Dodoma

Dodoma was chosen as the national capital in 1973 for its central position, and government functions moved there gradually over decades, with the parliament and ministries now settled. The result is a city of wide roads and large plots rather than a dense centre, laid out on a plan far bigger than the population has yet filled. The surrounding country is dry and produces most of Tanzania's wine, and the Nyerere memorial and a very large mosque are among the landmarks.

Background

The name means 'It has sunk' in the Gogo language. The place began as a small market town called Idodomya, and German colonists established the modern town in 1907 while building the central railway. The city lies at 1120 m in the centre of the country, 453 kilometres west of Dar es Salaam, 441 kilometres south of Arusha and 259 kilometres north of Iringa by way of Mtera. Its area is 2669 square kilometres, with 625 square kilometres of it urbanised. The population stood at 765,179 in 2022, and in July 2024 Dodoma overtook Arusha as the third-largest city in Tanzania by both infrastructure and population.

Source: Wikipedia, "Dodoma"

What to look for

• The planned layout - wide avenues and large plots designed for a much bigger city.
• The vineyards - the dry country around the city producing most of Tanzania's wine.
• The parliament building - the seat of the national assembly.
• The Nyerere Square - the memorial and civic space at the city's centre.

When to go

June to October is dry and warm; it is hot through much of the year. The rains fall between December and April. Parliament sittings fill the city's hotels.

Things to know

The city is spread out and walking between places is impractical. There is little for visitors and few conventional sights. Hotels fill and prices rise when parliament is sitting.

Nearby

Kondoa is north, and Iringa is southwest.

Key facts