Village Museum

The Village Museum was established in 1996. It was established for the purpose of demonstrating and preservation of traditional cultures of Tanzania. The museum displays traditional huts of about 16 different Tanzanian ethnic groups. Located six miles north of the city center, the Village Museum showcases traditional dwellings from some of Tanzania's 120 ethnic groups.

Visitors can wander through replicas of tribal homesteads scattered across 15 acres, and watch local artisans demonstrate their traditional painting, weaving, and carving skills. The museum also hosts ngoma (musical instrument), tribal dances, and other cultural activities. These ways of life still endure in many areas of the country.

The centerpiece of this open-air museum is a collection of authentically constructed dwellings illustrating traditional life in various parts of Tanzania. Each house is furnished with typical items and surrounded by small plots of crops, while 'villagers' demonstrate traditional skills such as weaving, pottery and carving. The idea behind the project is to demonstrate some of the nation's architectural and social traditions, although these days some of the houses are sorely in need of some maintenance. For many, the highlight of the museum is the hour-long tribal dances (adult/child Tsh2000/1000) held in the afternoon.

The museum is 9km north of the city centre; the Mwenge dalla-dalla runs there from New Posta transport stand.