Southern Highlands

Tanzania’s Southern Highlands officially begin at Makambako Gap, about halfway between Iringa and Mbeya, and extend southwards into Malawi. Here the term encompasses the entire region along the mountainous chain running between Morogoro in the east and Lake Nyasa and the Zambian border in the west.

The highlands are a major transit route for travellers to Malawi or Zambia, and an important agricultural area. They are also wonderfully scenic and a delight to explore, with rolling hills, lively markets, jacaranda-lined streets, lovely lodges and plenty of wildlife. Hike in the Udzungwa Mountains, watch wildlife in Mikumi or Ruaha National Parks, get to know the matrilineal Luguru people in the Uluguru Mountains, or head well off the beaten track to the heart of the Southern Highlands in Tanzania’s southwesternmost corner. Here wild orchids carpet sections of Kitulo National Park and verdant mountains cascade down to the idyllic shores of Lake Nyasa.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Southern Highlands.

  • National Park

    Ruaha National Park

    At approximately 22,000 sq km, Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s largest. It forms the core of a wild and extended ecosystem covering about 40,000 sq km and providing a home to Tanzania’s largest elephant population. In addition to the elephants, which are estimated to number about 12,000, the park hosts large herds of buffaloes, as well as greater and lesser kudus, Grant’s gazelles, wild dogs, ostriches, cheetahs, roan and sable antelope, and more than 400 different types of birds.

  • Historic Site

    Isimila Stone Age Site

    Here, in the late 1950s, amid a dramatic landscape of eroded sandstone pillars, archaeologists unearthed one of the most significant Stone Age finds ever identified. Tools found at the site – hammerstones, axeheads, flints and scrapers – are estimated to be between 60,000 and 100,000 years old. There’s a museum with small, well-captioned displays highlighting some of the discoveries. Isimila is signposted off the Mbeya road to the left, about 21km southwest of Iringa.

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Selous-Niassa Wildlife Corridor

    The Selous-Niassa Wildlife Corridor ('Ushoroba' in Swahili) joins the Selous Game Reserve with Mozambique’s Niassa Reserve, forming a vast conservation area of about 120,000 sq km, and ensuring protection of one of the world’s largest elephant ranges. In addition to the elephants, estimated to number about 85,000, the area is home to one of the continent’s largest buffalo herds, more than half of its remaining wild dog population, a substantial number of lions, and resting and nesting migratory birds.

  • National Park

    Mikumi National Park

    Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park, and the most accessible from Dar es Salaam. With almost guaranteed year-round wildlife sightings, it makes an ideal safari destination for those without much time. Within its 3230 sq km, it hosts buffaloes, wildebeests, giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, leopards, crocodiles and more, and chances are high that you’ll see a respectable sampling of these within a short time of entering the park.

  • Historic Site

    Igeleke Rock Art

    A large prehistoric frieze, similar in style to the Kondoa rock paintings, located at a spectacular site on the edge of town just west of the Dodoma road. The ochre drawings depict human figures, an elephant, jumping eland and giraffe hiding in long grass. It's an easy and worthwhile excursion from town involving a short but steep walk from the car park. A guide can be arranged on-site (about Tsh10,000 per group) or in advance with Iringa-based tour operators.

  • National Park

    Kitulo National Park

    This national park protects the flower-clad Kitulo Plateau, together with sections of the former Livingstone Forest Reserve, which runs south from the plateau paralleling the Lake Nyasa shoreline. The area, much of which lies between 2600m and 3000m in the highlands northeast of Tukuyu, is beautiful and a paradise for hikers, although tourism infrastructure is almost nonexistent. Zebra have been reintroduced here, and look out too for rare long-coated kipunji monkeys.

  • Museum

    Iringa Boma

    This excellent EU-funded museum is a great new development, as is its small cafe and quality gift shop. Located between Uhuru Park and Neema, Boma is housed in a 1900 German colonial building. Artfully displayed objects, including an embroidered chief's robe, wooden ceremonial stool and gleaming calabashes, are illuminated by extended captions exploring the ancient and colonial history of the area, tribal traditions and clothing and nearby attractions. It's the perfect place to start your explorations of the town.

  • Arts Centre

    Neema Crafts

    This acclaimed vocational training centre for young deaf and disabled people sits just southeast of the Clock Tower roundabout. Operated by the Anglican church, it sells paper and cards made from elephant dung, jewellery, quilts, clothing, batiks and more. Behind the craft shop is a weaving workshop, and adjoining is a popular cafe and guesthouse. Free workshop tours form part of the centre's remit to change perceptions of people with disabilities. Volunteer opportunities are occasionally available.

  • Bridge

    Daraja la Mungu (Bridge of God)

    South of Ngozi Peak and west of the main road, this natural bridge 22km west of Tukuyu is estimated to have been formed around 1800 million years ago by water flowing through cooling lava that spewed out from the nearby Rungwe volcano. The bridge spans a small waterfall.