Ruvuma Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Ruvuma) covers the far south of Tanzania. Lake Nyasa forms its western edge, and the Ruvuma River its border with Mozambique. The 2022 census recorded a population of 1,848,794 across 63,669 km2. Songea is the regional capital, and the Matengo highlands around Mbinga grow most of southern Tanzania’s arabica coffee.
Districts of Ruvuma Region
Ruvuma Region is administered through eight councils. Madaba was split from Songea Rural, and Mbinga Town from Mbinga District, so two district names appear twice. Populations below are from the 2022 census.
| District | Council type | Population (2022 census) |
|---|---|---|
| Madaba | District council | 65,215 |
| Mbinga | Rural district council | 285,582 |
| Mbinga Town | Town council | 158,896 |
| Namtumbo | District council | 271,368 |
| Nyasa | District council | 191,193 |
| Songea | Municipal council | 286,285 |
| Songea Rural | Rural district council | 178,201 |
| Tunduru | District council | 412,054 |
| Total | 1,848,794 |
Towns and Villages in Ruvuma Region
The settlements below are grouped by district. Madaba District was carved out of Songea Rural, and Mbinga Town out of Mbinga District, so each pair shares a heading. Localities that could not be matched to a district are listed at the end.
Mbinga District and Mbinga Town
- Buruma
- Kagugu
- Kigonsera
- Kihulila
- Kindimba
- Langiro
- Likonde
- Lipumba
- Litembo
- Londo
- Longa
- Lugari
- Luhuni
- Lutimba
- Makoro
- Mapela
- Mateka
- Matiri
- Mbangana
- Mbinga
- Mbuyura
- Mikalanga
- Mpapa
- Mswika
- Mtame
- Myangayanga
- Ndembe
- Ndengu
- Pilikano
- Punga
- Ruanda
- Tingi
- Umgano
- Walanzi
- Wukiro
Namtumbo District
- Chengena
- Dodoma
- Ilonga
- Kandulu
- Kasembe
- Kitanda
- Langero
- Libobi
- Ligera
- Ligunga
- Likonde
- Likuyu
- Lipateka
- Litola
- Liwawa
- Luchesi
- Luguruka
- Lumecha
- Lusewa
- Lusonja
- Magazini
- Makaloye
- Malijoni
- Masaguro
- Matimbuka
- Mawa
- Mbanzi
- Mbao
- Mbarangandu
- Mbatimira
- Mchomoro
- Mgombasi
- Mgwina
- Mindo
- Mkongo
- Mpigamiti
- Mpurukasese
- Msamara
- Mshindo
- Mteramwahi
- Mtonya
- Mtukula
- Mtulanjiwa
- Mwili
- Nahoro
- Namabengo
- Namahoka
- Namanima
- Nambunju
- Namtumbo
- Nhehe
- Njoomlole
- Njuga
- Pangisa
- Rutukira
- Suluti
- Tuliana
Nyasa District
- Chimate
- Chiulu
- Chiwanda
- Chiwindi
- Gingama
- Hongi
- Kihagara
- Kijosi
- Kipapa
- Kwambi
- Linda
- Liparamba
- Lipingo
- Lituhi Mission
- Liuli
- Lundu
- Mango
- Mbamba Bay
- Mbugu
- Mhalo
- Mitomoni
- Mngehe
- Mtipwili
- Mtungi
- Mwera
- Nambingi
- Nangombo
- Ngoma
- Ngombo
- Nkaya
- Nyeue
- Pankonga
- Tingi
- Upale
Songea District and Madaba
- Barabarani
- Gumbiro
- Ifinga
- Ipaya
- Kilawalawa
- Kitulo
- Kiyaya
- Liganga
- Lihigo
- Lihuhu
- Lipupuma
- Litisha
- Liula
- Lugagara
- Luyangweni
- Madaba
- Magagura
- Mahanje
- Majimahu
- Maposeni
- Mara
- Matamondo
- Matimira
- Matumbi
- Maweso
- Mbunga
- Mbura
- Mchekwa
- Mgazini
- Mirambo
- Mkurumusi
- Mkwera
- Mlali
- Morogoro
- Mpandangindo
- Mpitimbi
- Mtyangimbori
- Muhukuru
- Nambarapi
- Namtui
- Ndelenyuma
- Ndirima
- Ngadinda
- Ngahokoro
- Ngalanga
- Old Gumbiro
- Pangani
- Putire
- Sakamaganga
- Towatowa
- Wino
Songea Municipal
- Fusi
- Lilambo
- Luhira
- Matagoro
- Mlete
- Parangu
- Peramiho
- Ruhuwiko
- Songea
- Tanga
Tunduru District
- Bibi Kundenda
- Chamba
- Chikwembeni
- Chinjala
- Chinunje
- Chipelele
- Chitanda
- Fundi Mbanga
- Jila
- Kibwana
- Kidodoma
- Kipindimbi
- Kipojora
- Kwitanda
- Ligoma
- Liloya
- Lukumbule
- Lusujila
- Mahauhau
- Malangane
- Malungwila
- Marumba
- Masima
- Matambwe
- Matemanga
- Mautila
- Mbesa
- Mindu
- Mkowela
- Mkumba
- Mnemba
- Mnenja
- Mnjenje
- Mpelembe
- Msamala
- Msechela
- Mtalika
- Mtika
- Mtina
- Mtolela
- Mtwaro
- Nakangwenya
- Nakapanya
- Nalasi
- Namasakata
- Namasalau
- Nampungu
- Nandembo
- Nasanga
- Ndenyende
- Ngwanga
- Njawanga
- Ntawia
- Puchapucha
- Sasawara
- Tabora
- Tandika
- Tunduru
- Undi
Other localities
- Chasasa
- Chinula
- Kihanga
- Kimbande
- Kiropa
- Kutunga
- Ligowola
- Lukumburu
- Makande
- Mango
- Mangoli
- Mbaha
- Mbuli
- Mkiri
- Mtandasi
- Ndelema
- Ndengele
- Ndumbi
- Ngombe Likeza
- Ngumbo
- Nindai
- Njambe
- Tafi
- Yola
Geography
Ruvuma Region borders Morogoro Region to the north and Lindi Region to the north-east. Mtwara Region lies east, Njombe Region north-west, and Lake Nyasa and Malawi west. Mozambique is south, across the Ruvuma River. It is one of the larger regions in the country, and one of the least densely settled.
The land steps down from west to east. The Matengo Mountains behind Mbinga reach about 2,000 metres and catch enough rain for coffee. The Lukumburu highlands rise in the north. The eastern districts around Tunduru fall to roughly 300 metres of miombo woodland. Lake Nyasa fills the western edge in Nyasa District, with lake ports at Mbamba Bay, Liuli and Lituhi. Nyerere National Park reaches down into northern Namtumbo, and Liparamba Game Reserve sits near the Mozambique border.
Economy and Local Life
About three-quarters of working people farm. Maize takes roughly 61 per cent of planted land, cassava 19 per cent and paddy rice 15 per cent. Ruvuma is one of the country’s surplus maize regions. Cash crops split by district. Arabica coffee grows in the Matengo highlands around Mbinga and Kigonsera, tobacco in Namtumbo and Songea Rural, sesame and cashew in Tunduru.
Tunduru is also a gemstone district. Small-scale miners dig sapphire, garnet, spinel and tourmaline from gravels near the Muhuwesi and Ruvuma rivers, and buyers work out of Tunduru town. Fishing crews land dagaa and tilapia at the Lake Nyasa ports in Nyasa District. Timber and charcoal come out of the miombo woodlands. Songea holds the region’s main wholesale market and its produce auctions.
Getting There
The T6 trunk road reaches Songea from Njombe in the north-west. It then runs east through Namtumbo and Tunduru to Masasi and the coast at Mtwara. A sealed road climbs west from Songea to Mbinga, and continues to Mbamba Bay on Lake Nyasa. Songea Airport has scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam.
Lake ferries serve the western shore. Vessels call at Mbamba Bay, Liuli and Lituhi on runs north to Itungi port in Mbeya Region. A cross-lake service links Mbamba Bay with Nkhata Bay in Malawi. There is no railway in the region.
FAQ
How many districts are in Ruvuma Region?
Ruvuma Region has eight councils: Madaba, Mbinga, Mbinga Town, Namtumbo, Nyasa, Songea Municipal, Songea Rural and Tunduru.
What is the population of Ruvuma Region?
The 2022 census recorded a population of 1,848,794, up from 1,376,891 in 2012.
What is the capital of Ruvuma Region?
Songea. Its municipal council had a population of 286,285 in the 2022 census, making it the largest town in the region.
What towns and villages are in Ruvuma Region?
Main towns include Songea, Tunduru, Mbinga, Namtumbo, Kigonsera, Matiri, Tingi, Liuli and Mbamba Bay. The list above covers around 270 settlements by district.
What is Ruvuma Region known for?
Matengo highland coffee, surplus maize, Tunduru gemstones, and the Majimaji war of 1905 to 1907. The war memorial and museum stand in Songea.