away from the centre.

Dar es Salaam is well connected by bus to all the major cities in Tanzania, including Arusha. Minibuses are the prevalent option to get around Dar es Salaam and taxis, rental cars and Bajaj vehicles are the other convenient options.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Dar es Salaam:

Nyumba ya sanaa is a prominent cultural centre in Dar es Salaam, home to a wide range of Tanzanian artworks. The area of Oyster Bay in Dar es Salaam is famous for the typical Tingatinga painting style.

Dar es Salaam is a great destination for shoppers ,with a series of traditional shops with colorful items like Tinga-Tinga paintings, kangas clothes and art and craft works.

Being home to a substantial number of Indian people, Dar es Salaam houses many nice Indian restaurants, including Retreat Restaurant and Red Onion.

 

What to do in Dar es Salaam?

• Snorkeling
• Swimming
• Sunbathing
• Shopping

 

What to see in Dar es Salaam?

 

Beaches of Dar es Salaam:

Beaches are one of the prime tourist attractions of Dar es Salaam, highlighted by the Bahari Beach and South Beach, both of these are well served by restaurants and cafes with crunchy and crispy Tanzanian delicacies.

 

Makumbusho Village Museum:

The Makumbusho Village Museum is situated on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. This open air museum houses many traditional homes representing different ethnic groups in the country. There are also regular dance and music shows exhibited every day.

 

Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower:

The Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower is the tallest building in Dar es Salaam and Tanzania, holding 21 stories. This skyscraper is great to see during the night under lights.

 

Dar Es Salaam Botanical Garden:

The Dar Es Salaam Botanical Garden is situated next to the National Museum of Tanzania, home to a wide range of colorful tropical plants. It is a perfect spot for nature enthusiasts.

 

Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve:

The Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve is situated on the island, few kilometers away from the mainland Dar es Salaam. It is a famous day trip destination, offering excellent snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing experiences.

 

Other interesting places in and around Dar es Salaam include:

• Azania Front Lutheran Church
• Karimjee Hall
• Zoological Gardens in Dar es Salaam
• Mbudya Island
• Askari Monument
• National Museum of Tanzania
• Wonder Workshop
• Bongoyo Island

 

Best time to visit Dar es Salaam:

Throughout the year is best, especially from June to September is the ideal time to visit Dar es Salaam.

 

Accommodation options in Dar es Salaam:

The YMCA is one of the major place for accommodation in Dar es Salaam, where one can find all sorts of well equipped hotels, mainly mid range hotels. Price for hotel rooms ranges from 10000 Tzs to hundreds of dollars. Some selected top end hotels in Dar es Salaam include:

• Ledger Plaza Bahari Beach Hotel
• Jangwani Seabreeze Resort
• New Africa Hotel
• Hotel Nikko Tower
• Southern Sun Dar es Salaam
• Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam
• Sea Cliff Hotel
• Tanzanite Executive Suites
• Protea Hotel Courtyard
• The Oyster Bay Hotel
• DoubleTree by Hilton Dar es Salaam
• Mediterraneo Hotel & Restaurant
• Kunduchi Beach Hotel and Resort
• Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Bukoba, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Bukoba is a town situated on the western shore of Victoria Lake, belonging to the Kagera region of Tanzania. It is located in the northwestern part of the country and holds the 2^nd largest lake port of Tanzania. Bukoba is the seat of both Bukoba Urban District and Kagera Region, located around 990 km northwest of the Arusha city and 1400 km northwest of Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania.

Bukoba is well known for a white sandy beach, a swimming pool and tennis courts that are frequented by tourists year round. Bukoba geographically coordinates with 1°20′ S latitude and 31°49′ E longitude and generally experiences sunny and mild climate throughout the year.

 

How to reach Bukoba?

Bukoba hosts an airport with scheduled flights from/to Mwanza and Rubondo, served by Auric Air and Precision Air. The airport is situated within the city premise, can be reached by foot or rental vehicle. By bus, Bukoba connects Kampala in Uganda and many northern Tanzanian cities. The local transportation of Bukoba is served by minibuses, cars and taxis.

 

Culture, Food and Shopping in Bukoba:

Bukoba is home to the soccer club Kagera Sugar, which represents Bukoba in the Tanzanian Premier League.

Apart from modernized shops with branded products, Bukoba also houses a large traditional market, where visitors can bag a wide selection of Tanzanian art and craftworks, photographs and local fruits at reasonable rates. Bukoba Grill House is one of the recommended food corners of Bukoba.

 

Things to do in Bukoba:

• Swimming
• Fishing
• Day tours
• Hiking

 

What to see in Bukoba?

 

Lake Victoria:

The Lake Victoria is the first preference of tourists coming to the town Bukoba. The lake holds many large titles like the world’s largest tropical lake, the largest lake in terms of area in Africa and the largest freshwater lake in the world in terms of surface area. For visitors, the Lake Victoria is a heaven by offering fishing, sightseeing and many other wonderful outdoor activities.

 

Bukoba Beach:

Bukoba houses a splendid white sandy beach on the shore of Lake Victoria with opportunities for swimming and walking. It will be a great half day trip for visitors and it is also advised for visitors to bring some food packets to eat at the beach during the relaxation time.

 

Traditional market in Bukoba:

The market of Bukoba is one of the landmarks, shopping centres as well as tourist attraction of the town. The market offers a wide range of colorful handicraft products, jewels and traditional clothes at affordable prices.

 

Biharamulo Game Reserve:

Established in the year 1959, the Biharamulo Game Reserve is situated around 140 km south of the Bukoba. It covers an area of 1300 km², featuring an abundance of plant and floral species. Visitors can consider a guided tour for easier exploration of the reserve.

 

Other places of interest near Bukoba include:

• Ngorongoro Crater
• Lake Manyara National Park
• Tarangire National Park
• Arusha National Park
• Ol Doinyo Lengai
• Cultural Heritage Centre Arusha
• Meserani Snake Park
• Lake Manyara
• Serengeti
• Bishop’s Cathedral of Arusha
• Arusha Clock Tower
• The National Natural History Museum
• Kilimanjaro Golf
• Olduvai Gorge
• Mount Kilimanjaro

 

When to visit Bukoba?

Like most parts in the country, from June to August is the best and popular time to visit Bukoba when the weather remains in condition.

 

Where to stay in Bukoba?

Bukoba is home to many nice hotels with all basic and modern facilities to make visitors’ tour enjoyable and memorable. Apart from amenities, hotels are also well versed in serving visitors with mouthwatering Tanzanian dishes. The prominent hotels in Bukoba include:

• Walkgard Hotel
• Lake Hotel
• Victorious Perch Hotel
• Bukoba Kolping Hotel
• Mugana Guesthouse
• Balamaga B&B
• Kiroyera Backpackers Beach Paradise Campsite