Famous Cathedrals And Churches to Visit in East Africa
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Dar Es Salaam
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a Gothic church located in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The Roman Catholic Cathedral was built in the early 1900s by the Germans. Tourists can enjoy observing the beautiful architecture, the stunning altar, and the stained glass windows. The church faces the harbour, which tourists can explore after the tour.
- Azania Lutheran Church, Dar Es Salaam
Built-in 1898 by German missionaries, this church is an architectural gem and a significant Dar es Salam landmark. This red-roofed belfry with a gothic interior overlooks the water, which gives an excellent viewpoint and makes the church picturesque. It is also very close to many other tourist attractions, so starting the day from here would be a good idea.
- Anglican Church, Dodoma
Dodoma was officially built as Tanzania’s political capital and is home to beautiful buildings such as the Bunge. The city is 500 kilometres away from the coast and Mount Kilimanjaro, and is home to the domed Anglican Church.
- Saint Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe
Uganda’s Saint Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe is commonly known as Namirembe Cathedral and is the oldest cathedral in the country. It serves as the provincial cathedral of the Church of Uganda and the diocesan cathedral for Namirembe Diocese, which was the first diocese to be founded in the Church of Uganda in 1890.
- Mai Mahiu Italian Church, Kenya
Located at the bottom of Kenya’s Rift Valley, Mai Mahiu Italian church is one of the smallest churches in the world. The Italian style church is made from sandstone and red tiled, and was built by Italian prisoners of war in 1942. Tourists can find leopards and buffaloes in the area. The pentagon-shaped church is covered in Latin inscriptions and symbols. Tourists can also enjoy looking at the beautiful entrance doors, historic walls, and stained glass windows.
- Nairobi Chapel, Nairobi
At Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya, visitors can go to Nairobi Chapel. This is a great place for worship for Christian visitors. The space is airy, and provides a relaxing environment for visitors to connect to their spiritual roots.
- Catholic Cathedral, Dodoma
Tourists can also pay a visit to the enormous Catholic Cathedral in Dodoma which is famous for its Roman style mosaics that display saints. The site is free to visit, and evokes a sense of reverence among travellers and visitors.
- Our Lady of Good Hope, Kenya
Tourists can also visit the Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic church which is located in the Bura Mwatate district of Kenya and was built over a 100 years ago. The church was built in 1893 at the south of Taita hill for the purpose of uplifting the community.
- Nairobi Cathedral, Kenya
Popularly known as the Cathedral Basilica of Holy Family, the Catholic Church is located in Nairobi City square. The church was one of the first stone buildings and was built between 1909 -1923, so it offers a rich history for tourists to learn about.
- St. Theresa’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Arusha
Travellers can also plan a trip to St. Theresa’s Metropolitan Cathedral, which was built in 1926 in Arusha, Tanzania. The church is one of the largest churches in the country, and is a popular landmark in Arusha. The Roman style design makes the structure a stunning and aesthetically pleasing sight to behold in East Africa.
These are some of the best and most famous churches and cathedrals that travellers can visit during their vacation in East Africa.