Vivutio vya Utalii na Taarifa zake

The tourism sector has identified different tourism attraction in Iringa

Municipality. The details of these attractions are explained in brief below

however more details can be accessed from the tourism information centre of

Iringa Municipality.

Common wealth graves

Common wealth graves located about 200m from Iringa Municipal office. This

is the graves of the British soldier who died during the first and Second World

War of 1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945 respectively. These graves have tourism

significance as the relatives of the deceased come every year to visit these

graves so the Tanzania Government earn foreign currency from these graves.

Second World war monument.

This monument found at Iringa Municipal garden that is opposite to Iringa

Municipal office. It is the memorial monument for Africans soldiers died during

the second world war of 1939 – 1945. The icon built in this place with the

respect of those Africans hero who died during the Second World War, and it

has the historical significance to Iringa region.

The German Boma

The German boma built for administration purpose and was strategically built

on top of the mountain for security in the 1896. It built by using stones that

was collected by the indigenous people; outside the boma there is ammunition

remain which used to destroy forty of Chief Mkwawa at Kalenga, also the

“myombo” tree used as a means of defense for those committed a crime; they

went under a tree as a means of submission to German Administration so that

they can be saved from being hanged.

The building designated as cultural Museum for Southern highlands Regions.

Igeleke Rock Paints

Igeleke rock paints found about 10km from Iringa Municipal office at Mtwivila

ward; 2km from Iringa-Dodoma main road. There are paints of different

animals such as giraffe, impala, elephant and rhinoceros as well as drawings of

hunters carrying spears. The rock is 40m tall and the width of 10m. The

drawings are almost the same with those found in Kondoa Irangi.

German market

The market built after the German defeated Chief Mkwawa, it built in 1896 as

a source of income to the German government. It is said to be the oldest

market in Africa built by Germans. Currently the market is a part of Iringa

Municipal Council’s Market as seen in the picture.

Manyafifi caves

Manyafifi caves found at Mosi area at Kitwiru ward about 7km from Mbeya –

Dar es Salaam main road. These caves were used for security purpose also was

a place for sacrifices so called the place gods. There are seven caves that

arranged consecutively and it believes that before entering that caves it is

necessary to knock out otherwise it will be no light to see it properly. In caves

3, 5, and 6 it believes to had the following:-

· Different activities such as animal grazing, dance performance and

domestic activities. When someone knocking the voice of different

activities ceased and the darkness disappear.

· Cultural items such as pots, hoes, horn and stones weapons.

· Ponds are available up to this time at some caves.

Igumbilo pillars

These pillars found at Igumbilo village at Ruaha ward about 12km from Iringa

Municipal office and 1.5 km Dar es Salaam – Mbeya main. These pillars have

attractive features that make someone enjoy the scenery of the place.

Mapanda Mountain caves

Mapanda mountain caves found at the top of the mountain, in which takes 2

hours to climb that mountain to reach the caves. The caves believed to be used

as a hidden place during the maji maji war. At the entry point there are pieces

of woods that were found before 1972

These caves are about 15 Km from Iringa Municipal officer on the Western part

of Nduli airport about 3km. inside the caves is a habitat of animals known as

mongoose.

1.9. Ibamila pillars

These are attractive pillars found at Kigonzile village in Nduli Ward with a

distance of 10km from Iringa Municipal Office. These pillars have different

attractive shapes which cover an area of about a half kilometer.

1.10. Kitulase caves

These caves found at Ruaha caves about 10 km from Iringa Municipal office.

Inside of this caves were the settlement of people called “wamiha” where most

of them were iron makers used as hiding place and settlements. It believed that

there are 12 rooms but only two rooms are passable. The second room is big

like a hall in such the way that 30 people can sit freely.

Ulonge pillars

These Pillars found at 3 km from Dar es Salaam – Mbeya main road. They

found at Ulonge village in Ruaha Ward. These Pillars are so attractive and

takes huge area of about 3 km2.

Kaglielo pillars

These Pillars found at Kitwiru ward close to Kaglielo Secondary school about 6

km from Iringa Municipal office head quarter.

Gangilonga rock

Gangilonga rock found at Gangilonga ward about 2.7KM Iringa Municipal office

headquarters. The stone was used by Hehe tribe as a place of sacrifice

especially during the period of war. They used the place to ask themselves if

they are going to win the battle or not. It believed that the stone stop speaking

in 1857 when the sacrifices process stopped. These stone has the attractive

shape where on the top is flat in such way that 30 people can sit freely. When

someone is on the top can view the different parts of Iringa town, there is a

fresh air with cool blowing wind which attract someone to stay on that place.

B. Accommodation Places

The accommodation in Iringa Municipal Council has a capacity of 654 people

per night. This number is low regarding Iringa as a hub for tourism. Apart from

low carrying capacity also the quality of accommodation available is low thus

the council is call upon investors to invest on tourism accommodation with

high standards to fulfill tourists’ needs. The accommodation sector only gives

employment for about 400 residences

C. Tourism Colleges

There are several tourism colleges found in Iringa Municipality, these colleges

offer different level of education from certificates, diploma, degree and Masters

level of tourism. The availability of these colleges is a sign of tourism activities

going on in the area.

D. Tour Safaris And Company

There are several tour safaris and company found in Iringa Municipal these

organize safari in Southern part of Tanzania in Ruaha, Udzungwa, Mikumi,

and Kitulo National Parks. Also for cultural tourists they organize safaris and

walking town tours. These are

· Iringa Safari tours

· Warthog Adventure

· Chabo Africa

· Masoko tours

· Intercontinental tours

· Tatanca Tours

· Kudu Adventure

· Batelieur safari tours

E. BUREAU DE CHANGE

There is one bureau de change called Iringa Bureau de change found at NSSF

building while other services of currency changing done by our local banks

such as Barclays, CRDB, NBC and NMB.

F. Involvement of Tourism Stakeholders.

As the mission of Iringa Municipal Council to aspire a better and sustainable

living standard to its residents, this can be possibly done in collaboration with

stakeholders.

Mkoga Pottery making and tourism group

This is a group of women involving themselves in pot making and traditional

Hehe dances as a source of income; the group located at Mkoga village at

Isakalilo ward. Tourism Officers provide them training about products quality

improvement and customer care.

Mkoga pottery making and tourism group 1

Isakalilo Kiduo Group

This is the mixed group of elders, youths and children; the group found at

Isakalilo ward. The group performs a dance called “Kiduo” which is a Hehe

word. It is a fantastic group as it involve elders, youths and children above four

years, the elders impart cultural knowledge to the children so that cannot

disappear with time.

Isakalilo Kiduo dancing Group

Mwongozo traditional dancing group

This is a cultural dancing group found at Semtema Street at Kihesa ward. The

group dance the famous cultural dance of Hehe tribe called Mangara. During

dancind members wear some item on legs they call them “njuga” which when

they dance provide different arranged voices.

Mwongozo traditional dancing group

Environmental Conservation Group

This is a group found at Kihesa Kilolo at Mkimbizi ward, the group deals with

environment conservation and tourism activities of keeping the paints of

Igeleke stone and promoting the igereke stone.

Women Entrepreneurs group

This is a group of women entrepreneurs who perform different Cultural related

tourism activities such making of cultural clothes, decorations and juices from

indigenous fruits. They are also good designers of different Tanzania cultural

items.

Women Entrepreneur group

Tour guide representatives

A tour guide or a tourist guide provides assistance, information and cultural,

historical and contemporary heritage interpretation to people on organized

tours and individual clients at educational establishments, religious and

historical sites, museums, and at venues of other significant interest. This is a

group of Iringa Municipal tour guides representatives.

Tour guide representatives