District · Ruvuma Region
# Tunduru District

Tunduru District is a district of Tanzania in Ruvuma Region. It had an estimated 360,350 people in 2020 on 18,427 km² (about 20 per km²). It is divided into 35 wards. 147 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 170 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 360,350 people (2020)
- 18,427 km²
- 35 wards
- 170 mapped services

## How many people live in Tunduru District?

Tunduru District had an estimated 360,350 people in 2020 — 21.3% of Ruvuma Region, 62nd of 168 districts. There are 1,032 women for every 1,000 men (above the Ruvuma Region figure of 1,011). Spread over 18,427 km², that is about 20 people per km², 155th of 168 districts.

42.2% of people are children under 15 and 4.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 19 across Ruvuma Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 87 children and older people.
- 0–4 50,007
- 5–9 54,072
- 10–14 48,063
- 15–19 35,745
- 20–24 27,718
- 25–29 27,582
- 30–34 23,487
- 35–39 21,352
- 40–44 17,110
- 45–49 14,328
- 50–54 10,361
- 55–59 7,871
- 60–64 7,657
- 65–69 6,288
- 70–74 4,238
- 75–79 2,597
- 80+ 1,874

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

## Where is Tunduru District?

Tunduru District lies in Ruvuma Region, Tanzania. It borders 4 other districts: Liwale District, Nachingwea District, Namtumbo District and Nanyumbu District. By area it is the 9th largest of 170 districts in Tanzania. It covers 29.3% of Ruvuma Region. The centre of Tunduru District is about 555 km in a straight line from Dodoma, the capital. It is about 191 km from Songea, the main town of Ruvuma Region. The centre point is at 10.8949° S, 37.3856° 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 Tunduru District

OpenStreetMap lists 4 named sights in Tunduru District: 4 nature reserves.
- Chingoli Wildlife Management Area · nature reserve
- Muhuwesi Nature Forest Reserve · nature reserve
- Mwambesi Nature Forest Reserve · nature reserve
- Nalika Widlife Management Area · nature reserve

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: Tunduru 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 (#####)

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.8 hours, sunrise around 06:02) and shortest in Jun (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 06:45, sunset around 18:15).

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 Tunduru District
| Ward | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| Jakika | 634 | 5 | 4 |
| Kalulu | 2,218 | 3 | 2 |
| Kidodoma | 280 | 5 | 6 |
| Ligoma | 316 | 4 | 4 |
| Ligunga | 675 | 6 | 4 |
| Lukumbule | 1,419 | 8 | 7 |
| Majengo | 8.6 | 0 | 9 |
| Marumba | 294 | 5 | 5 |
| Masonya | 923 | 2 | 5 |
| Matemanga | 179 | 6 | 4 |
| Mbati | 202 | 4 | 4 |
| Mbesa | 761 | 6 | 10 |
| Mchangani | 47 | 2 | 2 |
| Mchesi | 553 | 6 | 4 |
| Mchoteka | 330 | 6 | 9 |
| Mchuluka | 66 | 1 | 3 |
| Mindu | 536 | 1 | 4 |
| Misechela | 1,054 | 12 | 4 |
| Mlingoti Magharibi | 138 | 2 | 4 |
| Mlingoti Mashariki | 1.3 | 0 | 1 |
| Mtina | 349 | 11 | 8 |
| Muhuwesi | 1,663 | 6 | 8 |
| Nakapanya | 1,234 | 7 | 7 |
| Nakayaya | 28 | 0 | 3 |
| Nalasi Mashariki | 397 | 7 | 5 |
| Nalasi-Magharibi | 139 | 3 | 3 |
| Namasakata | 258 | 9 | 6 |
| Namiungo | 288 | 3 | 5 |
| Nampungu | 1,492 | 3 | 2 |
| Namwinyu | 915 | 5 | 8 |
| Nandembo | 205 | 4 | 5 |
| Nanjoka | 21 | 0 | 3 |
| Ngapa | 439 | 2 | 3 |
| Sisikwasisi | 146 | 2 | 3 |
| Tuwemacho | 214 | 6 | 6 |

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 Tunduru District

Open gazetteers list 147 villages, towns and localities in Tunduru District. The largest with a recorded population: Tunduru (48,000). Settlements here lie between about 304 m and 850 m above sea level (median 460 m).
- Amani
- Amka
- Angalia
- Azimio
- Bibi Kundenda
- Chamba
- Changarawe
- Cheleweni
- Chemchem
- Chikomo
- Chikwembeni
- Chilundundu
- Chilundundu Kaskazini
- Chilundundu Kusini
- Chingulungulu
- Chinjala
- Chinunje
- Chipelele
- Chitanda
- Chiwana
- Daraja Mbili
- Fundi Mbanga
- Fundimbanga
- Hdimikipiaji
- Hulia
- Ikugu
- Jakika
- Jaribuni
- Jila
- Jiungeni
- Kajima
- Katema
- Kibwana
- Kidodoma
- Kindamba
- Kipindimbi
- Kipojora
- Kitalo
- Kitanda
- Kitani
- Kiuma
- Kwitanda
- Legezamwendo
- Ligoma
- Ligunga
- Lijombo
- Liloya
- Lipepo
- Liwanga
- Liwangula
- Lukala
- Lukumbo
- Lukumbule
- Lusujila
- Machemba
- Mahauhau
- Majala
- Majimaji
- Makande
- Makoteni
- Malangane
- Malungwila
- Marumba
- Masima
- Masonya
- Masuguru
- Matambwe
- Matemanga
- Mautila
- Mbatamila
- Mbati
- Mbesa
- Mbungulaji
- Mchangani
- Mchekeni
- Mchengamoto
- Mchesi
- Mchoteka
- Mchuluka
- Mdabwa
- Mikangowla
- Mindu
- Misufini
- Misyaje
- Mkandu
- Mkasale
- Mkolola
- Mkotamo
- Mkowela
- Mkumba
- Mkwajuni
- Mnemasi
- Mnemba
- Mnenja
- Mnjenje
- Molani
- Mpanji
- Mpelembe
- Mrusha
- Msagula
- Msamala
- Msechela
- Mtalika
- Mtengashari
- Mtika
- Mtina
- Mtolela
- Mtwaro
- Muhesi
- Muungano
- Mwenge
- Naikula
- Nakangwenya
- Nakapanya
- Nalasi
- Naluwale
- Namakambale
- Namakungwa
- Namasakata
- Namasalau
- Namiungo
- Nampungu
- Namwinyu
- Nandembo
- Nangunguru
- Nasanga
- Nasomba
- Nasya
- Ndenyende
- Ngapa
- Ngwanga
- Njawanga
- Njenga
- Ntawia
- Nyerere
- Puchapucha
- Rahaleo
- Sasawara
- Semeni
- Sisikwasisi
- Tabora
- Tandika
- Tinginya
- Tunduru
- Tuwemacho
- Twendembele
- Undi

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Tunduru District

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

### Water

13 rivers and streams; 1 lake.
- Chawisi
- Lake Liteho
- Ligenye
- Ligoma
- Liwawi
- Masonya
- Mingoti
- Mitesa
- Mokungwe
- Mtetesi
- Namasakata
- Nampunga
- Nanyungu
- Sasawara River

### Hills and mountains

12 hills.
- Kihowera · 813 m
- Mcolimbo Hill · 766 m
- Matemango · 760 m
- Mbaya Hill · 463 m
- Mindu Hill · 446 m
- Namaundu Hill · 445 m
- Masangwe · 433 m
- Liwanga · 414 m
- Namasamba · 365 m
- Mchesi · 363 m
- Kisoti · 308 m
- Lipapa · 299 m

### Forests and nature

3 forest reserves.
- Muhuwesi Forest Reserve
- Mwambesi Forest Reserve
- Sasawara Forest Reserve

### Getting around

2 airfields.
- Matemanga
- Mbesa

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 Tunduru District and the best time to visit

In Tunduru District, the warmest month is Nov (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jul (21 °C). About 1,351 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (302 mm) and the driest Sep (5 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are May to October.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 25 | 302 |
| Feb | 25 | 235 |
| Mar | 24 | 251 |
| Apr | 24 | 185 |
| May | 22 | 40 |
| Jun | 21 | 19 |
| Jul | 21 | 7 |
| Aug | 23 | 8 |
| Sep | 25 | 5 |
| Oct | 27 | 35 |
| Nov | 28 | 66 |
| Dec | 26 | 199 |

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Tunduru District

Places mapped inside Tunduru District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 4
- Banks 1
- Petrol pumps 2
- Hotels 4
- Schools 158
- Colleges and universities 1

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 Tunduru District? In Ruvuma Region, Tanzania
- What is the population of Tunduru District? 360,350 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Tunduru District? About 19 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Tunduru District? About 20 people per km²
- What borders Tunduru District? Liwale District, Nachingwea District, Namtumbo District and Nanyumbu District
- What is there to see in Tunduru District? Chingoli Wildlife Management Area, Muhuwesi Nature Forest Reserve, Mwambesi Nature Forest Reserve, Nalika Widlife Management Area
- What time zone is Tunduru District in? UTC+3
- What currency is used in Tunduru District? Shilling (TZS)
- What language is spoken in Tunduru District? Swahili, English, Arabic (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Tunduru District? 147 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Tunduru District? Settlements lie between 304 m and 850 m
- What is the highest point in Tunduru District? Kihowera (813 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Tunduru District? May to October
- How many hospitals are in Tunduru District? 4 mapped
- How many banks are in Tunduru District? 1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Tunduru District? 2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Tunduru District? TZ1001 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 18,426.6 km²
- P-code: TZ1001
- Region: Ruvuma Region

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