City Tours · Dodoma
Dodoma City Tour
Tanzania’s capital: parliament, cathedrals, granite hills and the country’s wine country.
- Duration
- Full day (approximately 7 hours)
- City
- Dodoma
- Travel style
- Private
- Price
- On request
- Itemised quotation — no hidden costs.
Dodoma was designated Tanzania’s capital in 1973, and the move from Dar es Salaam has been gradual: the National Assembly has sat here since the 1990s, and government ministries have moved in more recent years. The result is a city that feels unlike anywhere else in the country — wide roads, big skies, low buildings and granite hills rising out of the plain, with baobabs scattered across the surrounding land.
Dodoma is also the centre of Tanzania’s wine industry. The semi-arid climate and long dry season suit vines, and grapes have been grown commercially around the city since the middle of the twentieth century, originally by the Catholic mission. Several producers, from large operations to smallholder cooperatives, work in the area, and a vineyard or cellar visit with a tasting is the natural way to finish the day. Whether a particular producer can take visitors on your date needs to be confirmed when we quote.
Highlights
- The Parliament (Bunge) building, seen and photographed from the outside
- Nyerere Square and the civic heart of the capital
- The Anglican and Catholic cathedrals, both central to Dodoma’s history
- The Gaddafi Mosque, one of Tanzania’s largest, viewed from outside
- Image Hill and Lion Rock, granite outcrops with long views over the city and plains
- A vineyard or cellar visit with a tasting in Tanzania’s main wine region
The day
Where we’ll stop
- 1
Parliament (Bunge) building
Tanzania’s National Assembly sits in Dodoma, and the parliament building is the city’s best-known landmark. We view and photograph it from the outside; access inside depends on whether the House is sitting and on security arrangements, so we never promise it.
- 2
Nyerere Square
The civic square named for Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s first president, and a good place for your guide to explain the story of the capital’s move from Dar es Salaam and what it means for the city today.
- 3
Anglican and Catholic cathedrals
Two of Dodoma’s most significant buildings, both with long histories in the region. We visit respectfully and quietly, and avoid times of worship.
- 4
Gaddafi Mosque
A large and striking mosque, funded with Libyan support, seen from the outside. Non-Muslim visitors are not generally admitted, so we do not include an interior visit.
- 5
Image Hill and Lion Rock viewpoints
Granite outcrops on the edge of the city that give wide views over Dodoma and the surrounding plains. A short, sometimes steep scramble is involved at the viewpoints; your guide will judge what is comfortable.
- 6
Vineyard and cellar visit
A visit to a vineyard or cellar in the Dodoma wine region, with an explanation of how grapes are grown here and a tasting where it is offered. This depends on the producer accepting visitors on the day, which we confirm before your trip.
Included
- Private vehicle with a professional driver-guide for the day
- Entrance and visit fees where stated in your quotation
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off within Dodoma
Not included
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Meals and drinks, unless stated in your quotation
- Wine purchased at the cellar and other personal shopping
- Camera fees, where a site charges them
Request a quote
Book this tour
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are. We’ll send an itemised price — what’s included, what isn’t, and nothing hidden.
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