Home Arrow FAQs Arrow How many borders does Tanzania have?

How many borders does Tanzania have?

Tanzania, located in East Africa, is a country known for its vast savannahs, wildlife reserves, and rich cultural heritage. Geographically, Tanzania is strategically positioned in the heart of the African Great Lakes region and shares its borders with eight countries, making it one of the most connected nations in the region.

List of countries that border Tanzania

Kenya (Northeast)

  • Border Length: Approximately 769 kilometers
  • Key border towns: Namanga, Holili
  • Importance: Major tourism corridor linking Nairobi to Arusha and Maasai Mara to Serengeti

Uganda (Northwest)

  • Border Length: Around 396 kilometers
  • Shared feature: Border crosses Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake
  • Significance: Trade and water transport routes

Rwanda (Northwest)

  • Border Length: About 217 kilometers
  • Key crossing: Rusumo Border
  • Importance: Regional trade and part of East African Community (EAC) integration

Burundi (West)

  • Border Length: Roughly 451 kilometers
  • Known for: Shared culture and cross-border communities
  • Trade: Linked by road networks and informal market exchanges

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (West – across Lake Tanganyika)

  • Border Length: Approximately 459 kilometers (mostly via water)
  • Natural barrier: The border between Tanzania and the DRC lies entirely across Lake Tanganyika, making ferry transport the main link between ports like Kigoma (Tanzania) and Kalemie or Uvira (DRC).
  • Transport: Ferry and boat trade between Tanzanian port of Kigoma and DRC cities

Zambia (Southwest)

  • Border Length: About 338 kilometers
  • Main crossing: Tunduma–Nakonde border
  • Infrastructure: Key route for Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) and highway trade

Malawi (Southwest)

  • Border Length: Around 475 kilometers
  • Shared feature: There is an ongoing dispute between Tanzania and Malawi over the ownership of Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). Tanzania claims the border runs through the center of the lake, while Malawi claims sovereignty over the entire lake.
  • Dispute: Historical border disagreements over the lake territory

Mozambique (South)

  • Border Length: About 756 kilometers
  • Shared river: Ruvuma River marks part of the boundary
  • Crossings: Unity Bridge and several informal crossings

Maritime Border

In addition to its land neighbours, Tanzania boasts a signifi‌cant easterly coastli‌ne along the Indian Ocean. This coastli‌ne provide‌s access to major ports such as Dar es Salaam‌, Tanga, and Mtwara, and is crucial for intern‌ation‌al trade and tourism‌, includin‌g the popu‌lar island‌s of Zanzi‌bar, Pemba‌, and Mafi‌a.

Ta‌nzani‌a shares its borders with eight coun‌tries‌: Kenya, Uganda‌, Rwanda, Burun‌di, the Democra‌tic 

Republ‌ic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. These share‌d borders estab‌lish Tanza‌nia as a central figur‌e in regio‌nal trade, tran‌sport‌ation‌, and coop‌erati‌on through‌out East and Central Afri‌ca. Its strateg‌ic locatio‌n and exte‌nsive netw‌ork of connecti‌ons bolste‌r its impo‌rtanc‌e within the East African Comm‌unity (EAC‌) and the broad‌er African cont‌inent‌.

Related Articles

View more Arrow
Live Chat
COOKIE SETTINGS