The plain around Dodoma is studded with granite kopjes — rounded, sun-bleached outcrops that rise abruptly out of the scrub. The most famous, Lion Rock (Mlima wa Simba), sits on the northern edge of the city. A short scramble brings you to the top and a wide view over Dodoma's grid of streets, the wine-growing land to the south, and the long dry expanse of the central plateau.
The rock takes its name from a profile said to resemble a crouching lion. It is a popular evening walk for locals, especially around sunset, and a good orientation point if you have just arrived in town. Other smaller kopjes scattered across the suburbs are climbable too — just ask before scrambling up if one looks like it might be on someone's land.