Lindi Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Lindi) occupies the south-eastern corner of mainland Tanzania, between Pwani Region and Mtwara Region on the Indian Ocean. It covers 66,040 km², one of the three largest regions in the country, but the 2022 census recorded a population of only 1,194,028, or about 18 people per km². Lindi town is the regional headquarters, and the region holds the longest coastline in Tanzania at roughly 287 km.
Districts of Lindi Region
The region is divided into six councils: five district councils and the municipal council at Lindi. Mtama District Council is the former Lindi Rural District, renamed for its headquarters town. Populations are from the 2022 census.
| District | Council type | Population (2022 census) |
|---|---|---|
| Kilwa | District council | 297,676 |
| Nachingwea | District council | 233,655 |
| Ruangwa | District council | 185,573 |
| Lindi Municipal | Municipal council | 174,126 |
| Mtama | District council | 166,493 |
| Liwale | District council | 136,505 |
| Lindi Region | — | 1,194,028 |
Towns and Villages in Lindi Region
Below are the towns and villages recorded across the region, grouped by district. Settlements in Mtama District appear under its older name, Lindi Rural, because that is how most village records are filed.
Kilwa
- Chumo
- Kandawale
- Kibata
- Kidumba
- Kihindi
- Kihundo
- Kikanda
- Kikole
- Kikone
- Kikundi
- Kilwa Kisiwani
- Kilwa Kivinje
- Kilwa Masoko
- Kimberambana
- Kinjumbi
- Kipapu
- Kipatimu
- Kiranjerange
- Kirongo
- Kironjengwale
- Kisongo
- Kiswere
- Kiwatama
- Kiwawa
- Kizimbani
- Kuwea
- Lihimalyao
- Likawage
- Lingaula
- Magesani
- Makangaga
- Marendego
- Matandu
- Matapatapa
- Mawerenje
- Mbaro
- Mbate
- Mbogora
- Migeregere
- Miguruwe
- Mikoma
- Mikono Miwili
- Mingumbi
- Mirui Chini
- Miteja
- Mitole
- Mitole Chini
- Mitumbati
- Mkambi
- Mkarango
- Mkoko
- Mkuru
- Mnazi
- Mnowe
- Mpara
- Mpatora
- Mtandago
- Mtandi
- Mtandura
- Mtanga
- Mtumbu
- Muira
- Mwengei
- Nahungo
- Nainokwe
- Naiwanga
- Nakiu
- Namatoya
- Namayuni
- Nambunju
- Nandera
- Nandete
- Nangurukuru
- Nanjirinji
- Narungombe
- Nauli
- Ndarara
- Ndende
- Ngamo
- Njenja
- Njinjo
- Nondwa
- Pande
- Pondo
- Pungutini
- Roango
- Roma
- Rugombera
- Singino
- Somanga
- Somanga Funga
- Ukuli
- Zinga Mulike
- Zinga Nakingombe
- Zinga Ngahama
Lindi Municipal
- Kitunda
- Kiuleula
- Likonga
- Lindi
- Mahambika
- Mamembo
- Mbanja
- Mingoyo
- Mitengi
- Mkanga
- Mkwaya
- Mungwe
- Mwiwi
- Ngapa
- Nidu
- Tandanangoro
- Ziwani
Mtama (Lindi Rural)
- Chipandi
- Chiponda
- Chiuta
- Jangwani
- Jiwe la Mzungu
- Kidedi
- Kikopo
- Kipandi
- Kitomanga
- Kitumbini
- Likuena
- Likwaya
- Madangwa
- Mahiwa
- Matapwa
- Mchinga
- Mihima
- Mikaranga
- Milola
- Mitanga
- Mkoe
- Mkwera
- Mnolela
- Moka
- Mpembi
- Mpingo
- Mputwa
- Mtama
- Mtapaya
- Mtene
- Mtua
- Mtumbya
- Nachunyu
- Nahino
- Nahukanhuka
- Nakawene
- Nambahu
- Nambiranji
- Nambutuka
- Namunda
- Namupa
- Nangaru
- Nanjaru
- Nanyanje
- Narunyu
- Nchinjidi
- Ndondo
- Ntegu
- Nyangao
- Nyengedi
- Rondo
- Ruawa
- Ruo
- Rutamba
- Ruvu
- Sudi
- Uloda
Liwale
- Barikiwa
- Chema
- Choya
- Hemedi
- Itete
- Kibutuka
- Kihangara
- Kihoba
- Kihuma
- Kikotiketi
- Kilungula
- Kimambi
- Kindito
- Kinjacha
- Kinwichiro
- Kiperere Juu
- Kipororo
- Kupembe
- Lichijiri
- Litoo
- Liwale
- Liwale Chini
- Liwale Juu
- Lukuliro
- Lukundi
- Maboyo
- Madaba
- Majorwe
- Makanda
- Makuliro
- Makunguwiro
- Manuguyakura
- Matandu Chini
- Materawe
- Matitima
- Mawa
- Mbarali
- Mbemba
- Miembwe
- Mihumo Chini
- Mihumo Kati
- Mihungu
- Minganji
- Mirahi
- Mitumbati
- Mkangira
- Mkata
- Mkunja
- Mkunya
- Mlowoka
- Mohamedi Ngupu
- Monga
- Mpombasi
- Mswega
- Mtibangi
- Mtondo
- Mukutano
- Mwanganzi
- Mwendi Kati
- Namabou
- Namakemba
- Namawe
- Nambanje
- Nambinda
- Namehumba
- Namitere
- Nampinga
- Namtoti
- Nandumbi
- Nangano
- Naujombo
- Ndapata
- Ndembo
- Ngangora
- Ngongowele
- Ngurumahiga
- Ngwale
- Nyangandu
- Nyera
- Poyos
- Ruhangino
- Ruhuu
- Unangaruwe
Nachingwea
- Abdulla
- Chilalo
- Chiola
- Kihatu
- Kihatu Juu
- Kilimarondo
- Ligwera
- Lihonja
- Lipumbulu
- Lipuyu
- Lumesule Juu
- Makitikiti
- Manitambo
- Marambo
- Matekwe
- Mbemba
- Mbondo
- Mbuti
- Mnero
- Mtua
- Mwiki
- Nachihangi
- Nachingwea
- Nakaronji
- Nambungu
- Nambuti
- Nambwa
- Nangoi
- Nanjihi
- Ndanda
- Ndomoni
- Ngunichile
- Nkonjela
- Noli
- Ruponda
Ruangwa
- Chilungula
- Chindundu
- Chunyu
- Kitandi
- Malolo
- Mandarawe
- Mandawa
- Matambare
- Mbalaia
- Mbekenyera
- Michenga
- Mitanono
- Mkata
- Mkowe
- Mnacho
- Namichiga
- Nangaruwe
- Narungombe
- Nyamba
- Ruangwa
Other localities
- Chipunda
- Liteho
- Mkungu
- Namageni
- Ngarimbi
- Rushungi
- Rutumbo
Geography
Lindi borders Pwani Region to the north, Morogoro Region to the north-west, Ruvuma Region to the south-west and Mtwara Region to the south, with the Indian Ocean along the whole eastern edge. Behind a narrow coastal plain the land climbs to a series of plateaus, the best known being the Rondo Plateau inland from Lindi town, which carries one of the last blocks of dry coastal forest in East Africa. The highest point is Kongowele, about 830 m, in Nachingwea District.
Four rivers cross the region to the sea: the Matandu, the Mbwemkuru, the Lukuledi and the Mavuji. Roughly two fifths of the land sits inside Nyerere National Park and the Selous Game Reserve, which is why Liwale and western Kilwa have so few settlements over such a wide area. Offshore lie about 23 islands, including Kilwa Kisiwani, Songo Mnara and the gas island of Songo Songo.
Economy and Local Life
Cashew is the cash crop that pays for everything else. Growers across Mtama, Ruangwa, Nachingwea and Kilwa sell raw nuts through the warehouse receipt auctions that run from October to January, and the price set at those auctions decides how the year goes for most rural households. Sesame is the second export crop, followed by coconut, mango, maize and cassava.
Fishing works the full length of the coast, from Kilwa Kivinje and Kilwa Masoko down through Mchinga and Sudi to Mingoyo. Boats land octopus, prawns and reef fish, much of it dried and sent inland. Natural gas has been produced from Songo Songo Island since 2004 and is piped to Dar es Salaam, and further offshore blocks are still being appraised. Timber and charcoal from the miombo woodland move north by road. Weekly markets at Nangurukuru, Nyangao, Mbekenyera and Ruangwa are the trading points for the surrounding villages.
Getting There
The surfaced coastal highway from Dar es Salaam runs south through Kibiti and Ikwiriri, crosses the Rufiji, and passes Nangurukuru, the junction for Kilwa Masoko, before reaching Lindi and continuing to Mtwara. The drive from Dar es Salaam to Lindi takes most of a day. Inland roads branch west from Mingoyo to Nachingwea and Ruangwa, and a long road runs north-west from Nachingwea to Liwale, which is the hardest district to reach in the rains.
Lindi has an airport at Kikwetu, north of the town, and Nachingwea has an airstrip; scheduled flights are limited, and most air passengers use Mtwara instead. Lindi’s harbour handles small coastal craft, and dhows still cross to Kilwa Kisiwani from Kilwa Masoko.
FAQ
How many districts are in Lindi Region?
Six: Kilwa, Lindi Municipal, Liwale, Mtama, Nachingwea and Ruangwa. Mtama District was previously called Lindi Rural.
What is the population of Lindi Region?
The 2022 census recorded a population of 1,194,028, up from 864,652 in 2012. It is one of the least densely settled regions in Tanzania.
What is the capital of Lindi Region?
Lindi town, on the coast at the mouth of the Lukuledi. Lindi Municipal Council had 174,126 residents at the 2022 census.
What towns and villages are in Lindi Region?
The main towns are Lindi, Kilwa Masoko, Kilwa Kivinje, Nachingwea, Ruangwa, Liwale, Mtama, Nyangao, Mingoyo, Nangurukuru and Mbekenyera. Several hundred villages sit behind them; the full list is grouped by district above.
Why is Kilwa Kisiwani famous?
Kilwa Kisiwani was the seat of a Swahili trading sultanate that controlled the gold trade from Sofala. Its ruins, together with those at Songo Mnara, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.