USAMBARA MOUNTAINS

The Usambara mountains is one of the hidden gems in East Africa and an absolute must- visit destination in Tanzania. Find here how to get there, what to expect and why this is one of the top world class off the beaten path hiking destinations in the world.

Planning a visit to Tanzania mainland and intrigued by this biodiverse mountains range?

Even if you are not a hiker, there are thousands of reasons why you should visit the Usambara mountains. In this guide, I will give you a rundown of everything you need to know about this underrated mountain range in Tanzania.

So, no time to waste, let’s get into this guide.

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ABOUT THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS

The Usambara mountains are formed by two separate land massifs, that are separated by a 4 Km wide Lwengera River Valley. The mountain ranges ( West and East ) belong to the Eastern Arc mountains.

The mountains are covered by a tropical rainforest and they are considered a hot biodiversity spot. The Eastern Arc contains 1500 endemic plant and 121 endemic vertebrate species in 2000 km2. This ratio for endemics per area is the highest of all biodiversity hotspots.

Geologists believe that these mountains were formed longer than 100 million years ago during the Precambrian era. The mountains are 90 km long and 50 km width approximately.

Visiting the this hidden gem in Tanzania is not only a dream for hikers and people looking to unplug and reconnect with nature but a true cultural immersive experience.

The mountains are home to the Shambaa people that are a Bantu Ethnic group indigenous to the area. They speak their own language and have a rich cultural tradition.

The Usambara mountains are on the tentative list to become a World UNESCO Heritage Site.

WHERE ARE THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS LOCATED?

The Usambara mountains are located in NorthEastern Tanzania in the Lushoto district, in the Tanga region. Find here a pin with the location of the Usambara mountains.

HOW TO GET TO THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS?

There are not airports in this area and the mountain ranges can only be accessed by land transport.

USAMBARA MOUNTAINS WEST RANGE

In order to access the West range you need to get to Lushoto. There are daily buses arriving from Moshi, Dar Es Salaam and several other locations in the country.

The most comfortable bus to reach Lushoto is Kiluwa luxury coach. The bus rides are long and are you will experience African music all along the way. A true Tanzanian cultural experience. The bus do not have a website so you might have to book by phone. We can assist you with booking your ticket. Please contact us.

You can also rent a 4×4 and come here on your own. There are places around Lushoto suitable for this.

USAMBARA MOUNTAINS EAST RANGE

The East range is accessible from Muheza. You can easily reach Muheza from Tanga town or Dar Es Salaam.

There are no specific website to book the bus tickets so you can go there a day in advance and get it by yourself or we could arrange it for you.

WHAT IS THE USAMBARA EFFECT?

The Usambara effect describes the property of a gem stone to change color in relation to the path length that the light travels through the material. The Usambara effect is what is called dichromatism for gem stones.The effect was named after these mountains in the Umba valley as the region has been a rich source of colour change gemstones in recent decades. The phenomenon was first seen in tourmalines found in these mountains.

THE USAMBARA FLOWER

The most famous Usambara flowers is the African violet which originated in the East Usambara mountains.

The altitude of the West Usambara mountains is not optimal for the African violets to live but they are home to an extensive population of endemic flowers species, such as the Aoranthe penduliflora.

Take some time to go around and admire the beautiful flowers while hiking in the Usambara mountains. This is one of the best things to do when enjoying this heaven on planet Earth.

WHAT TO DO IN THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS

The main activity to do in the Usambara mountains is hiking. But there are many other things you can do.

GET A LOCAL GUIDE

Getting a local guide will help you experiencing the best hidden corners of these mountains and you will get a taste of the local culture.

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

With his more than 15 years experience guiding hiking tours in the area he will make sure you have the time of your life.

VISIT LUSHOTO

Lushoto is a district in the West Usambara mountains and its main town has the same name. It is a very small town in the middle of the Usambara mountains and the best place to base yourself and hike around the West mountain range. The town has some historial German buildings and there plenty of things to do in Lushoto other than hiking.

From taking a cooking class to visiting a traditional healer or star gazing the town will not leave you indifferent and you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the Shambaa culture.

TRY SUGAR CANE BEER AT A SHAMBAA BREWERY

Shambaa people have a very peculiar way to treat sugar cane to become on what they call sugar cane beer. But it is not in any way similar to beer and it is pretty strong. It is the local beer most people drink and as such, it is pretty affordable.

Visiting a sugar cane beer brewery and drinking it with the local people is a not to be missed when hiking in the area. Some hiking tours in the Usambara mountains end up with a visit to a sugar cane brewery. Be careful and enjoy.

VISIT LOCAL MARKETS

Walking around local markets in one of the most authentic activities to do in the Usambara mountains. People dress in colorful garments and sell all kind of vegetables and fruits.

You can also find traditional herbs for healing on some of these markets. The best markets to observe the local life are Lusotho market, Soni market and Mambo market.

When visiting the markets some people might get sensitive to photos and video recordings. Most peddlers do not speak English so the best way to visit a local market is with a guide.

We organize some times hiking tours that include a local market visit or you can specifically request for going there with one of our guides.

CHAMELEON WALKS

This is one of the coolest activities to do when visiting these breathtaking mountains. There two different endemic species of chameleons. The three horned chameleon, endemic to the East Usambara mountains and the two horned chameleon endemic to the Western range.

Kids really enjoy this activity and even if these adorable creatures are difficult to spot as they change colors for camouflage purposes, our guides are specially trained for this and they have been playing with chameleons since their early years so they can help you spot a lot of them.

BUTTERFLY FARM

In the East Usambara mountains, inside the Amani nature reserve, there are several butterfly farms.The purpose of this butterfly farms is to preserve butterfly species and to provide education to local people visitors.

EAST USAMBARA TEA COMPANY

The Eastern massif has the optimal altitude for tea plantations. When hiking around this area you will cross vast tea plantations.

If you are interested you can arrange a visit to the tea plantations with your guide and do some tea tasting. It is really delicious and grown in a responsible manner to respect the surrounding eco biodiversity.

HIKING THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS

Hiking is why most people come to the region. Both mountain ranges offer some of the best hiking trails in Tanzania and East Africa. If you are planning to climb Kilimanjaro and need some preparation this is the ideal destination to do so.

The most popular hikes in the Usambara mountains are:

WESTERN RANGE USAMBARA

• IRENTE VIEW POINT: This viewpoint is the most popular viewpoint in Tanzania. It has the best views in Tanzania and if offers an impressive view of the Massai plains and Mafia mountain. The hike is suitable for all levels and it will bring you through local villages and hidden lanes with all kind of exotic trees and flowers.

• LUSHOTO TO MTAE: This is also one of the most popular hikes in the area. It will usually takes 3 days to cover the 40 Km that separate the two villages. You will spot chameleons, local farms, and if you are lucky perhaps some bush babies in the night. There is a chance to observe some Colobus monkeys in some areas of the hike.
• KISASA WATERFALL: This hike is usually combined with the Irente viewpoint hike as it only takes a couple of hours. But you can also do it on is own. You will leave from the nearby town of Lushoto and it will bring you to a beautiful fall with cliffs where palm trees grow.
• MKUZI WATERFALL: This beautiful waterfall located in the middle of the Mkuzi forest reserve is located in the middle of the Mkuzi forest reserve. A hike to the Mkuzi waterfall usually includes a hike through the forest and some time at the waterfall. This waterfall is the only swimmable waterfall in the area. Do not forget to bring your bikini.
• MAGAMBA FOREST: This forest reserve is a dream for hikers and nature lovers. The biodiversity inside the forest and deep connection with nature you will feel while hiking here is something you will for sure not forget. There are several hiking trails inside the forest to choose from. The most popular one is the hike that ends in the Magamba peak. The Magamba peak offers breathtaking views of the area.
• SUME FOREST: This nature reserve has recently opened its trail for hiking. There is a high chance to see Colobus monkeys and there are usually hundreds of blue butterflies all around the forest. There is a camping area where you can spend the night with a cooking place and rangers to help you out. Do not attempt to hike the Sume forest without a guide. There has been reports of people getting lost for days in the forest. You need to make sure your guide has been trained to hike inside this forest.

• MAZUMBAI FOREST: This forest is located in the Eastern most part of the West Usambara mountains. The forest is another hot biodiversity spot and a perfect place to unplug. Make sure you go with a guide. As the Usambara mountains are an off-the beaten path destination sometimes the hiking trails are closed and you need an experienced guide to open the way for you.

EASTERN RANGE USAMBARA

The best hiking trails in the Eastern Arc are located inside the Amani Nature reserve and here you can find some of them:

These trails are not properly marked and you should always go with a local guide. I stayed in the Amani nature reserve for five days and hiked a lot of the trails in the company of a guide. Some of them do not even have a name for they were all stunning and a true encounter with mother nature.

• BOMBOM FOREST TRAIL: This is a difficult trail that follows the Sigi river and it cannot be done in rainy season. On this trail you might see some Baboons, frogs and crabs
• MBOMOLE HILL: This trail goes up hill and it is better done at sunset time as the sunset at the summit is pretty spectacular. Most of the night walks for watching chameleons are done on the Mbomole trail.

• TURACO TRAIL: This cool trail up hill is a beautiful trail through a forest. There is a high chance of spotting the Turaco bird, that gives the name to the trail.
• AFRICAN VIOLET TRAIL: I visited the Amani nature reserve in May and this was the only trail where the famous African violet was located. The highlight of this trails was a church carved on the rocks.

BEST USAMBARA MOUNTAINS TOURS

For arranging the best tours in the Usambara mountains you can contact Bakari on his

Whatsapp: +255 655 385 109. He has more than 15 years experience guiding tours mostly focused on the Usambara region. You can read his company reviews here.

ARE THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS WORTH A VISIT?

Yes, the Usambara mountains are really worth a visit. I spend a long time hiking and discovering the hidden corners in this green paradise and the hikes are truly spectacular.

The diversity of life and the kindness of the Shambaa people are also remarkable. You will be able to enjoy many of the trails in solitude as the mountains have yet remained out of the main tourims circuit.

If you are a nature lover and love hiking, do not forget to add some days of your visit to Tanzania in the Usambara mountains.

FAQs and TIPS

WHAT IS THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS?

The highest peak in the mountains is Chambolo peak at 2,289 meters above sea level.

WHICH ARE FOLD MOUNTAINS IN TANZANIA?

The Usambara, Pare and Uluguru mountains are fold mountains in Tanzania. These mountains are home to many endemic species found nowhere else in the world.

WHAT IS THE CLIMATE IN THE USAMBARA MOUNTAINS?

There is rain the whole year and the Eastern Arch is slightly receiving more rain due to its proximity to the sea. The Western Arch is a bit colder due to its altitude and the temperatures cary from 22- 30 °C to 11- 16°C during the night.

IS USAMBARA A BLOCK MOUNTAIN?

Yes, the Usambara mountains are two mountain blocks in NorthEastern Tanzania.