Manyara Region, Administrative region in northern Tanzania
Manyara Region is an administrative territory in northern Tanzania that encompasses diverse landscapes including lakes, mountains, savannas, and forests distributed across the Great Rift Valley system. The terrain transitions between different ecological zones, creating varied habitats throughout the area.
This region was established in 2002 when authorities separated it from the former Arusha Region, creating an independent administrative territory with Babati as its capital. The administrative division allowed for more localized governance and development planning across the new district boundaries.
Several ethnic groups including Irakw, Assa, Gorowa, Mbugwe, Datooga, Maasai, and Barabaig call this region home and maintain their distinct ways of life. You can observe these differences in local markets, settlement patterns, and daily rituals throughout the area.
The region is accessible by paved roads connecting to major cities in the wider area. Visitors should allow extra time for travel, as routes wind through varied terrain and weather conditions can affect driving times.
The area contains Tanzania's only Tanzanite mining operations in the Mirerani Hills of Simanjiro District, where this rare blue gemstone is extracted from the earth. The stone is traded globally and represents a significant source of the region's economic activity.
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