District · Arusha Region
# Meru District

Meru District is a district of Tanzania in Arusha Region. It had an estimated 312,524 people in 2020 on 1,267 km² (about 247 per km²). It is divided into 17 wards. 68 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 227 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 312,524 people (2020)
- 1,267 km²
- 17 wards
- 227 mapped services

## How many people live in Meru District?

Meru District had an estimated 312,524 people in 2020 — 14.3% of Arusha Region, 77th of 168 districts. There are 990 women for every 1,000 men (below the Arusha Region figure of 1,013). Spread over 1,267 km², that is about 247 people per km², 40th of 168 districts.

38.1% of people are children under 15 and 3.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 20 years (it is 19 across Arusha Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 72 children and older people.
- 0–4 36,810
- 5–9 40,296
- 10–14 41,840
- 15–19 37,379
- 20–24 27,311
- 25–29 23,207
- 30–34 21,471
- 35–39 19,333
- 40–44 16,078
- 45–49 12,703
- 50–54 9,730
- 55–59 7,959
- 60–64 6,095
- 65–69 4,776
- 70–74 3,199
- 75–79 2,324
- 80+ 2,013

Source: UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is Meru District?

Meru District lies in Arusha Region, Tanzania. It borders 6 other districts: Arusha District, Arusha Urban District, Hai District, Longido District, Siha District and Simanjiro District. By area it is the 123rd largest of 170 districts in Tanzania. It covers 3.4% of Arusha Region. The centre of Meru District is about 342 km in a straight line from Dodoma, the capital. It is about 25 km from Arusha, the main town of Arusha Region. The centre point is at 3.3232° S, 36.9035° E.

Source: Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Meru District

OpenStreetMap lists 14 named sights in Meru District: 4 viewpoints; 3 waterfalls; 2 city gates; 2 nature reserves; 2 attractions; 1 volcano.
- Maio Waterfall · waterfall
- Mount Meru Waterfall · waterfall
- Tululusia Waterfall · waterfall
- Arusha National Park · nature reserve
- Duluti Arusha Forest · nature reserve
- Boma la Megi viewpont · viewpoint
- Kilimanjaro Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Panorama View Tower · viewpoint
- View to Lake Duluti · viewpoint
- Arusha Tours (Hidden Arusha Waterfall, Coffee & Village Tour - All-Inclusive) · attraction
- HKFARMS · attraction
- Main Gate · city gate
- Mount Meru Ashcone · volcano
- car park · city gate

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Meru District
- Time zone UTC+3, no daylight saving · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
- Currency Shilling (TZS)
- Country calling code +255
- Languages Swahili, English, Arabic
- Plug types Type G · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) · Arusha 22 km
- Arusha Airport (ARK) · Arusha 30 km

### Nearest railway station

Usa River, Arusha (Usariver), about 8.7 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.3 hours, sunrise around 06:18) and shortest in Jun (about 11.9 hours, sunrise around 06:34, sunset around 18:30).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Wards of Meru District
| Ward | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| Akheri | 18 | 2 | 20 |
| Kikatiti | 59 | 3 | 8 |
| Kikwe | 77 | 6 | 10 |
| King'ori | 172 | 9 | 19 |
| Leguruki | 78 | 7 | 12 |
| Maji ya chai | 85 | 6 | 35 |
| Makiba | 115 | 2 | 6 |
| Maroroni | 117 | 3 | 14 |
| Mbuguni | 59 | 3 | 8 |
| Ngarenanyuki | 271 | 9 | 22 |
| Nkoanrua | 11 | 3 | 6 |
| Nkoaranga | 29 | 4 | 10 |
| Nkoarisambu | 8.4 | 1 | 3 |
| Poli | 14 | 3 | 18 |
| Seela Sing'isi | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| Songoro | 114 | 3 | 7 |
| Usariver | 28 | 2 | 26 |

Source: Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

## Villages and localities in Meru District

Open gazetteers list 68 villages, towns and localities in Meru District. The largest with a recorded population: Mbuguni (49,801), Kingori (22,839), Usa River (21,000), Nkoaranga (14,738) and Poli (9,568). Settlements here lie between about 921 m and 1,481 m above sea level (median 1,210 m).
- Engare Nanyuki
- Imbaseny, Maji ya Chai
- Karangai
- Karangai, Kikwe
- Kikatiti
- Kilala
- Kilinga
- King'ori, King'ori
- Kingori
- Kipande Nnkoavele
- Kisimiri
- Kisimiri Juu, Ngarenanyuki
- Kitefu, Maji ya Chai
- Kolila, King'ori
- Kwa Ugoro, Maroroni
- Lakitatu, Usa River
- Leguruki
- Lekuruki
- Maji ya Chai, Maji ya Chai
- Makiba, Makiba
- Makumira
- Malula
- Mareu, King'ori
- Maroroni, Maroroni
- Maruvango, Leguruki
- Maweni, Kikwe
- Mbaaseny, Leguruki
- Mbuguni
- Mikungani, Mbugani
- Miririny
- Momella, Ngarenanyuki
- Msitu wa Mbogo
- Mulala
- Muungano
- Mwakeny, Ngarenanyuki
- Nambala
- Ndoombo Nkoarisambu, Nkoanrua
- Ngabobo
- Ngejisosia, King'ori
- Ngongongare, Maji ya Chai
- Ngurdoto, Maji ya Chai
- Ngyeku, Kikatiti
- Nkoanekoli
- Nkoanrua
- Nkoansiyo, King'ori
- Nkoaranga
- Nkoasenga, Leguruki
- Nsengonyi
- Nshupu, Nkoaranga
- Olkung'wado
- Olkung´wado, Ngarenanyuki
- Patandi, AKheri
- Patanumbe, Makiba
- Poli
- Sakila, Kikatiti
- Samaria, Maroroni
- Sangananu, Nkoaranga
- Seela
- Shambarai Burka, Mbuguni
- Shangarai
- Shishitony, leguruki
- Singisi, Seela Sing Isi
- Tengeru
- Tuvaila
- Urisho
- Usa River
- Uwirio, Ngarenanyuku
- Valeska, Kikwe

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Meru District

Named natural and historic features inside Meru District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

14 rivers and streams; 3 lakes.
- Chai
- Chai Kidogo
- Kigeri
- Kingori River
- Kisimiri
- Lake Longil
- Lake Momella Kubwa
- Lake Momella Ndoga
- Magdireshu
- Malala
- Maniere
- Mbembe
- Mokumira
- Nambala
- Nduruma River
- Tengeru
- Usa

### Hills and mountains

7 hills; 2 peaks.
- Meru West · 3,349 m
- Songe · 1,805 m
- Songoro · 1,646 m
- Leguroki · 1,614 m
- Leitong · 1,595 m
- Ruasambo · 1,564 m
- Great Domberg · 1,378 m
- Chimumbu · 1,328 m
- Meruni · 1,323 m

### Forests and nature

3 forest reserves; 1 park.
- Meru Forest Reserve
- Ngurdoto Crater National Park
- Nguru Sambu Local Authority Forest Reserve
- Sakila Meru Local Authority Forest Reserve

### Getting around

2 railway stations.
- Tengeru
- Usa

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Meru District and the best time to visit

In Meru District, the warmest month is Feb (average 24 °C) and the coolest is Jul (19 °C). About 869 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Apr (147 mm) and the driest Jul (9 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are December to March and May to October.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 24 | 88 |
| Feb | 24 | 73 |
| Mar | 23 | 105 |
| Apr | 22 | 147 |
| May | 20 | 90 |
| Jun | 19 | 18 |
| Jul | 19 | 9 |
| Aug | 20 | 14 |
| Sep | 22 | 17 |
| Oct | 23 | 66 |
| Nov | 23 | 133 |
| Dec | 23 | 110 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Meru District

Places mapped inside Meru District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 6
- Banks 3
- ATMs 1
- Petrol pumps 14
- Hotels 45
- Schools 134
- Colleges and universities 8
- Pharmacies 2
- Restaurants 12
- Police stations 2

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers
- Where is Meru District? In Arusha Region, Tanzania
- What is the population of Meru District? 312,524 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Meru District? About 20 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Meru District? About 247 people per km²
- What borders Meru District? Arusha District, Arusha Urban District, Hai District, Longido District, Siha District and Simanjiro District
- What is there to see in Meru District? Arusha National Park, Arusha Tours (Hidden Arusha Waterfall, Coffee & Village Tour - All-Inclusive), Boma la Megi viewpont, Duluti Arusha Forest
- What time zone is Meru District in? UTC+3
- What currency is used in Meru District? Shilling (TZS)
- What language is spoken in Meru District? Swahili, English, Arabic (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Meru District? 68 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Meru District? Settlements lie between 921 m and 1,481 m
- What is the highest point in Meru District? Meru West (3,349 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Meru District? December to March and May to October
- How many hospitals are in Meru District? 6 mapped
- How many banks are in Meru District? 3 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Meru District? 1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Meru District? 14 mapped
- What is the P-code of Meru District? TZ0202 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 1,267.1 km²
- P-code: TZ0202
- Region: Arusha Region

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/arusha/meru/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.