Kalenga was the headquarter of Chief Mkwawa. His official residence and military base were inside a stone fort called Lipuli. Chief Mkwawa’s fortress was 12 feet high and eight miles long. The fort was built for four years, it is estimated that it was started in 1887 at a time when Chief Mkwawa knew about German activities near the coast. Chief Mkwawa got the idea from seeing other stone forts in Unyamwezi or the building of Arabs and Europeans near the coast.

When you visit Kalenga now, you will find a small museum housing Chief Mkwawa’s skull. The museum is also decorated with his weapons including clubs, spears, shields and guns. Outside the museum there are two tombs, there is a tomb of Chief Sapi Mkwawa the throne successor and that of Chief Adam Sapi Mkwawa the grandson of Chief Mkwawa. About 500 meters from the museum you will find a tomb that holds the body of Commander Erich Maas. Commander Erich Maas was shot dead by one of the Hehe soldiers during hours of hand-to-hand fighting when Germans managed to break into the fort.

The mission to destroy Kalenga started in October 28th 1894 from Lugulu hill. The Germans bombarded Kalenga from Lugulu hill for two days. The Hehe fought hard to resist the German onslaught but on the 30th October the Germans managed to enter Mkwawa’s fort (Lipuli) and engaged the Hehe with bayonets. In the ensuing melee Mkwawa walked away from the fighting and Kalenga fell.The Germans had taken possession of the fort. They examined it, destroyed the weapon store, and removed some ivory and guns. The Germans hoped that destruction of the fort would be enough to make Chief Mkwawa come to terms. Once more they attempted to negotiate with him, but the Hehe continued to attack the Germans.