Tunduma

Introduction

Tunduma sits in Tanzania's Songwe Region, right on the border with Zambia. It is a true crossroads: border posts here serve both the Tanzam Highway and the TAZARA railway, the two overland links between the two countries. The town also marks the junction for the tarmac road that runs via Sumbawanga through Tanzania's remote far western districts toward Kasulu and Kibondo in the north-west. Directly across the frontier lies Nakonde in Zambia.

Informally known as the "gateway to East Africa," Tunduma is one of the most famous border cities in the SADCC countries. Expect a busy, transit-driven atmosphere shaped by the constant movement of road and rail traffic between Tanzania and Zambia.

Three days in Tunduma

Day one: Arrive in Tunduma, a town in Tanzania's Songwe Region, sitting right on the border with Zambia. It is a busy crossing point where the Tanzam Highway and the TAZARA railway line meet, so expect plenty of movement and trade. Get your bearings along the main road, watch how goods and people flow between Tanzania and Zambia, and settle in for the night.

• Tunduma
• Tanzania
• Songwe Region
• Zambia
• Tanzam Highway
• TAZARA

Day two: Cross over to Nakonde, the Zambian town directly on the other side of the border. Informally, the two towns function as one continuous settlement, so you can walk between them and see how the crossing shapes daily life. Spend your time around the border area, then return to Tunduma for the evening.

• Nakonde
• Zambia
• Tunduma

Day three: Use Tunduma as a base for the wider region. The town lies on routes linking it to Sumbawanga, Kasulu and Kibondo, and it has long served as a crossroads for East Africa and SADCC trade. Take a final look at the junction of road and rail before continuing your journey.

• Sumbawanga
• Kasulu
• Kibondo
• East Africa
• SADCC
• Tanzam Highway
• TAZARA