{"id":33,"date":"2024-04-02T09:59:47","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T09:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/?p=33"},"modified":"2026-08-01T00:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:13:32","slug":"arusha-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/arusha-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Arusha Region"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arusha Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Arusha) sits in Tanzania’s northern highlands, on the Kenyan border. It recorded a population of 2,356,255 at the 2022 census, and Arusha city is both the regional capital and the country’s safari headquarters. The region covers 37,576 km² and contains the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n

Districts of Arusha Region<\/h2>\n

Arusha Region is administered through seven councils: one city council and six district councils. Populations below are from the 2022 national census.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
District<\/th>\nCouncil type<\/th>\nPopulation (2022 census)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Arusha<\/td>\nCity council<\/td>\n617,631<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arusha Rural<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n449,518<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Karatu<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n280,454<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Longido<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n175,915<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Meru<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n331,603<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monduli<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n227,585<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ngorongoro<\/td>\nDistrict council<\/td>\n273,549<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

District headquarters are Arusha city, Sokon II (Arusha Rural), Karatu town, Longido, Usa River (Meru), Monduli and Loliondo (Ngorongoro).<\/p>\n

Towns and Villages in Arusha Region<\/h2>\n

The settlements below are grouped by district. Alongside Arusha city, the larger centres are Mbuguni (49,801), Kingori (22,839), Usa River (21,000), Makuyuni (20,000), Karatu (20,000), Mto wa Mbu (17,754), Namanga on the Kenyan border (14,922), Nkoaranga (14,738) and Ngorongoro (10,836).<\/p>\n

Arusha City<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Arusha<\/li>\n
  • Marombosa<\/li>\n
  • Sakina<\/li>\n
  • Sinon-Olnjavutian<\/li>\n
  • Sokon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Arusha Rural District<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Emaoi<\/li>\n
    • Enaboishu<\/li>\n
    • Ilboru<\/li>\n
    • Kioga<\/li>\n
    • Mkulat<\/li>\n
    • Nduruma Chini<\/li>\n
    • Ngateu<\/li>\n
    • Olmotoni<\/li>\n
    • Olturoto<\/li>\n
    • Themi<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Karatu District<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Aicho<\/li>\n
      • Endabash<\/li>\n
      • Kambi ya Nyoka<\/li>\n
      • Kambi ya Nzige<\/li>\n
      • Kibaoni<\/li>\n
      • Kiratu<\/li>\n
      • Konsay<\/li>\n
      • Mangola<\/li>\n
      • Mbulumbulu<\/li>\n
      • Oldeani<\/li>\n
      • Seremai<\/li>\n
      • Sumawe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Longido District<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Engare Naibor<\/li>\n
        • Gelai<\/li>\n
        • Gelai Lubwa<\/li>\n
        • Kitumbeine<\/li>\n
        • Lariboro<\/li>\n
        • Longido<\/li>\n
        • Namanga<\/li>\n
        • Oldinka Legeru<\/li>\n
        • Sinya<\/li>\n
        • Sungate<\/li>\n
        • Tingatinga<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Meru District<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • Engare Nanyuki<\/li>\n
          • Karangai<\/li>\n
          • Kingori<\/li>\n
          • Lekuruki<\/li>\n
          • Mbuguni<\/li>\n
          • Msitu wa Mbogo<\/li>\n
          • Nkoanrua<\/li>\n
          • Nkoaranga<\/li>\n
          • Poli<\/li>\n
          • Tuvaila<\/li>\n
          • Usa River<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Monduli District<\/h3>\n
              \n
            • Engaruka<\/li>\n
            • Lolkisale<\/li>\n
            • Makuyuni<\/li>\n
            • Manyara<\/li>\n
            • Monduli<\/li>\n
            • Mto wa Mbu<\/li>\n
            • Nangungu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Ngorongoro District<\/h3>\n
                \n
              • Arash<\/li>\n
              • Digodigo<\/li>\n
              • Endulen<\/li>\n
              • Eyasi<\/li>\n
              • Gwara<\/li>\n
              • Hemah<\/li>\n
              • Kakessio<\/li>\n
              • Kibambi<\/li>\n
              • Lemesigio<\/li>\n
              • Loginya<\/li>\n
              • Loliondo<\/li>\n
              • Luguru<\/li>\n
              • Maduka<\/li>\n
              • Malambo<\/li>\n
              • Masek<\/li>\n
              • Masurumunyi<\/li>\n
              • Mtowabaga<\/li>\n
              • Munge<\/li>\n
              • Nainokanoka<\/li>\n
              • Ngorongoro<\/li>\n
              • Olala<\/li>\n
              • Piaya<\/li>\n
              • Sinoni<\/li>\n
              • Soit Ayai<\/li>\n
              • Soit Sambu<\/li>\n
              • Sonja<\/li>\n
              • Sonjo Saie<\/li>\n
              • Ssamunge<\/li>\n
              • Wasso<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Geography<\/h2>\n

                Arusha Region borders Kajiado and Narok counties of Kenya to the north, Kilimanjaro Region to the east, Manyara and Singida regions to the south, and Mara and Simiyu regions to the west. The Great Rift Valley cuts north to south through the region, and most settled land lies between 900 and 1,600 metres.<\/p>\n

                Mount Meru rises to 4,655 metres, making it Tanzania’s second-highest mountain. Other high ground includes the Monduli Mountains, Mount Loolmalasin, Mount Longido and the Gelai volcano. Ol Doinyo Lengai, north of Engaruka, is still active. The region’s lakes are mostly alkaline: Lake Eyasi is the largest, and Lake Natron, Lake Duluti, Lake Empakaai, Lake Ndutu, the Momela lakes and part of Lake Manyara also lie inside the boundary.<\/p>\n

                Protected land takes up a large share of the region. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers Ngorongoro District, Arusha National Park sits on the slopes of Mount Meru, and part of Lake Manyara National Park falls within Monduli District. Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli, where early hominid fossils and footprints were found, lie inside the conservation area. The stone irrigation channels at Engaruka date back about 600 years.<\/p>\n

                Economy and Local Life<\/h2>\n

                Tourism drives the regional economy. Arusha city is the starting point for the northern safari circuit, and hotels, tour operators, guides and vehicle workshops employ thousands. The city also hosts the East African Community headquarters.<\/p>\n

                Coffee has been grown on the slopes of Meru since 1920, when the British administration introduced it. Farmers on the volcanic soils around Meru and Karatu districts also grow maize, wheat, beans, bananas, pyrethrum and horticultural crops for export through Kilimanjaro International Airport. Karatu is a wheat and seed-maize district; Mbulumbulu and Oldeani carry large farms.<\/p>\n

                In Longido, Monduli and Ngorongoro districts, Maasai livestock keeping is the main livelihood, with cattle, goats and sheep moved between wet and dry season grazing. Cattle markets at Longido, Namanga and Makuyuni set prices for a wide area. Mto wa Mbu holds a produce and craft market on the Lake Manyara road. Tanzanite is mined at Mererani, just over the boundary in Manyara Region, but much of the cutting and trade happens in Arusha.<\/p>\n

                The main first languages are Maa, spoken by the Maasai, and the Bantu languages of the Arusha and Meru peoples. Iraqw is widely spoken around Karatu, Hadza and Datooga around Lake Eyasi, and Swahili serves as the common language everywhere.<\/p>\n

                Getting There<\/h2>\n

                Two trunk roads meet at Arusha. The A23 runs east to Himo and Moshi, passing the turn-off for Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is the nearest full-size airport and sits about 50 km from the city. The A104 runs north to Namanga and the Kenyan border post, continuing to Nairobi, and south-west towards Makuyuni, where the road to Mto wa Mbu, Karatu and the Ngorongoro gate branches off.<\/p>\n

                Arusha Airport, west of the city at Kisongo, handles light aircraft and scheduled flights to the Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Zanzibar. Long-distance buses connect Arusha with Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza and Nairobi. Within the region, dala-dala minibuses and shared Land Cruisers serve smaller centres such as Monduli, Longido, Karatu and Loliondo.<\/p>\n

                FAQ<\/h2>\n

                How many districts are in Arusha Region?<\/h3>\n

                Seven councils: Arusha City Council plus the district councils of Arusha Rural, Karatu, Longido, Meru, Monduli and Ngorongoro.<\/p>\n

                What is the population of Arusha Region?<\/h3>\n

                The 2022 census recorded a population of 2,356,255, up from 1,694,310 in 2012. That ranks Arusha 11th of Tanzania’s 31 regions.<\/p>\n

                What is the capital of Arusha Region?<\/h3>\n

                Arusha city, which had a population of 617,631 in 2022 and also hosts the East African Community secretariat.<\/p>\n

                What towns and villages are in Arusha Region?<\/h3>\n

                This page lists settlements by district, from Arusha city and Usa River to smaller places such as Engaruka, Oldeani, Mangola, Loliondo and Sinya.<\/p>\n

                Where is the Ngorongoro Crater?<\/h3>\n

                In Ngorongoro District, in the west of the region. The gate is reached from Karatu, about 140 km by road from Arusha city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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