Tabora Region

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Tabora Region
Mkoa wa Tabora (Swahili)
Tabora Railway Station Front, Cheyo Ward.jpg
King Mirambo Avenue, Kitete Ward.jpg
Tabora Hotel, Cheyo Ward.jpg
From top to bottom:
Tabora Railway Station, Avenue in Tabora and historic Tabora Hotel
Etymology: Sweet potatoes
Nickname: 
The Honey region
Tanzania Tabora location map.svg
Location in Tanzania
Coordinates: 5°2′33″S32°49′10.92″E / 5.04250°S 32.8197000°E / -5.04250; 32.8197000
CountryFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
ZoneCentral
Named for The town of Tabora
Capital Tabora
Districts
Area
  Total72,150 km2 (27,860 sq mi)
  Rank 1st
Highest elevation
(Mpunde)
1,627 m (5,338 ft)
Population
 (2022)
  Total3,391,679
  Rank 3rd
  Density47/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym Taboran
Ethnic groups
  Settler Swahili, Arabs
  Native Nyamwezi & Sukuma
Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)
Postcode
45xxx
Area code 026
ISO 3166 code TZ-24
HDI (2018)0.482 [1]
low · 25th of 25
Website Official website
SymbolsofTanzania
Bird
White-browed Coucal SS.jpg
White-browed Coucal
Butterfly
Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus) on elephant dung ... (46904462332), crop.jpg
Citrus Swallowtail
Fish Malagarasi sardine
Mammal
Grazing Zebra.png
Zebra
Tree
Afzelia quanzensis 5Dsr 3915.jpg
Mahogany bean
Mineral
Silver crystal.jpg
Silver

Tabora Region (Mkoa wa Tabora in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is the municipality of Tabora. The region is located in mid-western part of Tanzania. Tabora is bordered by Shinyanga to the north, Singida to the east, Mbeya and Songwe to the south. lastly, Katavi, Kigoma and Geita, border Tabora to the west. Tabora is by far the largest region in Tanzania by area. Most of the population in the region is concentrated in the north in Nzega district. According to the 2022 national census, Tabora Region had a population of 3,391,679. [2] [3]

Contents

Etymology

The name "Tabora" (Nyamwezi language: Matoborwa) meaning sweet potatoes, a common food ingredient among the Nyamwezi people. Foreigners corrupted the world " matoborwa" into Tobora and later turned it to Tabora, the name of the region today. [4]

Geography

Geology and terrain

Tabora Region is located on the central plateau of at the latitude between 4 and 7 degrees south of the equator. Majority of the region's land area is between 1000m to 1500 m above sea-level. Tabora Region has an area of 76,151 square kilometres (29,402 sq mi), [5] the region is slightly larger than the Central American country of Panama (75,417 square kilometres (29,119 sq mi)). Therefore, with its 76,151-square-kilometre (29,402 sq mi) size, Tabora Region is Tanzania's largest region by area.

Tabora Region is in the central-western part of the country. The highest point in Tabora Region is Wumbo peak at 1395m located in eastern Sikonge District. The most prominent mountain is Mount Kizuge located in northern Tabora in Nzega District. [6]

The longest river in Tabora Region is the Ugalla River which feeds in to the lake Tanganyika drainage basin. Other major rivers in Tabora territory are the Malagarasi River which forms the western border with Kigoma Region, in the north is the Wembere River and in the north is the Gombe River. [4] Another prominent river is the Manonga River which drains east into lake Eyasi in Arusha Region. However, most of rivers in Tabora dry up during the dry season. The Malagarasi swamp is the largest Swamp in Tabora Region and one of the largest in Tanzania. Tabora borders a small eastern part of Lake Sagara.

Flora and fauna

Forest reserves cover 34,698 square kilometres (13,397 sq mi) (46% of the region), and game reserves cover 17,122 square kilometres (6,611 sq mi) (22% of the region). [7] As of 2019, Two national Parks are now located in parts of Tabora Region. [8] Ugalla River National Park is located in South western Tabora shared with northeast Katavi Region. Kigosi Game Reserve, which is officially a national park is located in north western Tabora, shared with southern Geita Region. The vegetation in Tabora is mostly Miombo woodland. however, there is a thick impenetrable shrub-land area in the northeast called the Itigi thicket. Tabora is home to birds like the White-browed coucal, which is also the regional bird.

Climate

Tabora Region has a tropical savanna climate with the Köppen climate classification of Aw. The total average annual precipitation in Western Tabora is 1010mm. [9] While its 700mm or less in east Tabora towards the Singida border. The daily mean temperature is 23 degree Celsius.

Demographics

Population

According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 2,291,623, which was lower than the pre-census projection of 2,539,715 . [3] :page 2 For 2002–2012, the region's 2.9 percent average annual population growth rate was the ninth-highest in the country. [3] :page 4 It was also the 24th-most-densely-populated region with 30 people per square kilometre. [3] :page 6 The region's average household size of 6.0 persons was the third-highest in the country. [3] :page 8

CensusPopulation [10]
1978817,907
19881,036,150
20021,710,465
20122,291,623
20223,391,679

Economy

Despite being the largest region in the country by area, Tabora Region was the 11th largest economy in Tanzania with a regional GDP of TSh 4.7 trillion in 2018. Tabora Region contributes 3.7% to the national economy. [11] Tabora has a GDP per capita of US$2,185 (PPP), ranking 19/23 on the mainland.

Agriculture

Tabora Region's largest employer is agriculture at 64% of the economic activities in the region, mainly in commercial and food crops, together with livestock. [12] Major crops grown in Tabora are maize, mainly for domestic consumption. Major cash crops are groundnuts, cassava, beans, tobacco, rice, sunflower oil and cotton. Cattle herding is not a major part of Tabora's economy, but a part of the resident's traditional lifestyle. Most of the cattle are the local Zebu breed, that is drought resistant and pest resistance compared to the imported European breeds in other regions. Lack of permanent rivers and lakes have further hindered the development of efficient agriculture in the region. However, Mwamapuli provides water for Igunga district and Igombe Dam provides water for Tabora City.

Forestry and honey production

Tabora is home to some of the largest miombo forests in Africa and the largest forest reserve in Tanzania. The region is one of the largest supplier of natural timber and the largest honey producer in Tanzania, producing 13,5000 tons in 2008. Tabora has a very productive bee keeping industry in the region, thus earning the nick name the honey region. [13] Tabora produces half of all honey products in Tanzania. Tanzania is the second largest honey producer in Africa producing 27,000 tons in 2008, after Ethiopia which produces 44,000 Tons. Tabora produces unprocessed honey which is exported to Arusha City and Dar es Salaam City to be processed for export and domestic use. [13] The Companies in Tabora honey production are Jempem Enterptises Ltd and Tabora Pure Honey. [14]

Government

As of 2021, the regional commissioner of Tabora is Batilda Buriani.

Administrative divisions

Districts

Tabora Region is divided into seven districts, each administered by a council:

Districts of Tabora Region
MapDistrictPopulation
(2012)
Population
(2022) [15]
Tabora-Region.svg Igunga District 399,727546,204
Kaliua District 393,358678,447
Nzega District 502,252699,691
Sikonge District 179,883335,686
Tabora Municipal 226,999308,741
Urambo District 192,781260,322
Uyui District 396,623562,588
Total2,291,6233,391,679

Notable persons from Tabora Region

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Tanzania</span>

Tanzania comprises many lakes, national parks, and Africa's highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro. Northeast Tanzania is mountainous, while the central area is part of a large plateau covered in grasslands. The country also contains the southern portion of Lake Victoria on its northern border with Uganda and Kenya.

Transport in Tanzania includes road, rail, air and maritime networks. The road network is 86,472 kilometres (53,731 mi) long, of which 12,786 kilometres (7,945 mi) is classified as trunk road and 21,105 kilometres (13,114 mi) as regional road. The rail network consists of 3,682 kilometres (2,288 mi) of track. Commuter rail service is in Dar es Salaam only. There are 28 airports, with Julius Nyerere International being the largest and the busiest. Ferries connect Mainland Tanzania with the islands of Zanzibar. Several other ferries are active on the countries' rivers and lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kagera Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Kagera Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 35,686 km2 (13,778 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the land area of the Netherlands. Kagera Region is bordered to the east by Lake Victoria, Mwanza Region and Mara Region. The region is bordered to the south by Geita Region and Kigoma Region. Lastly, Kagera borders Rwanda to the west, Uganda to the north and Burundi to the south west. The regional capital city is Bukoba. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 2,989,299, an increase from 2,458,023 recorded in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sukuma people</span> Ethnic group of Tanzania

The Sukuma are a Bantu ethnic group from the southeastern African Great Lakes region. They are the largest ethnic group in Tanzania, with an estimated 10 million members or 16 percent of the country's total population. Sukuma means "north" and refers to "people of the north." The Sukuma refer to themselves as Basukuma (plural) and Nsukuma (singular).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabora</span> City of Tabora Region in Tanzania

Tabora is the capital of Tanzania's Tabora Region and is classified as a municipality by the Tanzanian government. It is also the administrative seat of Tabora Urban District. According to the 2012 census, the district had a population of 226,999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kigoma Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Kigoma Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is the city of Kigoma. Kigoma Region borders Kagera Region, Geita Region, Katavi Region, Tabora Region, DRC and Burundi According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 2,127,930, which was higher than the pre-census projection of 1,971,332. For 2002-2012, the region's 2.4 percent average annual population growth rate was tied for the fourteenth highest in the country. It was also the sixteenth most densely populated region with 57 people per square kilometer. With a size of 45,066 square kilometres (17,400 sq mi), the region is slightly smaller than Estonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbeya Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Mbeya Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 35,954 km2 (13,882 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Guinea Bissau. Mbeya Region is bordered to the east by Singida Region, Iringa Region and Njombe Region. The region is bordered to the south by Malawi and Lake Nyasa. To the north the region borders southern Tabora Region. Lastly, Mbeya is bordered to the west by Songwe Region. The regional capital is the city of Mbeya. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 2,343,754.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mwanza Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Mwanza Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers a land area of 25,233 km2 (9,743 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of North Macedonia. Mwanza Region is bordered to the north through Lake Victoria by the Kagera Region and Mara Region, to the east by Simiyu Region, to the south by the Shinyanga Region and to the west by Geita Region. The regional capital is the city of Mwanza. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 3,699,872 and national census of 2012 had 2,772,509. Mwanza Region is the second region with high population in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urambo District</span> District of Tabora Region, Tanzania

Urambo is one of the seven districts of the Tabora Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by the Kaliua District, to the east by the Uyui District, to the southeast by the Sikonge District, and to the southwest by the Katavi Region. Its administrative seat is the town of Urambo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikonge District</span> District in Tabora Region, Tanzania

Sikonge District is one of the seven districts of the Tabora Region of Tanzania. The town of Sikonge is the administrative seat. The district has an area of 27,873 square kilometres (10,762 sq mi), but 26,834 square kilometres (10,361 sq mi) of it is in forest and game reserves. It is bordered to the northwest by Urambo District, to the north by Uyui District, to the east by Manyoni District of Singida Region, to the south by Chunya District of Mbeya Region, and to the southwest by Mlele District of Katavi Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabora Urban District</span> District in Tabora Region, Tanzania

Tabora Urban is one of the seven districts in the Tabora Region of Tanzania. This district is mostly the city of Tabora and its suburbs. It is bordered almost completely by the Uyui District. It has a small border with Nzega District to the north. Its administrative seat is the city of Tabora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malagarasi River</span> River in Tanzania, Burundi

The Malagarasi River is a river in western Tanzania, flowing through Kigoma Region, although one of its tributaries comes from southeastern Burundi. The river also forms the western border of Tabora Region, the southern border of Kagera Region and the southwestern border of Geita Region. It is the second-longest river in Tanzania behind the Rufiji—Great Ruaha, and has the largest watershed of any river flowing into Lake Tanganyika. The Malagarasi-Muyovozi Wetlands are a designated a Ramsar site. Local tribes have nicknamed the Malagarasi as "the river of bad spirits".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvinza</span> District of Kigoma Region, Tanzania

Uvinza is one of the eight administrative districts of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. Uvinza is bordered to the northwest by Kigoma District and Kigoma-Ujiji District. North of the district is bordered by Kasulu District. Lake Tanganyika borders the district on the west. Mpanda District in Katavi Region boders the district to the south and Kaliua District in Tabora Region borders the district to the east. The district is named in honor of the Vinza people whom the western part of district was their historic kingdom. Southern Uvinza District is home to the Mahale Mountains National Park. A unique park that is home to both Chimpanzees and lions in the same habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Tanzania</span> Overview of and topical guide to Tanzania

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The Kigosi National Park (Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Kigosi, In Swahili) is a national park located in Shinyanga Region, Geita Region and northwest Tabora Region of Tanzania. In 2019, Kigosi National Park was created. Kigosi National Park was established in 2019. It is a part of the Moyowosi/Malagarasi wetlands complex, which is the largest wetlands complex in East Africa, and has an area of 8,265 km2. The Malagarasi, Moyowosi, Nikonga, Ugalla, Kigosi, Nikonga, and Gombe are seven slow-moving rivers that meander through a vast and intricate network of marshes, plains lakes, and woodlands. These rivers should not be confused with the Gombe Stream National Park where the chimpanzees live. These rivers eventually combine to form the Malagarasi River, which empties into Ilagala's Lake Tanganyika. With a total area of almost 92,000 square kilometers, the wetland system is larger than the entire country of Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Tanzania</span>

Tanzania contains some 20 percent of the species of Africa's large mammal population, found across its reserves, conservation areas, marine parks, and 17 national parks, spread over an area of more than 42,000 square kilometres (16,000 sq mi) and forming approximately 38 percent of the country's territory. Wildlife resources of Tanzania are described as "without parallel in Africa" and "the prime game viewing country". Serengeti National Park, the country's second largest national park area at 14,763 square kilometres (5,700 sq mi), is located in northern Tanzania and is famous for its extensive migratory herds of wildebeests and zebra while also having the reputation as one of the great natural wonders of the world. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, established in 1959, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and inhabited by the Maasai people. Its Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geita Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Geita Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 20,054 km2 (7,743 sq mi)."Geita Region Size". The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Slovenia. Geita Region is bordered to the east by Lake Victoria, Mwanza Region and Shinyanga Region. The region is bordered by Tabora Region and Kigoma Region to the south and south west respectively. Lastly, Gieta is borders Kagera Region to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katavi Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Katavi Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 45,843 km2 (17,700 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Estonia. Katavi Region is bordered to the east by Tabora Region. The region is bordered to the south by Rukwa Region and Songwe Region. Lastly, Katavi borders DRC on Lake Tanganyika to the west. The region derives its name from Katavi, the spirit of lake Tanganyika. The regional capital city is Mpanda. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 1,152,958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaliua District</span> District in Tabora Region, Tanzania

Kaliua District is one of the seven districts of the Tabora Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by Kahama and Ushetu Districts, to the east by Uyui District and Urambo District, to the south by Katavi Region and to the west by Uvinza District and Geita Region. Its administrative seat is the town of Kaliua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nsimbo District</span> District in Katavi, Tanzania

Nsimbo District is a district council in the Katavi Region of Tanzania's Southern Highlands established in 2012. The district lies in the middle of the region east of the city of Mpanda. It is a tropical environment of mostly forest reserves and agricultural economy.

References

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  6. "Tabora Peaks". Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  7. "Tabora Overview", Invest in Tabora - Tanzania, Tabora Municipal Council Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine
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  14. "Jempem Enterprises Ltd". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  15. https://www.nbs.go.tz/nbs/takwimu/Census2022/Administrative_units_Population_Distribution_Report_Tanzania_volume1a.pdf