Arusha Region
Encyclopedia
Arusha is one of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
's 26 administrative regions
Regions of Tanzania
Tanzania is divided into 26 regions.-See also:* list of Tanzanian regions by area ranks the regions by their total area, land area, and water area.* Districts of Tanzania* ISO 3166-2:TZ-External links:*...
. The regional capital and largest city is Arusha
Arusha
Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks...
. Other towns include Monduli, just west of Arusha, Longido and Loliondo to the north, Mto Wa Mbu and Karatu to the west and Usa River to the east. The region is divided into these districts
Districts of Tanzania
The regions of Tanzania are divided into 127 districts . The districts are listed below, by region:-Arusha Region:* Arumeru* Arusha* Karatu* Longido* Monduli* Ngorongoro-Dodoma:* Dodoma Rural* Dodoma Urban* Kondoa* Kongwa* Mpwapwa...
: Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro District
Ngorongoro District is one of the five districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by Kenya, to the east by the Monduli District, to the south by the Karatu District and to the west by the Mara Region....
, Arusha
Arusha District
Arusha is one of the five districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania, and it contains the regional capitol of Arusha. It is bordered on the south by the Monduli District and to the north, east, and west by the Arumeru District....
, Karatu
Karatu
Karatu is one of the five districts in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is bordered by the Ngorongoro District to the north, the Shinyanga Region to the west, the Monduli District to the east, and the Manyara Region to the south and southeast....
, Monduli
Monduli
Monduli is one of the five districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. These include, Monduli, Ngorongoro, Karatu, Arumeru, and Arusha. It is located in the northeastern section of the country. It is bordered to the north by Kenya, to the east by the Kilimanjaro Region and Arumeru District, to the...
, Longido
Longido
Longido is a small village north of Arusha in Tanzania and south of the town of Namanga, on the Kenya-Tanzania border. It is primarily Maasai but includes other East African tribes as well....
and Arumeru
Arumeru
Arumeru is one of the five districts in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north and west by the Monduli District, to the east by the Kilimanjaro Region and to the south by the Arusha District and the Monduli District....
.
Overview
The region is a popular tourist destination and is the centre of the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit. Ngorongoro Crater, in the western part of the region, drew 250,000 visitors in 2004. Nearby national parks include SerengetiSerengeti
The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa. It is located in north Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya between latitudes 1 and 3 S and longitudes 34 and 36 E. It spans some ....
(most of which is in Mara Region
Mara Region
Mara is one of the 26 regions of Tanzania. The region is named after the Mara River. Musoma serves as the Region's capital.The neighbouring regions are Mwanza and Shinyanga , Arusha and Kagera . To the north east, it borders the Republic of Kenya...
), Arusha
Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park covers Mount Meru, a prominent volcano with an elevation of 4566 m, in the Arusha Region of north eastern Tanzania.The park is small but varied with spectacular landscapes in three distinct areas. In the west, the Meru Crater funnels the Jekukumia River; the peak of Mount Meru...
, Tarangire
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is a national park in Tanzania.Tarangire National Park is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania after Ruaha, Serengeti, Mikumi, Katavi and Mkomazi. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire river that crosses through the park, being the only source of water...
and Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is a shallow lake in the Natron-Manyara-Balangida branch of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania. Said by Ernest Hemingway to be the "loveliest [lake] .....
(in Manyara Region
Manyara Region
Manyara is one of the 26 Regions of Tanzania. Babati serves as the Region's capital. In its northern part is Lake Manyara. It is bordered to the north by the Arusha Region, to the northeast by the Kilimanjaro Region, to the east by the Tanga Region, to the south by the Dodoma Region, to the...
). Kilimanjaro (in Kilimanjaro Region
Kilimanjaro Region
Kilimanjaro is one of the 26 regions in Tanzania. The capital of the region is Moshi. Kilimanjaro region is home to Mount Kilimanjaro.Kilimanjaro Region is bordered to the North and East by Kenya, to the South by the Tanga Region, to the Southwest by the Manyara Region, and to the West by the...
) is 44 miles east of Mount Meru
Mount Meru (Tanzania)
Mount Meru is an active stratovolcano located west of Mount Kilimanjaro in the nation of Tanzania. At a height of , it is visible from Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day, and is the tenth highest mountain in Africa. Much of its bulk was lost about 8,000 years ago due to an eastward volcanic blast,...
. Remains of a 1,000-year-old stone structure are found at Engaruka.
The Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
cuts right through the middle of the region north-to-south. Oldonyo Lengai (Mountain of God in Maasai language) is an active volcano to the north of Ngorongoro. Altitudes throughout the region vary widely, but much of it ranges from 900 to 1600 metres (3,000 to 5,500 feet in elevation. Mt. Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro, peaks at 4,655 metres (14,980 feet). Other geographical features include the Lelatema Mountains and the Umba Valley
Umba Valley
Umba Valley is a geographic area in Tanzania and the world's only source of Umba sapphires.The Umba River flows through the Umba Valley.Specifically, Umba Valley is located in the north of Usambara Mountains in the Tanga Region of Tanzania.-References:...
.
The city of Arusha is at the southern foot of Mt. Meru. Areas to the south and southeast of the mountain tend to be sufficiently watered and are the most densely populated areas of the region.
Most people here speak Swahili and their tribal language. Many also speak English.
The Maasai are the most influential tribe in the region. The Arusha
Arusha (ethnic group)
The Arusha are an ethnic and linguistic group based in Arusha Region in northern Tanzania. The Arusha are distinct from, but related to, the Maasai....
and Meru people live near Mt. Meru. Rwa
Rwa
The Rwa are an ethnic and linguistic group based around Mount Meru in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. In 1987 the Rwa population was estimated to number 90,000 ....
, Mbulu, Iraqw, Temi, and Mbugwe are also present in smaller areas. The city of Arusha is currently undergoing urbanization, which is drawing people of many tribes from throughout the country to live there.
According to the 2002 Tanzania National Census, the population of the Arusha Region was 1,292,973. http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/census/arusha.htm
Portions of the former Arusha Region districts of Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto is one of the 5 districts of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by the Simanjiro District, to the east by the Tanga Region and to the south and west by the Dodoma Region....
, Babati
Babati
Babati is a small city and district of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. The administrative capital of the district 'Babati Town' is located also administrative capital of the newly formed Manyara Region, 172 km south of Arusha. The District is the capital of Manyara Region...
, Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu is one of the 5 districts of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Arusha Region and Lake Eyasi, to the East by the Babati Region, to the South by the Hanang District and to the West by the Singida Region....
, Hanang
Hanang
Hanang is one of the five districts of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Mbulu and Babati Districts, to the Southeast by the Dodoma Region and to the Southwest by the Singida Region....
, and a tiny piece of Monduli
Monduli
Monduli is one of the five districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. These include, Monduli, Ngorongoro, Karatu, Arumeru, and Arusha. It is located in the northeastern section of the country. It is bordered to the north by Kenya, to the east by the Kilimanjaro Region and Arumeru District, to the...
were incorporated into the recently formed Manyara Region
Manyara Region
Manyara is one of the 26 Regions of Tanzania. Babati serves as the Region's capital. In its northern part is Lake Manyara. It is bordered to the north by the Arusha Region, to the northeast by the Kilimanjaro Region, to the east by the Tanga Region, to the south by the Dodoma Region, to the...
-- immediately south of Arusha Region.
The Arusha regional commissioner is Isidore Leka Shirima.
Districts
| Map | District | Population (2002) | Tarafa | Kata | Capital | Area km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Arumeru Arumeru Arumeru is one of the five districts in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north and west by the Monduli District, to the east by the Kilimanjaro Region and to the south by the Arusha District and the Monduli District.... |
514,651 | 2,896 | |||
| Arusha Arusha District Arusha is one of the five districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania, and it contains the regional capitol of Arusha. It is bordered on the south by the Monduli District and to the north, east, and west by the Arumeru District.... |
281,608 | 93 | ||||
| Karatu Karatu Karatu is one of the five districts in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is bordered by the Ngorongoro District to the north, the Shinyanga Region to the west, the Monduli District to the east, and the Manyara Region to the south and southeast.... |
177,951 | 3,300 | ||||
| Monduli Monduli Monduli is one of the five districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. These include, Monduli, Ngorongoro, Karatu, Arumeru, and Arusha. It is located in the northeastern section of the country. It is bordered to the north by Kenya, to the east by the Kilimanjaro Region and Arumeru District, to the... |
110,442 | 6,419 | ||||
| Ngorongoro Ngorongoro District Ngorongoro District is one of the five districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by Kenya, to the east by the Monduli District, to the south by the Karatu District and to the west by the Mara Region.... |
129,362 | 14,036 | ||||
| Total | 1,288,088 | 34,526 | ||||
| 2002 Longido Longido Longido is a small village north of Arusha in Tanzania and south of the town of Namanga, on the Kenya-Tanzania border. It is primarily Maasai but includes other East African tribes as well.... : 7,782 km²; Idadi ya wakazi: 74,074 |
||||||
| Marejeo: Mkoa wa Arusha | ||||||
Transportation
Most roads are unpaved, but there are three main paved highways.The first runs into the region from the east near Kilimanjaro International Airport
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Kilimanjaro International Airport is the second, albeit small, international airport of Tanzania . It serves the Kilimanjaro area including the cities of Arusha and Moshi near Mount Kilimanjaro, and the international tourism industry based on Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro...
. It runs east-west through the city of Arusha, then curves northward around Mt. Meru and continues on to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is commonly called the Nairobi road.
The second begins in Arusha and goes west, through Kisongo, through Meserani, and past Monduli. After about 50 miles near Mto wa Mbu, the road begins curving southward around Lake Manyara and continues on to Babati
Babati
Babati is a small city and district of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. The administrative capital of the district 'Babati Town' is located also administrative capital of the newly formed Manyara Region, 172 km south of Arusha. The District is the capital of Manyara Region...
and Dodoma
Dodoma
Dodoma , officially Dodoma Urban District, population 324,347 , is the national capital of Tanzania, and the capital of the Dodoma region. In 1973, plans were made to move the capital to Dodoma...
. It is commonly called the Dodoma roads.
The third is a new highway from the Dodoma road near Mto wa Mbu to Ngorongoro Crater. It accommodates many tourists and passes through Mto wa Mbu and Karatu before ascending to the crater.
Arusha region is landlocked and there are no navigable rivers. The larger lakes in the Rift Valley are not used for transportation.
Kilimanjaro International Airport, which serves the cities Moshi and Arusha, is a gateway for tourists and business. Among its carriers are Air Tanzania
Air Tanzania
Air Tanzania is the national airline of Tanzania. Its main base is Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam.-History:Air Tanzania Corporation was established on 10 March 1977 after the breakup of East African Airways, which had previously served the region. Flights were started from...
, Precision Air
Precision Air
Precision Air Services Limited, operating as Precision Air, is the largest airline in Tanzania, based in Dar Es Salaam.-Overview:The airline operates scheduled air services for tourists and business traffic between Dar Es Salaam and Fourteen other airports in Tanzania...
, Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines , formerly Ethiopian Air Lines, often referred to as simply Ethiopian, is an airline headquartered on the grounds of Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It serves as the country's flag carrier, and is wholly owned by the Government of Ethiopia...
, Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Kenya Airways, is the flag carrier and largest airline of Kenya. The company was founded in 1977, after the dissolution of East African Airways. The carrier's head office is located in Embakasi, Nairobi, with its main base at Jomo Kenyatta International...
, and KLM.
Most overland travel is done by bus from the city of Arusha. Within town, mini-buses
Minibus
A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a...
called dala-dalas jockey for passengers.
There are also many "unofficial" taxiing services that center around tourist hubs (hotels and markets for example). As with anything of this nature, it is best to be careful with their services. Usually, the ones offering rides from inside the gate of the hotels are genuine taxi drivers, while those outside may be more suspect.
Named roads
The road referred to as Nairobi Road is Arusha-Moshi Road, as it joins the two districts. The Nairobi Road is the one that passes through Ngarenaro, eventually joining the Arusha-Moshi road. They then join and continue with one name 'Nairobi Road' as they head towards Sakina, Azimio, Ngaramtoni and eventually Nairobi.The "Dodoma Road" ceased to be in the 1980s when Tanzania lost its then Prime Minister, Honorable Edward Moringe Sokoine. The road was renamed "Sokoine Road" in his honour as it leads to his home village