Why visit Lindi
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 3 parks and trails, 18 places to eat and 23 places to stay in and around town.
Weather in Lindi
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Lindi
is a historic coastal town in southern Tanzania and the administrative center of the Lindi Region, the least populated region in the country. Situated at the head of Lindi Bay along the Indian Ocean, the town is located approximately 105 kilometers (65 miles) north of Mtwara, the southernmost coastal town in Tanzania, and about 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of Dar es Salaam, the nation's largest city.
From the Wikipedia article Lindi (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Lindi on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Lindi
Museums and landmarks1
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes18
6 more on the map.
Where to stay23
11 more on the map.
History
Lindi was founded in the 11th century. There is no record of a previous name of the Swahili town. In the 17th century, the town was renamed by the Omani Arab colonizers as Lindi meaning "deep channel". The Omanis dominated local people and used the location as a port to sell and transport ivory and slaves to the global market.
With the coming of the German occupation in the 19th century, and later on the British occupation after World War I, the town was the administrative capital of the southern province until 1952 when it was moved to Mtwara City due to its favorable harbor potential in Lindi Bay. In 1971, ten years after independence, the Nyerere administration made Lindi the regional seat for Lindi Region. However, in the following year of 1972, due to a socialist policy, urban councils were abolished in favor of rural development, negatively affecting the economy of the town. However, in 1978, urban councils were reintroduced.
From the History section of Lindi on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Lindi
Geography
Lindi is located at the mouth of the Lukuledi River. Located on Lindi Bay. Its port facilities are still rudimentary, allowing one or two small cargo and passenger boats at a time, and ocean-going ships cannot be accommodated. The region was once an important area for sisal-producing plantations, especially in Kikwetu, the Lindi airstrip, which lies 25 kilometers north of the town. Around 2012, Lindi was finally linked to Dar es Salaam by a continuous tarmac road, making Lindi accessible throughout the rainy season. An older tarmac road connects Lindi to Mtwara City, passing through Mikindani, an important historic Swahili settlement in Mtwara Region. The Rondo Forest Reserve is an important site of biodiversity which is located at the Rondo Plateau in the southern Lindi Region. Part of a Coastal Forest mosaic, the Rondo Plateau rises sharply from sea level to about 885 metres or 2,900 feet and therefore features a unique microclimate.
Economy
The main economic activities are fishing, salt production, and the farming of coconut, cashew nuts, and roselles.
The 2012 national census reported the town to have a population of 78,841.
From the Wikipedia article Lindi, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Lindi
Narendra Patel, Baron PatelBritish obstetrician and life peerPhoto: Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0- Alan JohnstonBritish journalist
- RumalizaAfrican slave trader
- Mustafa Jaffer SabodoTanzanian businessman (1942–2024)
- Saidi Mohamed MtandaTanzanian Member of Parliament
Born in Lindi, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Churches and places of worship6
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare11
Map of Lindi
83 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kikwetu Airport (LDI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 km away.
- Mingoyo 16 km southwest, about 16 min by car
- Mtama 51 km southwest, about 51 min by car
- Mtwara 59 km southeast, about 59 min by car
- Nyangao 60 km southwest, about 1 h by car
- Nanganga 75 km southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Nanyamba 77 km south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Kitama 80 km south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Mbekenyera 80 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Madimba 81 km southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Tandahimba 84 km south, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Lindi
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Scene in Lindi, Tanzania (2), Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Scene in Lindi, Tanzania, Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Scene in Lindi, Tanzania (3), Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Scene in Lindi, Tanzania (4), Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Scene in Lindi, Tanzania (5), Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lindi Street, Khalidsalewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Building in Makonde ward Lindi, Halidtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old German Building in Mikumbi Ward, Lindi Town, Halidtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Makonde Ward, Lindi Town, Halidtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Msanjihili Ward, Lindi Town, Halidtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old building in Msanjihili Ward, Lindi, Halidtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lindi Main Street beach, Khalidsalewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lindi Main Street Scene, Khalidsalewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Little Lindi Town Bridge, Khalidsalewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nachingwea ward, Lindi, Halidtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lindi Bay, Khalidsalewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Birds Eye View of Lindi Town, Khalidsalewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lindi Vista from Mwenge Ward, Lindi Urban, Halidtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ruin of government building built by former German colonists, Grahamcole, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ngande Coco Beach, Khalidsalewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS035-E-7734 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS035-E-7735 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-193621 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.