Tanzania’s Southern Highlands

• Iringa Urban
• Isimani
• Kalenga
• Kilolo
• North Mufindi
• South Mufindi
• Mafinga Urban

Iringa Region in Brief:

Iringa Region is the administrative region in the Northeast of the Southern Highlands. It has an area of 35,503 Sq.km and a population of 941238 (2012 census). The regional capital Iringa Town was founded in the 1890s after the war between the Hehe under Chief Mkwawa and the German Colonial Army. Iringa Region offers a range of range of tourism attractions, including wildlife (Ruaha National Park, Udzungwa Mountains National Park) and historical / cultural sites (Isimila Stone Age Site, Mkwawa Museum Kalenga), and is currently promoted by the government and the private sector as a major hub for tourism development in Southern Tanzania. Lulanda Natural Forest, harbors a number of rare animal and bird species. Chief Mkwawa’s shrine is also located under a sacred tree in the Lulanda Forest.

• Mpanda Urban
• Mpanda Rural
• Katavi
• Nsimbo
• Kavuu

Katavi Region in Brief:

Katavi Region lies between Latitudes 5 degrees 15’’ to 7 degrees 03’’ South of Equator and Longitude 30 degrees to 33 degrees of East of Greenwich. It is bordered by Urambo District (Tabora Region) to the North Sikonge District (Tabora Region) to the East, Chunya District (Mbeya Region) to the East, Nkansi District (Rukwa Region), to the south, Sumbawanga District (Rukwa Region) to the South – East, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the West (separated by Lake Tanganyika) and Kigoma District (Kigoma Region) to the North – West. The region has a total area of 47,527 Sq.km inclusive of landmass and the two large fresh water lakes, namely Tanganyika and Rukwa (       Rift Valley Lakes).  The region is made up of three (3) districts namely Mpanda, Mlele, and Tanganyika. It has 10 divisions, 58 wards, 177 villages, 43 streets and 931 sub villages/Hamlets (Vitongoji). Katavi Region is an emerging economy with high economic growth potential in the Lake Tanganyika Zone of Western Tanzania. It is the home of Katavi National Park.

Population Size and Growth;

Based on the population census reports of 2012, Katavi region had a population of 564, 604 with 3.2 percent growth rate, among them Males are 279, 682, and Females are 284, 922.

Climate;

Katavi Region has an altitude ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 meters above sea level, the average temperature ranges between 26 degrees C and 30 degrees C annually. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 920 mm to 1,200mm. The region is characterized by highlands, small mountain peaks, moderate hills, Mwese highlands, gentle plains and plateaus.  The region is also characterized by Lake Tanganyika which has steep hills, gentle plateaus and plains, the gentle plains of Karema depression and Katumba plains. The miombo woodlands is the most predominantly vegetation in the region.

Wildlife and Tourism Attractions;

Katavi Region is endowed with plenty of wildlife whereby there are five (5) hunting blocks of Inyonga E & W Hunting Block ( 3,500 Sq.km), Msima Hunting Block (2,000 Sq.km), Mulele Hunting Block (3, 000 Sq.km), Rungwa River Hunting Block

( Sq.km 1,500), and Nkamba Hunting Block (Sq.km 977).

Karema Historical Town and its Associated Attractions;

Situated at about 130 kilometers from Mpanda Town, Karema Is an old town dated back in the year 1885 where the Catholics entered the lakeshore of Tanganyika. The town is endowed with the remains of Catholics who fortified their missions by concrete walls which can vividly been seen to date. There are also remnants of the saintly doctor – catechist Adrian Atman who worked for 67 years in and around Karema using western medicine as well as traditional remedies.

Lake Tanganyika Tourism Attraction;

The legendary Lake Tanganyika is an attraction on its own as it is the second largest lake by surface area on the African continent. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater by volume, and the second rift valley deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal in Russia, with holding at least 250 species of cichlid fish and 150 non – cichlid species. The lake is well – known for its sandy beaches that stretch up to 1, 828 km. These shores are very famous with crystal clear waters that provide an opportunity for the divers to enjoy the natural beauty of this ancient lake.

• Mbeya Urban
• Mbeya Rural
• Mbarali
• Rungwe
• Busokelo
• Ileje
• Mbozi
• Vwawa
• Momba
• Tunduma
• Lupa
• Songwe (Now New Region)
• Kyela

Mbeya Region in Brief:

Comming soon!

Coming soon

• North Njombe
• South Njombe
• Makambako
• Wanging’ombe
• Ludewa
• Makete

Njombe Region in Brief:

Coming soon!

• Sumbawanga Urban (Learn more)
• North Nkansi
• South Nkansi
• Kwela
• Kalambo

Rukwa Region in Brief

Coming soon!

• Songea Urban
• Nyasa
• North Tunduru
• South Tunduru
• Peramiho
• Madaba
• Namtumbo
• Mbinga Urban
• Mbinga Rural

Ruvuma Region in Brief;

Ruvuma Region is one of Tanzania’s 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is Songea municipal. The total area of this region is 63,669 Sq.km (24,583 sq. mile), and it was also the 28^th most densely populated region with 22 people per square kilometer. The region is named after the Ruvuma River, which forms most of its southern boundary with Portuguese – speaking Mozambique.

Population:

According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,376,891, which was lower than the pre – census projection of 1,449,830. For 2002 – 2012, the region’s 2.1 – percent average annual population growth rate was the twentieth highest in the country.

Borders:

The region is bordered to the north by the Morogoro Region, to the north east by the Lindi Region, to the east by the Mtwara Region, to the north west by the Njombe Region, and Mozambique to the South, which forms its southern boundary.

Districts & Populations:

• Mbinga (353,683), Namtumbo (201,639), Nyasa (146,160), Songea (377,130), Tanduru (298, 279)

Tourism Attractions in Ruvuma Region

• Livingstone Mountains
• Lake Nyasa (Malawi)
• Ruvuma River
• Mbamba Bay
• Songea Museum

Julius Nyerere National Park (Formerly Selous Game Reserve), and many more