Namanga is a town divided by the Tanzania–Kenya border. It is in Longido District, Tanzania and Kajiado County, Kenya. It is around 110 kilometers from Arusha, Tanzania. Namanga’s economy has been heavily dependent on tourism since 2004 as tourists visiting the nearby Amboseli National Park passed through the town from Nairobi (183 kilometers to the north). The town is surrounded by hills on both sides. Mount Kilimanjaro can be viewed from Namanga town which makes it a scenic place by tourists who lodge in Namanga on their way to either Tanzania or Amboseli. The nearby Ol Doinyo Orok mountain, also known as Namanga Hills is located northwest of Namanga town. Namanga’s latitude is S 2°32’39.8″ and longitude E 36°47’20.2″. The town has an urban population of approximately 10,000 while the rural population is approximately 5,500.
Namanga is a cosmopolitan town. Its population includes several tribes from all part of the country. Its main population is from the Maasai community who occupy most of the parts in Namanga. The Kikuyu communities are second in majority. This was catalyzed by the intermarriage between the Maasai and the Kikuyu. The rest of the population is occupied by other ethnicity groups which include the Kamba, the Cushites who are Somalis, Borana and many other more communities.
Impala Shuttles offers daily shuttles from Nairobi, Arusha and Moshi to Namanga border, the busiest and cheapest way to cross the Kenya-Tanzania border.
The Namanga One Stop Border Post (OSBP) is a joint border crossing facility between Tanzania and Kenya, it is one of the busiest border crossings between the two countries. Prior to the opening of the OSBP, it could take up to two days to clear customs at the Namanga border crossing, average crossing times are now 30 minutes.
Namanga border. Other borders used when crossing from Kenya to Tanzania include the Namanga border which is located in Longido district on the Tanzania side and in Kajiado county in Kenya.
The Namanga border is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, It is the busiest border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania
Documents needed for one to cross the Kenya-Tanzania border include Valid Passport, Yellow fever card, and Visa (for non EAC citizens).