Katavi, Tanzania · Africa
Mpanda sits on the route: 1 hours from Usevia.
Mpanda is a city located in Katavi, Tanzania. With a population of 204,338, it is an important destination in Africa.
On a road trip, Mpanda sits in Tanzania. It's in the Africa/Dar es Salaam time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Mpanda to your route.
Mpanda is a city in Katavi Region of Tanzania, East Africa with a postcode number 50100. It is the administrative centre of Katavi Region, Mpanda District and is itself one of the four districts of the region.
Mpanda is a "frontier town" in the far west of Tanzania, roughly 500 km north of Mbeya and 380 km south-westRead more
of Tabora. It is the administrative headquarters for the Katavi Region, (created by subdivision of the Rukwa Region in 2012), and for the Mpanda District. It is an important centre in the rural economy, especially for the marketing and transshipment of rice and maize. The Katavi region is increasingly of interest to mineral prospectors, especially for gold. It is also a staging point for visiting the beautiful Katavi National Park, with its headquarters just 35 km to the south at Sitalike. The Park has a good cross-section of East African wildlife but is perhaps best known for its populations of hippopotamus.
As yet all roads into Mpanda (from Sumbawanga, Tabora or Kigoma) remain unsealed and may for brief periods become impassable at the height of the wet season (particularly February–March). The Tanzanian government has in progress a project to seal a large part of the road north from Sumbawanga. Sumry operate two daily bus services to Sumbawanga (240 km 5 hours), one of those going on to Mbeya. Several bus lines operate to Tabora (380 km, 9 hours). Local services include minibuses to Sitalike, and daily bus services to Usevya and to the fishing villages of Karema and Ikola on Lake Tanganyika. Mpanda is the endpoint of a rail line with passenger services from Tabora (approx 12-15 hours). In 2012 the government completed an upgrade of Mpanda airport to a 2 km sealed runway and a commercial air service has commenced.
Mpanda was made the centre of a new Catholic Diocese in October 2000 and boasts a very fine cathedral with magnificent pictorial windows. The town is also the centre for the Anglican Diocese of Lake Rukwa created in June 2010. There is a fine Moravian church and other Christian services are provided by Lutheran, African Inland Church and Tanzania Assemblies of God. Muslim people are well served by several mosques spread through the urban area.
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Mpanda.
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Mpanda.
Mpanda offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
Plan your road trip to Mpanda with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Mpanda as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Mpanda is located in Katavi, Tanzania, Africa. The coordinates are -6.3438 latitude, 31.0695 longitude.
Mpanda has a population of approximately 204,338 people, making it a city in Tanzania.
Add to your itinerary
Start planning your road trip with Mpanda as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Start Road TripDiscover destinations like Tinder
Swipe through stunning destinations near Mpanda. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Other places to explore near Mpanda.
Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.
Start Planning