Kilimanjaro Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro) lies in north-eastern Tanzania, along the Kenyan border. It recorded a population of 1,861,934 at the 2022 census, and Moshi is the regional capital. The region covers 13,250 km² and contains Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 metres the highest point in Africa.
Districts of Kilimanjaro Region
Kilimanjaro Region is administered through seven councils. Moshi District carries two of them, Moshi Municipal Council for the town and Moshi District Council for the countryside around it. Populations below are from the 2022 national census.
| District | Council type | Population (2022 census) |
|---|---|---|
| Hai | District council | 240,999 |
| Moshi Urban | Municipal council | 221,733 |
| Moshi Rural | District council | 535,803 |
| Mwanga | District council | 148,763 |
| Rombo | District council | 275,314 |
| Same | District council | 300,303 |
| Siha | District council | 139,019 |
District headquarters are Boma la Ngombe (Hai), Moshi, Mwanga, Mkuu (Rombo), Same town and Sanya Juu (Siha).
Towns and Villages in Kilimanjaro Region
The settlements below are grouped by district. Apart from Moshi, the larger centres are Boma la Ngombe (37,538), Same town (34,322), Usangi (21,000), Hedaru (21,000), Tarakea (18,000), Lembeni (16,008), Ndungu (14,545), Makanya (9,505), Mwembe (9,032) and Kihurio (8,377). A short list of places whose district GeoNames does not record appears at the end.
Hai District
- Barangata
- Boma la Ngombe
- Bondeni Boloti
- Kibohehe
- Kware
- Lemira
- Lyamungu
- Mabire
- Machame
- Masama
- Shiri
- Uswaa
- Weru Weru
Moshi Municipal (Moshi Urban)
- Moshi
- Msaranga
- Zambarau
Moshi Rural District
- Chekerini
- Ghombon
- Himo
- Kahe
- Kibosho
- Kidia
- Kilema Pofo
- Kimangaro
- Kirua
- Kirua Vunjo
- Kokirie
- Komakya
- Komalyango
- Lombetu
- Mabungo
- Mamba
- Mandaka
- Marangu
- Marawa
- Masia
- Maua
- Mdawi
- Mowo
- Mwika
- Mwika West
- Namro
- Old Moshi
- Sango
- Shia
- Uru
- Uru East
Mwanga District
- Butu
- Campi ya Simba
- Kamtoli
- Kifula
- Kilomeni
- Kwakoa
- Lembeni
- Makanalika
- Mara
- Masinde
- Mbale
- Mikuyuni
- Ngulu
- Nyasa
- Ruru
- Taroha
- Toieya
- Ugweno
- Usangi
Rombo District
- Kirongo
- Mandara
- Mkuu
- Nanjara
- Tarakea
Same District
- Bagamoyo
- Bendela
- Bumbuli
- Chanika
- Ferefere
- Gava
- Gonja
- Hedaru
- Hegoma
- Katunene
- Kihurio
- Kisiwani
- Lushoto
- Makanya
- Manka
- Masimani
- Mkanyeni
- Mkonga Ijinyu
- Mpirani
- Mughunga
- Muheza
- Mvungwe
- Mwembe
- Myambo
- Nasulo
- Ndungu
- Same
- Suji
- Tiriti
- Tonto
- Vunta
- Zange
Siha District
- Engare Nairobi
- Kibongoto
- Kilimahewa
- Lawate
- Ngarenairobi
- Ol Molog
- Sanya Juu
Other localities
- Arusha Chini
- Kirya
- Marago ja Kombo
- Marwa
- Mbuyuni
- Naururu
- Samanga
- Upuni
Geography
Kilimanjaro Region borders Kenya to the north and east, Tanga Region to the south, Manyara Region to the south-west and Arusha Region to the west. The land falls from the Kilimanjaro summit through the densely farmed southern slopes to dry plains around 700 metres.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano built from three overlapping cones: Kibo, which carries the summit at Uhuru Peak, Mawenzi and Shira. Rifting in the area began roughly 22 to 25 million years ago. The ice on the mountain has shrunk sharply, with the Rebmann Glacier losing about 82 percent of its cover between 1912 and 2000.
The Pare Mountains run south-east from the massif through Mwanga and Same districts, splitting into North Pare and South Pare ranges. Lake Chala sits on the Kenyan border north-east of Moshi, and Lake Jipe straddles the border further south-east. The Pangani River drains the region, fed by the Kikafu, Karanga, Kikuletwa and Kisangara rivers.
Two national parks lie in the region. Kilimanjaro National Park covers the mountain above the forest line, and Mkomazi National Park occupies the dry country in Same District, shared with Tanga Region.
Economy and Local Life
Farming on the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro follows the Chagga home-garden system: coffee grown under bananas, with fodder and vegetables between. Arabica coffee from Rombo, Moshi Rural and Hai passes through the Moshi auction, which handles coffee from across northern Tanzania. Maize, beans and horticultural crops fill the middle slopes.
Lower down, irrigation from the Pangani and its tributaries supports rice at Kahe, Lower Moshi, Ndungu and Kihurio. Sisal estates survive around Same and along the Moshi-Korogwe road. In the Pare Mountains, farmers around Usangi, Ugweno and Suji grow maize, cassava, fruit and vegetables on terraced ground and keep dairy cattle in stalls.
Tourism is the second pillar. Moshi and Marangu supply the guides, porters and outfitters for Kilimanjaro climbs, and the Marangu, Machame, Rongai and Umbwe routes all start in the region. Market days at Himo, Mwika, Lembeni and Makanya draw traders from both sides of the Kenyan border. Himo, near the border crossing at Holili, is the main cross-border produce market.
The Chagga are the largest group, farming the mountain slopes, and the Pare live in the Pare Mountains and the plains below. Maa speakers live on the drier western and southern margins. Swahili is the common language.
Getting There
Kilimanjaro International Airport lies between Moshi and Arusha, about 40 km west of Moshi, and takes international and domestic flights. Moshi Airport handles light aircraft only.
The A23 trunk road links Moshi west to Arusha and east to Himo, where a branch runs north to the Holili border post and on to Taveta and Voi in Kenya. The Moshi-Segera trunk road runs south through Mwanga, Same, Hedaru and Makanya into Tanga Region, following the Pangani valley towards Korogwe and Tanga. The Tanga-Moshi railway line runs beside it, though passenger service is limited.
Buses run from Moshi to Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Tanga and Nairobi. Dala-dala minibuses cover the mountain villages from Moshi, and pickups serve the higher settlements in Rombo and the Pare Mountains.
FAQ
How many districts are in Kilimanjaro Region?
Seven councils: Hai, Moshi Urban, Moshi Rural, Mwanga, Rombo, Same and Siha.
What is the population of Kilimanjaro Region?
The 2022 census recorded a population of 1,861,934, up from 1,640,087 in 2012.
What is the capital of Kilimanjaro Region?
Moshi, which had a population of 221,733 in 2022 and sits about 20 km south of the Kilimanjaro summit.
What towns and villages are in Kilimanjaro Region?
This page lists settlements by district, from Moshi, Same and Boma la Ngombe to mountain villages such as Marangu, Machame, Mwika, Usangi and Tarakea.
Which district is Mount Kilimanjaro in?
The mountain spans Hai, Siha, Moshi Rural and Rombo districts. Climbing routes start at Marangu, Machame, Londorossi and Rongai.