LUSHOTO: A HIDDEN GEM IN TANZANIA

Lushoto is a town in the West Usambara mountains in Tanzania. It is the capital of the Lushoto district and it is one of Tanzania’s hidden gems. If you are looking for an off the beaten path nature adventure and experiencing the local culture in one of the best hiking destinations in East Africa, Lushoto is the place for you.

This is a guide to Lushoto and the activities you can do in the area besides hiking the Usambara mountains which is the most popular activity in Lushoto.There are plenty of things to do in Lushoto and for sure you will enjoy your stay in this lovely Tanzanian town. I am also sharing photos of my stay there to help you prepare for your visit to this amazing spot.

WHERE IS LUSHOTO

Lushoto is located in the heart of the West Usambara mountains at an altitude of 1384 m. It is located 245 Km from Dar Es Salaam and 96 Km from Tanga town and 191 Km from Moshi, the closest town to Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa.

I am sharing here a pin map with Lushoto location.

HOW TO GET TO LUSHOTO

The only way to Lushoto is by road. There is no airpot in the proximity of Lushoto. There are daily buses coming from Moshi, Dar Es Salaam and many other locations around the country.I recommend booking your ticket with Kiluwa luxury coach. Their buses are pretty comfortable and have air conditioning. I have used them several times in Tanzania. They do not have a website to book, so you can only call them

The bus rides can be very long as they make many stops but it is an authentic Tanzanian local experience.

You can also lease a car or a 4×4 and drive yourself here.

THINGS TO DO IN LUSHOTO

GET A GUIDE FOR LUSHOTO

Firstly, get a guide for Lushoto. I normally get around by myself all around the world, but this is a place in which having a local guide will bring a lot of value to the experience.

The best hiking trails are hidden and only known by locals and if you just do not follow the road is very easy to get lost. Having a guide will also make it easy interacting with local people and will add so much value to your experience. Take into account that the local language in Lushoto is the Shambaa language, your guide will be able to teach you some so you can earn the sympathy of people.

My guide was Bakari Hoya and he is on WhatsApp +255655385109. Find some of his reviews on TripAdvisor.

He made sure I got the best out of all my time in Lushoto and showed me all its hidden secrets. He can bring you around and show you all the places mentioned in this post.

GET TO IRENTE VIEW POINT

Irente view point is the most popular hike and one of the coolest things to do in Lushoto. The view point is located at 1600 meters and it has some breathtaking views over Mafia mountain and the Maasai plains.

The hike will bring you through local villages and the Irente biodiversity reserve to culminate in the view point.

Take a tour guide when doing this and all other hikes in Lushoto. The Usambara mountains is a high flora and fauna diversity area and your guide will be able to show you the right spots. Tour guides will also assist you in interacting with the local people.

Lushoto is still an underdeveloped area and there are several people whose lives depends on tourism. You will not only be having a much more beautiful and cultural experience but you will be also supporting the local communities.

You can combine the Irente view point hike with several cultural activities or with some other hikes.

To book the tour on line you can do it here.

TASTE LOCAL COFFEE AT TUPANDE

Tupande coffee has been rated by some of its customers as the best coffe in East Africa.

The coffee is grown in the Usambara mountains and taking a cup of its coffee in the Tupande NGO coffee corner, close to Lushoto bus station is a not to be missed when visiting this town.

TAKE THE KISASA WATERFALL TOUR

The Kisasa waterfall is the biggest waterfall around Lushoto and and you can make it on a half day hike from Lushoto.

The waterfall flows down some beautiful rock formations surrounded by palm trees.

You can combine the waterfall hike with some other half day tours in Lushoto. If you would like to book the tour in advance you can do it here.

VISIT A TRADITIONAL HEALER

Traditional healers are still a big part of the Tanzanian culture. Even if Western medicine has been introduced in most of the country, many people will still resort to traditional healing methods before visiting a hospital. In some remote areas where hospitals are too far away traditional healing is the only available method to help in case of an emergency.

Traditional healers have an extensive knowledge on plants usage for healing purposes. They also use sound rituals and some other techniques to heal or remove the evil eye.

There are several traditional healers in the Lushoto area but in order to visit one of them you will need to do it through an organized tour. You can book your spot here

HAVE A TRADITIONAL SHAMBAA COOKING CLASS

The Shambaa people are the indigenous people to the Usambara mountains, Lushoto district. Shambaa people are among the kindlest people I have met in Tanzania. You can arrange a tour to

get a traditional Shambaa cooking class where they will show you how to cook some delicious organic food and you will be able to see a Shambaa home from the inside.

If you are interested in cultural tourism visiting a Shambaa family and cooking with them it is a not to be missed thing to do in Lushoto.

Book here.

TAKE A BIRD WATCHING TOUR

Start the day going on a bird watching tour. Lushoto and its surrounding area is home to many bird species. The best spots for bird watching are located on the some of the protected forest surrounding areas. You can have a look at the last birds spotted in Lushoto here.

GO SPOTTING CHAMALEONS

Lushoto and the Usambara mountains are famous for its endemic chamaleons that are everywhere. Yes, you can find these amazing creatures, very closely related to the dinosaurs all around. But they are difficult to distinguish as they change colors to melt with the environment.

Go spotting chamaleons is one of the coolest things you can do when visiting Lushoto. It is also the best activity to do in Lushoto for children. Children will never forget spotting this precious creatures.

STROLL THE LOCAL MARKET

The local market in Lushoto happens on Thursday and Sunday. They sell almost everything at the market but the most beautiful area is where vegetables are being sold.

People in the Usambara mountains live mostly on farming and most of the fruits and vegetables there are organic.

Some people in the market might not feel comfortable if you take pictures or videos and most of them do not speak English. So it is better to always go accompanied by a local guide who will help you communicating with the locals to get the best out of your experience.

TAKE A HALF DAY TRIP TO THE SONI WATERFALLS

The Soni waterfalls are located 17 km from Lushoto and Soni has also a very colorful market with friendly people. You can always visit the waterfalls on a market day. These waterfalls are not very visited and you will find mostly only local people in the area.

DO THE FAMOUS LUSHOTO TO MTAE TREK

This is the most famous hike in the Usambara mountains and many people come here just to do this hike. The hike will take you through breathtaking landscapes and Shambaa villages to reach Mtae and the Mambo village from where you have stunning views of the Mikomazi national park and even mount Kilimanjaro.

GO ON A SAFARI TO MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK

Mkomazi is not the best well-known national park in Tanzania and this is a good thing as it can save you some cash while enjoying the Tanzanian fauna in all its esplendor.

Nkomazi shares a border with Tsavo national park in Kenya. Lushoto is the perfect base to book an enjoy your Mkomazi park experience.

Do not forget to visit the Rhino Sanctuary while enjoying your safari in the Mkomazi national park.

GET WET A MKUZI WATERFALLS

The Mkuzi waterfalls are the only swimmable waterfalls in Lushoto. They are located at the Mkuzi forest reserve. The forest is full of beautiful butterflies and birds and if you are lucky, you might even spot some Colobus monkeys.

GO STARGAZING

There are some fantastic areas for stargazing in Lushoto and some camping areas where you can spend the night in a tent in the middle of nature and far away from light pollution. However I always recommend go accompanied by a local person during your stargazing adventure for safety reasons.

DO SOME TRAIL RUNNING

Lushoto is the perfect place for trail running. There are trails all around town and in the surrounding areas. Dress modest during your trail running adventure and respect the local customS.

Mazumbai forest is another one of Tanzania’s hidden gems. You can take a 3 o 4 days tour from Lushoto to visit this nature wonder.

GET TO KNOW THE HISTORICAL CENTER

Lushoto has a strong Germand and British influences from the colonial era. Taking a tour of Lushoto historical center will bring you back in history.

Take a qualified guide to bring you along some of Lushoto’s most remarkable historical landmarks.

HIKE TO THE MAGAMBA PEAK

This is perhaps the second most famous hike in the Usambara mountains. The Magamba forest reserve is a breathtaking forest reserve with many endemic species. The climb to Magamba peak will take you through trails of an immense beauty.

There is also a german cave on the Magamaba forest trails, a heritage of the German colonization of the Usambara mountains.

WHERE TO EAT IN LUSHOTO

Enjoying local food in Lushoto is one of the best things you can do as almost everything is organic there for a very affordable price.

The best local restaurants in Lushoto

Muzdalifa– This local restaurant serves excellent beef soup and rice with veggies at a very affordable price. They also serve delicious Tamarind juice. It is located in front of Mohamed coffee, just around 50 meters from Lushoto bus station.

Sham– This local restaurant is located in front of Lushoto bus station and they are well known in the whole town for their delicious samosas. You have to hurry up if you would like to try them. They are usually fresh at 7:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m but they are usually finished in less than one hour.

Bus Station- There are several food vendors from around 17:30 onwards where you can buy “Chips Mayai” and some beef sticks. My favorite meal here is the octopus soup. There is one vendor who brings fresh octopus from Tanga and makes delicious soup from it.

If you are looking for a bit more of an international experience I will recommend you:

Mamma Mia Pizza– This restaurant is not very far from Lushoto center and here you can find all sorts of pasta and pizza and they also serve delicious Capuccino.

Lawns hotel– The Lawns hotel is located around 1 km from Lushoto center and it serves delicious Western food on a beautiful set up. Their tomato soup is delicious and a perfect dinner dish when the temperatures become colder in the evening. They also have a beautiful fire place.

WHERE TO STAY IN LUSHOTO

There are many cool places to stay in Lushoto and as I have spent several months in the area I know the hotels in the town quite well.

Find here my top pics:

Lawns hotel: The Laws hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels in Lushoto. It has nice room and outdoor swimming pool with barbecue area where you relax after some hiking activities in the area. They also light up the cool fireplace when the nights get a bit chilly due to the altitude.

Kialio Green Garden Motel: This is a great option for budget travelers. The hotel is in the center of town and features nice rooms with a nice garden where you can sit outside to enjoy your breakfast. They have decent Wifi and the staff are really friendly.

Paradise Ecofarm: This place is a bit far away from the center of town but the stay in it is really worth it. You will be able to enjoy stunning views of the mountains and they have a kitchen where you can cook.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Lushoto is one of my favorite places in Tanzania and you will be able to enjoy the biodiversity of the area and some breathtaking hikes without the tourists crowds.

The place will allow to enjoy nature in a peaceful setting while getting in touch with the local culture. People in the town are very friendly and approachable and I am sure it will be the cherry on the cake of your trip to Tanzania.