Katete is a medium-sized town located in the Eastern Province of Zambia. It serves as the headquarters for the Katete District and is situated at an elevation of 1,060 meters on the watershed between the middle Luangwa River and the Zambezi.
The town is positioned along the Great East Road, approximately 90 kilometers southwest of Chipata, the provincial capital. It features a major road junction with a surfaced route that extends 50 kilometers to the Mozambique border and connects further southeast to Tete on the Zambezi River.
Geographically, Katete is situated at the foot of rocky hills to its east, including Kangarema Hill and Mpangwe Hill, which reach heights of 1,600 meters. These surrounding hills are characterized by cultivated fields.