Singida travel guide

Singida, Tanzania

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Singida

Introduction

Singida is a city in central Tanzania, and it serves as the headquarters of both Singida Region and Singida Urban District. Both the region and the district take their names from the city, so Singida sits at the administrative heart of the surrounding area.

Getting there

Singida is reached overland, and the journey is slow wherever you start from. Bus services run from Arusha, Dodoma and Mwanza, but every road has unpaved sections, so expect the going to be slow and uncomfortable. From Arusha you can travel with Mtea or Airborn City, and ABC serves the Dodoma and Dar es Salaam routes; buses also connect Singida with Katesh.

A train runs from Dodoma on some days, but it is primarily a freight line and slow, with only third class service available — hard benches and substantial overcrowding. Buying your ticket in advance is recommended.

Getting around

Getting around Singida is low-key: you arrange each trip as you go rather than tapping into a dense public transport network. Walking is a realistic way to cover the downtown area, where everyday services and the taxi stands are concentrated, and two of the main attractions — Lake Singida, a saline lake just outside town that draws pelicans, flamingos and other birds, and the Regional Museum at the Open University of Tanzania — are easy to reach on foot or with a very short ride. Outside the centre, distances stretch out and the roads are not always in good condition, so most visitors switch to a taxi for anything beyond the downtown core. There is no city bus, metro or suburban rail service for moving around town, and the railway is not a practical way to get about the city.

Taxis are the main way visitors get around, and they are inexpensive and easy to arrange, with a lower rate within the downtown area and a higher one for trips outside town. If you want a driver who speaks English, ask around or arrange one in advance rather than hailing the first car you see; there is no mention of ride-hailing apps operating here, so plan on traditional taxis or arranging a driver directly. Carry cash for taxis and bus fares, since you pay as you go rather than buying passes in advance. If you arrive at the Singida AirStrip, north-west of town near the B141, arrange your transfer ahead through your accommodation or by having a taxi meet you, as there is no large-scale ground transport operation there. Most visitors instead arrive overland by bus or by train from Dodoma, and should allow generous travel time, as unpaved sections of road make journeys slow and uncomfortable.

Where to stay

Singida's higher-end options include Stanley Hotel, Scene Lodge and Aqua Vitae, which are among the better hotels in town. For a cheaper stay, the Social Training Center, run by nuns, offers rooms, while Cheyo and Lutheran Center provide simple rooms at the budget end of the scale.

Food & drink

Eating in Singida is mostly a budget affair, with several snack bars and small hotels serving breakfast and lunch for very little. Florida Snack and Shana both cover the early part of the day cheaply, while Marangu Snack stays open through lunch and dinner. For something cleaner with a view to match, Cheshi Clif Hotel is a budget option worth considering.

If you want a wider choice, the Stanley Hotel has the largest selection of western food in town, though it is expensive by local standards. The gas station next to the church on Dar Road is a solid mid-range bet for a good lunch, and it has a decent store attached. For meeting other travellers, the Stanley Hotel is the likely spot for a drink.

What to see and do

Just outside Singida Town lies Lake Singida, a saline lake that draws birdlife including pelicans and flamingos, making it the area's main natural draw for visitors. In town, the Regional Museum, located at the Open University of Tanzania, displays artifacts from the tribes of Singida Region, such as weapons and jewellery.

For practical matters, Singida has CRDB, NMB, and NBC banks; only NBC has an ATM, so plan your cash accordingly.

Three days in Singida

Day one: Arrive in Singida, in the Singida Region of Tanzania, and get your bearings in Singida Urban District. Buses connect Singida with Arusha, Dodoma, Mwanza and Dar es Salaam, and if you fly in, the Singida AirStrip serves the town. Settle in at one of the local places to stay such as the Stanley Hotel, Scene Lodge, Aqua Vitae, the Social Training Center, Cheyo or the Lutheran Center, then take a walk around town and eat at Florida Snack or Shana.

Day two: Spend the morning at Lake Singida, then visit the Regional Museum and the Open University. Taxis are available for getting around, and English is useful when buying supplies. Carry what you need for a day outside, and in the evening return to town for a meal.

Day three: Take a bus onward to Dodoma, Mwanza or Arusha, or head via Katesh and Mtea if your route lies that way. Before leaving, enjoy a last meal in town and pick up anything you still need for the journey.

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