Lindi Town – History, Economy, Geography, People and More

Lindi is a coastal town in southern Tanzania and regional capital situated at the endpoint of Lindi Bay, along the Indian Ocean in the country’s southeast. The city is 450km (280 mi) in the south of Dar es Salaam and 105 km (65 mi) in the north of Mtwara, a southernmost town on the coast of Tanzania, and shares a name with the surrounding Lindi Region, among the most prominent regions in the country and most sparsely populated.

In this article, you’ll learn about the history, economy, and culture of Lindi Town. You’ll also find some lindi tanzania photos!

History

Swahili people founded Lindi Town in the 11th century, who traded on the coast with many people around the Indian Ocean as part of the Swahili civilization. There is no record of the prior name for the Swahili town. It was potentially named after the ancestors of the native Mwinyi. During the 17th century, the area was later given a new name by Omani Arab colonialists as Lindi to mean “deep channel”. People from Oman dominated native people and utilized the area to sell and transport slaves and ivory to the world market.

After the Germans’ arrival and later the British rule, the town became an administrative capital for the southern province up to 1952 when the British relocated to Mtwara City for the potential for a favorable harbor compared to Lindi Bay. A decade after independence in 1971 during the Nyerere administration, Lindi Town was made the regional home for Lindi Region. Yet, the next year in 1972 because of the socialism policy, there was the abolition of urban councils replaced with rural development, it negatively affected the town’s economy. By 1978, there was the reintroduction of lindi district urban councils.

Economy

The primary economic activities of Lindi Town Include fishing, salt production, coconut production, and local government and municipal administration. The town’s population was 78,841 according to the national census of 2012.

Geography

The town sits at the mouth of River Lukuledi. Lindi Bay, still has rudimentary port facilities, supporting one or two tiny cargo boats and a passenger boat at a time, and can’t accommodate ocean-bound ships. The region used to be an essential sisal-producing area, especially in Kikwetu, around the Lindi airport, 25km north of the town. Around 2012, Lindi Africa was eventually connected to Dar es Salaam by a continuous tarmac road, making accessing the city possible during the rainy season.

An ancient tarmac road connects Lindi Town to Mtwara City, goes through Mikindani, a historic Swahili community in Mtwara Region. Rondo Forest Reserve, is a crucial site for biodiversity located at Rondo Plateau, situated in the southern area of Lindi Region.you will know better if you set your eyes on the Lindi Region map or perhaps visit the place. A portion of the Coastal Forest mosaic, Rondo Plateau rises sharply above sea level to approximately 885m or 2,9000 ft thus enjoying a unique microclimate.

Lindi Tanzania Map

Check out this Lindi map:

Climate

Lindi has a tropical wet and dry or savanna climate. 

During the wet season, from November to May, the Lindi weather experiences heavy rainfalls. During the dry season, from June to October, the weather has lower humidity levels and less rainfall.

Administration

Lindi Town is split  into 18 administrative wards:

• Makonde
• Ndoro
• Mitandi
• Mikumbi
• Mwenge
• Rahaleo
• Matopeni
• Nachingwea
• Wailes
• Rasbura
• Jamhuri
• Mtanda
• Msinjahili
• Ng’apa
• Mingoyo
• Tandangongoro
• Mbanja
• Chikonji

Wamwera Lindi

The Mwera people are an ethnic group that primarily inhabit the coastal areas of Lindi Region in southeastern Tanzania. Those Mwera people who live on the coast are called “Wamwera” by other Mwera people.

The Mwera people traditionally practiced agriculture and fishing as their main sources of livelihood, with crops such as cassava, maize, and rice being cultivated.

Visiting Lindi

If you want to have fun during your Lindi vacations, there are multiple places you can stay at. One of the best hotels in Lindi is the Lindi beach resort, also known as the Sea View Beach Resort.

You can visit Lindi if you travel from Dar to Lindi. The distance from Dar es salaam to Lindi is short. Dar to Lindi km is just a 9.2 km distance. You can travel from dar es salaam to Lindi in just under 20 minutes. 

The distance between Lindi to Dar es salaam is 15 km, just a 30-minute drive. 

For more articles related to regions of Tanzania click here!