Karatu District in Arusha Region

Karatu District in Arusha Region became an administrative council in 1997. The council was officially registered in 2000 after general  election. The district Headquarter is located at Karatu Town which is 150 km from Arusha city. The road from Arusha via Karatu to Mwanza and Musoma passes through the Town which makes Karatu Town active business center.

Location and Area: The district is located south of the Equator between latitudes 3.10 degrees-4.00⁰S and Longitudes 34.47⁰-35.56⁰E. The district is bordered by Mbulu District to the South, Iramba and Meatu districts  to the North West, Ngorongoro to the North and Monduli district and Babati district to the South East.  The district is estimated to have an area of approximately  3,300 square kilometers, with Lake Eyasi occupying about 10.6 sq.km.

Climate of Karatu District in Arusha Regions: The climate varies from one area to another in the district.  In Eyasi basin the annual rainfall received is between 300mm/and 400mm.per annum while in Karatu Town it ranges between 900mm/ and 1000mm/ per year . In April the rain intensity can be very high enough to cause great erosion. In most places short and Long rain are separated by one or two months  of slightly less rainfall. The district experiences four seasons, which are short rains which extends from November to December , short and hot dry period from January to March and mid- May while the Long and cold seasons occurs from June to October.