Morogoro is located at the base of the Uluguru Mountains. It’s known primarily as an agricultural and administrative centre, with a long-standing role in training and education, particularly through institutions like Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Historically, Morogoro developed as a colonial settlement during German East Africa, and later under British rule. Its strategic position made it a useful location for missions, military logistics, and development projects during the post-independence period. The city has grown steadily but retains a slower pace than places like Dar es Salaam.
Its cultural makeup is diverse, shaped by both indigenous groups and long-term Swahili and Arab influence, with signs of colonial infrastructure still visible.
How to get there?
By Train
Tanzania’s railway line passes through Morogoro. The standard gauge railway (SGR) is a comfortable and very fast way of travelling (2 hours).
You can book your tickets HERE.
By Air
There’s no major commercial airport in Morogoro itself, so travellers usually fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and continue by road.
By Road
Buses and private cars travel the roughly 190-kilometre route, typically taking 4 to 5 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. Several intercity bus services run daily, offering various levels of comfort.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit Morogoro is during the dry seasons, which fall between June and October or late December and February. These months generally offer more stable weather, making travel and outdoor activities, like hiking in the Uluguru Mountains or visiting nearby nature reserves, much easier and more pleasant.
In contrast, the rainy seasons (typically March to May and again around November) can bring heavy downpours that make some roads difficult to navigate and obscure mountain views. If you’re planning on trekking or travelling through rural areas, the dry months are a safer bet.
Where to stay?
I stayed in the White House Hotel, where I arrived and checked in without a reservation. The room was okayish, but it had AC and a mosquito net, so the two most important things in any accommodation in Tanzania. It is well located in the city centre and they have a good restaurant on site..
Another great place is Selah by Ohr, which you can find on Airbnb. They are located 1.6km from Choma waterfalls along a hiking trail and are neighbours with the Morning Side. If you need to disconnect and get away from it all, it’s an excellent choice!
My experience
There is not too much to see in the town itself, and the reason you should visit Morogoro is definitely the Uluguru Mountains. If you have some time to kill, you can have a look at Soko Kuu la Kingalu, which is a local market where you can find almost everything you need.
Follow Madakara Road to reach the peaceful St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. A bit further away, along Boma Road, is Emmanuel Church, from where it’s only a short walk to Morogoro Commonwealth Cemetery.
Choma Waterfalls
I started the hike at the “Rock Garden”, but the route to the waterfall wasn’t as interesting as I thought. Just walking on the wide dirt road, with rather sleepy villages on the way. You could take a moto taxi (boda-boda) to save some time and energy.
Upon arrival at the waterfall, I had to pay the entrance fee of 10.000 TZS. First, I made a stop at the higher part of the falls, and then I crossed to the other side and went down to see the lower part. Overall, a nice place, but not anything super spectacular.
There is another narrow path to the left of the main dirt road leading to another section of the falls. It was totally untouristy and just used by local kids to play. Very nice to see!
Morning Side
The building is the remnant of a German historical settlement. Near it are great spots for camping with a view of Morogoro.
You can hike to it from either Choma Waterfalls or Rovuma Village, or take a boda-boda from Morogoro, but be prepared for a bumpy ride. If you are walking from Choma Waterfalls, don’t forget to stop by the picturesque German Church.
Lupanga Peak
Lupanga Peak is another prominent summit in the Uluguru Mountains, slightly lower than Bondwa but still notable, reaching about 2,150 meters. It’s closer to Morogoro town and often considered one of the more accessible high points in the range.
The hike to Lupanga is steep and can be physically demanding, especially in humid conditions, but it’s manageable for reasonably fit hikers. The route passes through lush rainforest, and because of the area’s biodiversity, it’s common to encounter rare plant species and hear a variety of birds. However, the summit is overgrown and the views are limited.
I found a guide online, and he was a very nice guy. His name is Sixberth, and he is the owner of Kaizulu Tours and Safaris, but also does some guided hikes for other companies if he doesn’t have his own clients. You can contact him on WhatsApp: +255 756 648 950.
Sixberth picked me up in the morning from the hotel, and we jumped on a moto taxi (boda-boda) to buy some snacks and then head to the trailhead.
The path was consistently climbing up, and first we were talking through the scenic farms with great views of Morogoro. Then, we reached the forest and continued pushing higher and higher. Unfortunately, it started to rain and some sections of the trail were incredibly steep and slippery, so I had to use to hands to hold on to the tree roots.
If I hadn’t been with Sixberth, I would probably have given up, as the weather conditions were really harsh. The closer to the summit, the steeper it was, and the wet ground and stones were not helping at all. But we made it! We reached the summit! There were no views because of the clouds and trees, but I felt satisfaction anyway. It was really great that I packed a dry T-shirt to change into!
After break for snacks, we started going down and damn, it was slippery! Luckily, my Scarpa trekking shoes had a nice grip. The clouds cleared a bit, so we were able to see some mountain panoramas. By the time we came down, it was perfectly sunny.
Bundwa Peak
Bondwa Peak is one of the highest points in the Uluguru Mountains, standing at around 2,170 meters above sea level and offering sweeping views over the Morogoro valley and surrounding landscapes.
The peak is accessible through a hiking route that passes through dense forest, farmlands, and local villages, especially if you decide to climb from the city centre. It’s a moderately challenging climb, often done as a full-day hike. You can cut the distance and time by getting to Morning Side on a motorbike taxi and starting from there, and this was exactly what I did.
A boda-boda guy made sure that we had a wild, bumpy, and extremely uncomfortable ride. Honestly, it would be much better and easier to include Bondwa Peak in a full-day hike, including Choma Waterfalls. However, I did the falls the day before with a companion who wasn’t eager to continue to the peak 🙂
Upon arrival, I was once again negatively surprised by Tanzanian creativity. Two guys were hanging around Morning Side, and they approached me, claiming that this is a protected area and I need to pay an entrance fee. I asked them to show me an official document stating this fact, and they indeed showed me one, but the problem was that it was for completely different regions of the country. I walked away and started hiking, completely ignoring their voices. Nice try, boys.
At first, the rider wanted to walk with me all the way to the Bondwa Peak, but I saw he was wearing flip-flops, so I got seriously sceptical about it. I was right, as even though he followed me, he soon stayed behind and finally gave up. The path was a bit overgrown at first, but luckily I had Mapy.CZ app on the phone, so I was able to navigate without issues. If this is not your first hike, you don’t need a guide.
The distance is about 4.3 kilometres, and the return trip should take 3-4 hours. The time on the app is well overestimated.
I was walking really fast and without breaks, as there were plenty of flies buzzing around my head. There was a gate, and for a short moment, I was afraid that I had walked up only to see it closed. Luckily, it wasn’t the case. There was a guy taking care of the antenna station, but surprisingly, he didn’t even ask for a tip.
After a short rest, I hiked back, and my driver was very surprised that I was so quick. The ride down was a bit better, but still very bumpy!
Hululu Waterfalls
The journey to Hululu Waterfall begins with a drive to Vinile village, followed by a hike through lush forests. If you don’t have your vehicle, then it gets trickier as you need to reach Kibaoni Village by dala-dala and then either for about three hours or take a motorbike taxi. Prices of private transfers are rather steep!
Kinole
There are waterfalls, but the place is rather off the tourist map. Upon arrival in the village, you will need to ask for a guide to take you there as the trail isn’t marked on any maps. The village can be reached by dala-dala from Morogoro.
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park is a large wildlife reserve in southern Tanzania, known for its rich variety of animals and accessible location. It is often compared to the Serengeti because of its wide, open grasslands. Visitors can expect to see elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and even rare animals like African wild dogs. Because it’s not as crowded as some other parks, Mikumi offers a quieter, more relaxed safari experience. It’s especially popular for short trips from Dar es Salaam since it’s only a few hours away by road.
The entrance to the park is about 100 km from Morogoro (a 2-hour drive), and you can find several safari operators in the town.
Read more about my visit to the national park HERE.
