Destination guide
Iringa & Ruaha
A breezy highland town and gateway to Ruaha, Tanzania's largest national park, land of baobabs, big cats and huge elephant herds.
What's there
Places to visit
National Park
Ruaha National Park
Tanzania's largest park, a remote wilderness of baobabs, escarpments and big cats along the Great Ruaha River.
River
Great Ruaha River
The park's lifeline, where wildlife gathers in the dry season and hippos, crocodiles and elephants congregate.
Park
Isimila Stone Age Site
An archaeological site near Iringa with ancient stone tools set among towering eroded sandstone pillars.
Museum
Kalenga Museum
The former Hehe capital where Chief Mkwawa resisted German rule and his preserved skull is displayed.
Iringa town
A relaxed highland town with a lively market, colonial-era streets and sweeping views over the Ruaha valley.
Mountain Peak
Gangilonga Rock
A large boulder overlooking Iringa where Chief Mkwawa is said to have deliberated, offering panoramic town views.
Lake
Mtera Reservoir
A large dammed lake on the Great Ruaha, good for birdlife and a scenic stop en route to the park.
Mountain Peak
Udzungwa Mountains (nearby)
A biodiverse forested range to the east with endemic primates, waterfalls and rewarding rainforest hikes.