THE Kolo Rock Art Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, has recorded a significant increase in tourist visits, attracting a total of 6,652 visitors between June 2024 and March 2025.

Previously, Tanzania's renowned ancient cave paintings and rock shelter walls in central Tanzania would receive between 1,000 and 2,500 visitors annually.

 Amos Mginwa, Conservation Officer at the site, attributed the increase in visitors to the government's strategic efforts to promote domestic and international tourism.

 "The government's commitment to improving and promoting loca heritage sites has played a major role in this development," he said.

 He made the remarks recently during a special visit by a delegation of 10 forest and tourism experts from Russian to the site.

 "We are delighted to host such high-profile visitors. Their visit will significantly enhance the site's visibility on the international tourism platform which will undoubtedly attract even more visitors in the future," he added.

 Mginwa further noted that the site, which was declared a national monument in 1937 by the Antiquities Department, is currently undergoing a major infrastructure upgrade, including improvement of road networks.

 "Several projects are underway to enhance the site’s accessibility, ensuring that roads remain passable throughout the year," he explained.

 Speaking during the visit, Professor Svetlana Tereshchenko, Head of the Directorate of International Cooperation at Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University in Russia, praised the site's natural beauty and well-maintained facilities.

 "We are deeply impressed by the natural attractions and the professional manner in which the site is managed. It offers an incredible experience for tourists," said Prof. Tereshchenko, who was speaking on behalf of the Russian delegation as part of the Russian-Tanzanian Scientific and Educational Expedition.

 The Kondoa Rock Art Sites, also known as Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings, feature a series of ancient paintings on rock shelter walls in central Tanzania. The region was officially designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 due to its exceptional collection of rock art, which dates back thousands of years and reflects the region's rich cultural and historical heritage.