Iringa

Iringa sits at about sixteen hundred metres on a bluff above the Little Ruaha, which makes it cool and dry compared with most of the country, and it grew as a German administrative post from the 1890s in country that had been the centre of Hehe resistance under Chief Mkwawa. The town keeps a compact centre of stone buildings from that period, a busy market, and the Gangilonga rock above it from which the whole plateau can be seen. It is the usual staging point for Ruaha.

What you'll find

• The stone centre - administrative buildings from the German period along the main streets.
• Gangilonga Rock - the outcrop above the town with a view over the plateau.
• The market - the town's main trading ground, busy through the week.
• The Isimila approach - the town serves as the base for the nearby Stone Age site.

When to go

May to October is dry and pleasant; nights are cold at this altitude. The wet season from December to April brings heavy afternoon rain. Market days are busiest.

Before you go

There is not a great deal to do in the town itself beyond walking it. Accommodation is functional rather than good. It is mainly a stop on the way to Ruaha or Udzungwa.

Nearby

Isimila is southwest, and Ruaha is northwest.

Key facts