The craggy and mist-shrouded Usambara Mountains are located to the south west of the Pare Mountains. Together they make up the Eastern Africa chain.
Their Western and Eastern ranges are divided by a 4km wide valley dotted with small villages and farms. The hiking trail covers the foothills and large peaks.
This mountain is the home of beautiful Amani Nature Reserve. It is perfect for hiking and diving. Some of the tops rise to well over 2000m. Between steep
cliffs and rocky hilltops are set small communities of the pastoral Usambani tribe. The high altitude and fertile soils attracted German, British and
other European settlers. This is an excellent place to visit for a few relaxing days if you are travelling overland between the coast and Kilimanjaro,
Tanga and the northern gameparks. Lushoto, at the heart of the Usambara, can be reached in a 5 hour drive from Moshi. It is an additional 4 hours drive to
Tanga from where there are daily flights to Zanzibar, or 5-6 hours drive to the Pangani coast or Saadani National Park. Although a variety of accommodation is available in the area we recommend two places in
particular:
*Muller's Lodge a beautifully built old farm house with a very relaxed, comfortable atmosphere taking you back 50 years in time.
*St. Eugene's Hostel, a modern and very well presented guesthouse and joining a Montessori Training College set in spacious gardens.
Tro-peaks Adventures offers guiding services for hikers.
Popular choices for walks include:
1. A bird walk
2. Forest walks
3. Waterfall walk
4. Mountain walk
Wildlife to be seen includes the elegant colobus monkey, blue monkeys and a wide variety of birds. In the rain forest euphorias, acacias, giant ferns, palms,
lobelias, camphors (Japanese and Usumbaru) eucalyptus and fig trees are all to be found. Vipers can as well be observed and chameleons.
Lengths of walks can be varied from just an hour or so to all day long taking a packed lunch with you. To be able to see something of the region it is best to
spend at least two nights in the area.
Day walks and overnight takes visitors through some of the most concentrated areas of biodiversity in Africa. Usambara Mountains include tropical forest
that are native home to native birds species that are not found elsewhere on earth such as the Naduk eagle owl, Usambara Alethe and the Usambara weaver. The birds watching are especially rewarding and the views from the mountaintops stretch over the Maasai Steppe and on clear day as far as Indian Ocean.
Day 1: Lushoto town to Rangwi
Durations: 5 to 6 Hours
The tour begins in Lushoto with an uphill walk to Kwembago, the ancient village of the Daffa family, a sub clan of the royal Kilindi lineage. Typical of most Shambaa villages, Kwembago is situated along a mountain ridge with panoramic view over the Lushoto Valley, the Maasai Plains and the surrounding Eest Usambara Mountains. From Kwembago, the walking tour continues through the Magamba Rainforest where rare plant and animal life can be seen. After one hour and a half walking through the forest you have a picnic lunch in Magamba. you take a transport to Rangwi Sisters Convert Hostel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Rangwi to Mambo Cliff Inn
Durations: 5 to 6 Hours
After breakfast the walk start from Rangwi Sisters Convert Hostel through the villages with nice views to small part of Shagayu Forest and proceed to Sunga village where you having a picnic lunch then you proceed walking to the women who are made pottery and learn how the pot is made and you walk all the way to Mambo Cliff Inn or similar hotel for dinner and overnight. You will get the chance to sit for sunset and see spectacular view of Mkomazi National Park, Tsavo West Kenya National Park, Pare Mountain and possibly see Mt. Kilimanjaro if is the clear day.
Day 3: Mtae – Lushoto
Durations: 5 to 6 Hours
After breakfast you checkout from Mambo Cliff Inn and transfer by private vehicle to Lushoto for drop off. You can overnight in Lushoto or you can transfer by private vehicle to Mombo the same day and take the bus to Arusha or Dar es Salaam.
Day 1: Lushoto to Lukozi
Durations: 5 to 6 Hours
You start walking from Lushoto through the villages, Agricultural land with nice views to Magamba Rain Forest. After the forest you having a picnic lunch in the forest then proceed walking and late in the evening you take the transport to Lukozi Papaa Moze Guest House or similar guest house for dinner and overnight
Day 2: Lukozi and Rangwi
Durations: 5 to 6 Hours
From Lukozi after breakfast we walk through along the valleys and sloping hillsides of the inner Usambara Mountains, vegetable farms lined with eucalyptus and banana trees. You pass through the villages of Makose and Kagulio until you reach to Rangwi Sisters Convert Hostel or similar hostel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Rangwi to Mambo Cliff Inn
Durations: 5 to 6 Hours
After breakfast you start walk from Rangwi Sisters Convert Hostel through different villages, nice view point to Sunga village for lunch, then you proceed to pottery women where you will learn how to make pot from the Shambaa local people around in the village. After the pottery women you walk to Mambo Cliff Inn or similar lodge for diner and overnight.
Day 4: Mambo-Lushoto
After breakfast you checkout from Mambo Cliff Inn and transfer by private vehicle to Lushoto for drop off.
Mazumbai, part of the Usambara Mountain Range, is depicted as East Africa’s finest Biodiversity Hotspot.
DAY 1: SONI TO BUMBULI
The first day start walking from Soni through the farming land, villages, nice landscape, coffee plantation and tea plantation, on the way sit for lunch before reaching to Bumbuli Old German Mission or to the home stay for overnight or camping site near the home stay.
DAY 2 (6-7hrs)
You begin walk from either Bumbuli Old German Mission or the home stay to Mazumbai Nature Reserve where on the way pass through the village of Maduda, where you can see nice landscape then to Mazumbai Forest, home to black and white columbus monkey and some other animals, then overnight at the Mazumbai Old Swiss Rest House.
DAY 3 (4-5hrs)
After breakfast you take a walk around the Mazumbai Natural Forest where you can enjoy nature, medicinal plants, some animals such as chamelion, black and white columbus monkey, squeal and others. Then after forest, walk back to the rest house for lunch, then after lunch you can have an evening walk.
DAY 4 (6-7hrs)
After breakfast you take a walk to the forest, villages, agricultural land, nice landscape to either Bumbuli Old German Mission or the home stay/camping site at Kwalei for overnight.
DAY 5 (4-5 hours)
Take transport after breakfast from Bumbuli Old German Mission or the home stay either to Lushoto, the capital town of Usambara Mountains, walk around food and fruit market of Shambaa farmers or walk to the popular Irente View Point or chose to go Mkuzi Waterfall. Afterwards drive to the lodge.
Contact us to book one of these itineraries or to create a bespoke itinerary visiting this beautiful and relaxing destination.