Iringa
24 hours in…
IRINGA
Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ruaha River Valley in the Southern Highlands, Iringa is a picturesque and historic town. Providing an insider’s guide on how to make the most of a short stay is Ben Ray and Liz Deleyser from the award-winning Neema Crafts Centre, which, with its workshop, restaurant and guest house, has become an integral part of the Iringa community. MORNING If you’ve just flown in to Nduli airport, your day should start with a full breakfast and some locally grown coffee at the famous Neema Crafts Café, serving from 7.30am until 6.30pm. Everyone passes through here and as the town’s social hub it is the place to find out about the latest events. The café staff here are all deaf and so you will be greeted with a friendly smile and asked to write down your order from the menu which includes delicious cakes, smoothies and local and international cuisine. You can also try out your Tanzanian sign language with the ever-cheery waiters. After breakfast, you could ask for a free guided tour of the workshops at the centre where people with various disabilities create beautiful products that are available to buy in the crafts shop. There are seven workshop areas in all, including weaving, tailoring, carpentry and screen printing. Just over the road from Neema Crafts is the Iringa Boma Museum. It is a beautiful stone building dating back to the German Colonial period and was originally the first hospital in Iringa. During British rule it became the District Office – the Government offices for the area, headed by the District Commissioner. It
remained as the District Office after Independence until a few years ago when the District Offices were moved to a new location and the building was renovated with funds from the EU and opened as a museum specialising in the history of the Iringa area. A walk through the rooms is rewarded by glimpses into the past, particularly the story of Chief Mkwawa, the Chief of the Wahehe tribe, who is famous for being the man who defied the German colonial powers advancing into his territory. One of his most famous victories took place at Lugalo some 20 kms from Iringa on the road to Dar es Salaam. Here he ambushed a German force marching from the coast. There is a memorial to the German soldiers killed at Lugalo. Inside the museum you’ll also find a shop (currently being renovated) selling baskets made by women from the Vikapu Bomba initiative, which seeks to preserve Iringa’s weaving traditions. You’ll find a variety of beautiful baskets – handwoven from milulu, a reed-like local grass. Right in front of the museum is Uhuru Park, which is now home to the Maasai Market, a collection of mabanzi kiosks selling traditional Maasai carvings, jewellery and other traditional gifts. It is well worth a
(Top) Neema Crafts Café. (Above) The town of Iringa
visit. If there’s time before lunch, continue your walk through the park and out towards the vibrant covered market. Here you’ll discover the great range of locally grown vegetables that Iringa is famous for.
AFTERNOON A giraffe in Ruaha National Park, a two-hour drive from Iringa
When thoughts turn to lunch, Iringa boasts a range of buffet style fastfood restaurants just a short bajaj ride from the market centred around the clock tower roundabout. There’s the aptly named Clock Tower Café, Hasty Tasty, the Koffee Shop and (for the vegans) RLabs Café. Whilst you’re in the area, check out the delights on offer at the new Italian Bakery, which sells a range of fresh pasta, bread airtanzania.co.tz / 55
