Live

Live in Iringa for a Deep Learning Encounter

The advantage for your learning the Swahili language is that you live here in Iringa and meet people everywhere you go. An excellent opportunity to practise and put tu use what you have learned in class. Iringa is a place which is vibrant and offers many opportunities. Live your learning experience.

During the day the Market (sokoni) is the most lively place. Many vendors are selling their products from their farms or gardens. Tropical fruits, vegetables, rice, maizef and what you can think of, you will find there. Feel free to negotiate the price. It is polite, if you do.

All around the market there is a vast number of small shops for all sort of things. Yes, you will spend some time to find out which items you can buy at which store. Yet even iff a vendor does not have the item, he will describe you the way to another store, or he might even send somebody to get it for you at another store.

Even at these small stores you can negotiate the prices. And owing it to your aquired language and cultural knowledge you will be able to bargain good prices.

Local Eateries

In Iringa there are many places where you can eat good local food: Ugali, rice or chipsi (potato chips) with fish, beef or chicken, served with delicious cooked beans and vegetables. You do have to try pilau, which is seasoned rice, an East African specialty.

Breakfast is called “Chai” and is the Swahili word for “black tea”. You can have chai everywhere in town. It is always served sweet and with milk - and with ginger. If you do not want it this way, you need to explicitely tell it. Along with chai you typically it food Mandazi, little rice cakes or chapati, in whatever combination you like.

Most local restaurants do not have a menu. The secret of finding out which food is available, is to simply ask the waiter or waitress: “Leo unachakula gani?” (What food do you have today?). It will be told to you and from there you are welcome to choose. You can also directly ask if they serve what you’d like to eat. If they have it, they prepare it for you.

Eating out at local restaurants is informal and uncomplicated, a good opportunity to get into contact with locals.

Restaurants Western Style

Should you feel you should go for some food that you are more used to, or should you wish to treat your spouse or your family for a special dinner, there are also various places in Iringa.

There is Mama Iringa, an Italian Restaurant that serves delicious Italian pizza and pasta, serves excellent wines.

If you prefer Indian food, Saivilla is the place of your choice. It has a nice ambiente and from the upper terrace you have a view on the mountains around Iringa.

Neema Crafts Cafe is open during the daytime hours and, aside from their well assorted handcraft store, they have a restaurant on the upper floor, where they offer a very good assortment of local food, snacks, cake, coffee and tea.

Sunset View Terrace and Restaurant is up on the hill slope of Gangilonga. From here you have a beautiful view over the city of Iringa. This restaurant serves delicious local and Western food.

All in all good opportunities to hone your language and interpersonal skills.

Iringa has an excellent pharmacy in town, we will be happy to show you the way if need arises.

Also, there are two good hospitals, which, in case of emergency you can attend to, as well as a dental service.

You can get to Iringa by plane or overland bus from Dar es Salaam.

Once here, an important issue is how you get around. Even when you come with your own car, you might want to leave it at the place where you stay, because Iringa is a busy city and you first might have to get used to the traffic in Tanzania. But you get well around without a car. For shorter distances in town you take Bajaji (vehicle for three passengers) or, if you are more daring, Pikipiki (motorcycle taxi). If you need to travel longer distances, like to Dar es Salaam, Dodoma or other cities, you will board one of the overland bus lines that travel from or via Iringa.

But do not worry, we will help you and show you what to consider and how you get from one place to another.