[3] Babati District is located below the Equator between latitude 3° and 4° South and longitude 35° and 36° E. The land surface is characterized by a number of undulating hills and mountains as part of the East African Rift Valley Highlands.

Babati District is divided by the Dabil-Dareda escarpment of the Rift Valley, providing diverse climatic and agro-ecological conditions due to a wide range of altitudes from 950 m asl.

In the lower flat lands, like around Lakes Babati and Manyara, alkaline soils predominate.

About 90% of the population of Babati District live in the rural areas and depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood.

Mixed crop-livestock, mostly maize-based systems are widely found in the district that are intercropped with varying species, such as common beans, pigeon peas and sunflowers, according to altitude and rainfall availability.