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Located in the southern highlands of Tanzania,
near the country’s legislative capital of
Dodoma and the agricultural centre of
Morogoro, Iringa is a pleasant small
town and a focus of regional agriculture and
production. Its streets are quiet and peaceful,
and the market offers a colourful scene of
traditional African culture. Iringa overlooks
the Little Ruaha River and is a popular stopping
point for visitors to
Ruaha National Park.
Historically, Iringa was a centre of colonial
administration. During German occupation, the
German military constructed the town as a
fortified defence against marauding Hehe tribal
warriors intent on driving them out of the
region. Gangilonga Rock, a site just outside of
the town, is a legendary spot where the Hehe
chief at that time, Chief Mkwawa, met with his
people and decided how to fight the Germans.
Iringa was also the site of several battles
during the First and Second World Wars, and
Commonwealth War Graves are located just outside
of town. |
