Mahenge

Mahenge is a limestone plateau area in the Ulanga District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania, Africa. There is a town there of the same name. It is about south east of Singida, in the miombo woodland bio-region.

There is a forest reserve that begins 8 km from Mahenge town, called the Mahenge Scarp Catchment Forest Reserve, established in 1954. This forest has been heavily encroached upon for illegal logging and a planned graphite factory. There is also some mining of ruby gem stones.

There is a hospital, a market, and primary schools. A Catholic Capuchin mission was established around 1897, and there is now a St. Francis Kasita Seminary at Mahenge. The Diocese of Mahenge was established in 1964. About 60 percent of the population are Catholic Christians.

The dry season is June to October. Water is generally scarce due to the limestone plateau, but despite this the area gives its name to the Mahenge Toad (Mertensophryne loveridgei). The rare tree Dombeya amaniensis is also found in this region.

History

It is an area very rich in ancient kimberlite crater lakes which yield many Paleogene fossils. Many new discoveries have been made there.

In slaving times, the Mahenge area was notorious as the home of slave hunters.

The capital of the East African Republic was initially established in 1919 at Mahenge, as the region transitioned from German to British rule - but then moved to Dar es Salaam.

The major economic activities of the Mahenge population is agriculture. The major crops include maize, rice, and beans.

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