# Mara Region, Tanzania – Population, Districts & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/

Region · Tanzania 

# Mara Region

Mara Region is a region of Tanzania. It had an estimated **2,189,740 people** in 2020 on 21,111 km² (about 104 per km²). Its main town is Musoma. It is divided into 7 districts. 616 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,678 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 2,189,740people (2020)
- 21,111km²
- 7districts
- 1,678mapped services

## How many people live in Mara Region?

Mara Region had an estimated **2,189,740 people** in 2020 — 3.7% of Tanzania, 12th of 31 regions. There are 1,029 women for every 1,000 men (above the Tanzania figure of 1,003). Spread over 21,111 km², that is about **104 people per km²**, 12th of 31 regions.

48.6% of people are children under 15 and 2.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 16 years (it is 18 across Tanzania). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 106 children and older people.

0–4 ****406,685**

5–9 ****354,740**

10–14 ****303,508**

15–19 ****240,844**

20–24 ****183,165**

25–29 ****138,520**

30–34 ****120,707**

35–39 ****100,931**

40–44 ****88,748**

45–49 ****64,531**

50–54 ****51,036**

55–59 ****40,858**

60–64 ****31,787**

65–69 ****24,782**

70–74 ****17,612**

75–79 ****12,481**

80+ ****8,805**

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-tza).

## Where is Mara Region?

Mara Region lies in [Tanzania](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/). It borders 2 other regions: [Arusha Region](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/arusha/) and [Simiyu Region](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/simiyu/). By area it is the 20th largest of 31 regions in Tanzania. It covers 2.4% of [Tanzania](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/). The centre of Mara Region is about 511 km in a straight line from Dodoma, the capital. The centre point is at 1.7623° S, 34.4519° E.

Source: [Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-tza).

## Things to see in and around Mara Region

OpenStreetMap lists 58 named sights in Mara Region: 24 attractions; 13 viewpoints; 6 caves; 4 monuments; 3 nature reserves; 3 waterfalls; 2 zoos; 1 museum; 1 memorial; 1 national park.

- Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Museum · museum
- Bwawa la lseresere · waterfall
- Mritunus · waterfall
- Mto Nyamoko · waterfall
- Serengeti National Park · national park
- Grumeti Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Ikona Wildlife Management Area · nature reserve
- Ikorongo Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Buraga · viewpoint
- Crossing 0 · viewpoint
- Crossing 1 · viewpoint
- Crossing 1 · viewpoint
- Crossing 3 · viewpoint
- Crossing 6A · viewpoint
- Crossing 6B · viewpoint
- Crossing 7B · viewpoint
- Hippopotame point · viewpoint
- Ikoma Fort · viewpoint
- RC Field Kwitete · viewpoint
- School Parade Area · viewpoint
- Serengeti Meeting Point · viewpoint
- Burere Hill · attraction
- Butiama Mwitongo · attraction
- Butiama chief Wanzagi Compound · attraction
- Gnus on migration · attraction
- Grazing Area · attraction
- Hippo Pool · attraction
- Hippo Viewing Loop · attraction
- Kemgesi Plain · attraction
- Kerenero Rocks · attraction

…and 28 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

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

## Know before you go: Mara Region

- Time zoneUTC+3, no daylight saving · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
- CurrencyShilling (TZS)
- Country calling code+255
- LanguagesSwahili, English, Arabic
- Plug typesType G · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports

- Mara Serena Lodge Airstrip (MRE) · Serena74 km
- Mwanza International Airport (MWZ) · Mwanza185 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.2 hours, sunrise around 06:30) and shortest in Jun (about 12.0 hours, sunrise around 06:41, sunset around 18:42).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 06:44 18:57 12.2 h 

Feb 06:51 19:01 12.2 h 

Mar 06:48 18:55 12.1 h 

Apr 06:40 18:44 12.1 h 

May 06:37 18:39 12.0 h 

Jun 06:41 18:42 12.0 h 

Jul 06:47 18:48 12.0 h 

Aug 06:45 18:48 12.1 h 

Sep 06:34 18:40 12.1 h 

Oct 06:23 18:32 12.1 h 

Nov 06:21 18:32 12.2 h 

Dec 06:30 18:43 12.2 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

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.

## Districts of Mara Region

District People per km² Area km² Wards Services 

[Bunda District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/bunda/) 428,592 138 3,096 28 228 

[Tarime District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/tarime/) 414,598 270 1,536 30 254 

[Serengeti District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/serengeti/) 341,404 31 11,168 28 600 

[Rorya District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/rorya/) 320,376 160 2,004 21 182 

[Butiam District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/butiam/) 292,641 135 2,170 20 180 

[Musoma District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/musoma/) 228,408 213 1,071 14 112 

[Musoma Urban District](https://wherepedia.org/tanzania/mara/musoma-urban/) 163,721 2,523 65 13 122 

Source: [Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics / UN OCHA ROSA via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-tza); [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-tza).

## Largest towns in Mara Region

- Bunda182,970
- Musoma164,172
- Tarime133,043
- Mugumu29,000
- Sirari25,000
- Matongo20,000
- Kibara17,211
- Nyamuswa16,507
- Butiama16,376
- Mugango10,550
- Issenye7,778

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Mara Region

Named natural and historic features inside Mara Region, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

65 rivers and streams; 3 dams.

- Angilera
- Beige
- Bologonja
- Bololedi
- Chana
- Gaboti
- Ibiso
- Issenye Dam
- Kiabati
- Kihete
- Kinungai
- Kitaji Dam
- Kukiogo
- Kwisaka
- Kwukmu
- Kyarano River
- Leinet
- Londan
- Londaner
- Machawa
- Makagera
- Makunga River
- Manchera River
- Manyoa

…and 44 more.

### Coast and islands

9 headlands; 5 islands; 1 bay.

- Buganbwe Island
- Bumbogo Point
- Buyaga Point
- Ishuka Point
- Kitahiro Bay
- Kurukiri Point
- Lukuba Island
- Misuri Point
- Mumberwa Point
- Mwengwa Island
- Nafuba Island
- Nansimo Point
- Sozihe Island
- Susi Point
- Ukuni Point

### Hills and mountains

142 hills.

- Lobo · 2,064 m
- Kuka · 1,880 m
- Erakatawya · 1,842 m
- Grumechen · 1,820 m
- Zirgoin · 1,815 m
- Tagari · 1,789 m
- Chanyari · 1,709 m
- Kuugaini · 1,670 m
- Nyarero · 1,618 m
- Mwibare · 1,613 m
- Sirari · 1,609 m
- Kibuna · 1,608 m
- Tarime · 1,608 m
- Ringwani · 1,571 m
- Chirureri · 1,556 m
- Kiruma · 1,553 m
- Pemba · 1,543 m
- Muganza · 1,524 m
- Nesheshaw · 1,524 m
- Chahaza · 1,510 m
- Sirori · 1,499 m
- Mgangi · 1,497 m
- Kiore · 1,492 m
- Mutuzu · 1,491 m

…and 118 more.

### Forests and nature

4 forest reserves; 1 park.

- Kurwirwi Forest Reserve
- Mugaberi Forest Reserve
- Nyabasi Forest Reserve
- Serengeti National Park
- Tarime Forest Reserve

### Getting around

6 airfields; 4 airports.

- Buhemba
- Grumeti River
- Kogatenge Airport
- Lamai
- Musoma Airport
- North Mara
- Sasakwa
- Seronera Airport
- Shirati
- Tarime

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

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

## Weather in Mara Region and the best time to visit

In Mara Region, the warmest month is Oct (average 25 °C) and the coolest is May (22 °C). About 937 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Mar (136 mm) and the driest Jul (18 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to February and May to October**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 23 92 

Feb 24 73 

Mar 24 136 

Apr 22 125 

May 22 63 

Jun 22 26 

Jul 23 18 

Aug 24 38 

Sep 24 48 

Oct 25 68 

Nov 23 125 

Dec 23 126 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Mara Region

Places mapped inside Mara Region in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals74
- Banks37
- ATMs4
- Petrol pumps31
- Hotels179
- Shopping malls1
- Schools1,130
- Colleges and universities10
- Cinemas8
- Pharmacies114
- Restaurants34
- Police stations43
- Dental clinics13

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Quick answers

- Where is Mara Region?In Tanzania
- What is the population of Mara Region?2,189,740 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Mara Region?About 16 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Mara Region?About 104 people per km²
- What borders Mara Region?Arusha Region and Simiyu Region
- What is there to see in Mara Region?Buraga, Burere Hill, Butiama Mwitongo, Butiama chief Wanzagi Compound
- What time zone is Mara Region in?UTC+3
- What currency is used in Mara Region?Shilling (TZS)
- What language is spoken in Mara Region?Swahili, English, Arabic (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Mara Region?Bunda
- What is the highest point in Mara Region?Lobo (2,064 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Mara Region?January to February and May to October
- How many hospitals are in Mara Region?74 mapped
- How many banks are in Mara Region?37 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Mara Region?4 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Mara Region?31 mapped
- What is the P-code of Mara Region?TZ20 (OCHA common operational dataset)