Climbing the Usambara Mountains is one of the most exciting trekking activities you can do in Tanzania. In addition, climbing and hiking in the Usambara Mountains requires a lower level of fitness than, for example, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa.
Of course, there are also various routes that you can take for a climb to the Usambara Mountains. It does not always have to be an ascent to the top of the mountains, it is also worth hiking in the tropical forests around the summit. But you’ll get beautiful African vistas in every case.
Dar es Salaam, Moshi or Arusha
Early in the morning
On this adventure trip, you will get to know Tanzania from a completely new side. There are no big games in the Usambara Mountains, but the remaining rainforests are among the most important biodiversity hotspots on earth. You will hike the untouched mountain rainforest, which is also known as the “Galapagos in the Clouds” because of its extreme biodiversity. The forest is a refuge for over 3000 plant species as well as countless insects, amphibians, and reptiles, including several endemic species. The trails through the Usambara Mountains lead you to breathtaking viewpoints and hidden waterfalls and are accompanied by the chirping of birds and the roar of colobus monkeys.
In the morning at around 7:00 AM you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Usambara Mountains arriving in time for a hot lunch. After lunch, you will go for a short hiking trail heading to Kisasa Falls near Lushoto town for your first introduction to the Usambara Mountains. After short hiking, you will be taken to the hotel for the overnight. Dinner & Overnight at Lawns Hotel
After breakfast at around 8:00, you will begin your hiking heading to the most famous vantage point in the Usambara Mountains, Irente View Point, from where you can see the Masai Plain 1,000m lower. It is about an hour’s walk from Lushoto. After here, you will continue an uphill walk to Kwembago and get the History of the Usambara king called Mbega and visit some of the remains of the Germans.
Continue hiking into the Magamba rainforest, the home of a black and white colobus monkey, colorful butterflies, and different species of birds. Continue enjoying the forest by visiting the German bunker and the peak which its height above sea level is 1840m. You will be having lunch, the Usambara Guacamole at this peak.
Then proceed walking out of the forest up to Sebastian Kolowa University where you will be picked up by car and transferred to Catholic Rangwi Sisters Convent village for your dinner and night. Dinner and overnight at Rangwi Sisters Convent
After breakfast, you will start hiking through Goka village and continue through the part of the natural forest and get into an artificial forest. Visit the old timber factory and continue walking to Sunga village. Visit the pottery women making pots and you can buy some for remembrance of your hiking adventure in Usambara. Proceed walking to Magumba Hill Cottage for check-in and lunch. Enjoy the rest of the day from your hotel or depending on your time you can visit the other part of Mambo View Point and back for dinner and night. Dinner & Overnight at Magumba Hill Cottages.
On this day after breakfast, you’ll start your hiking tour through the pine forest and get to the jungle forest of Shagayu. The forest of its own style, walking up and down of this forest will blow your mind. The beauty of this forest is walking through a small path that doesn’t look like a trail. In this forest, you will be able to look for black and white colobus monkeys and other species of birds and butterflies. Visit the small romantic waterfalls located in the forest and hike to the village of Panda for your picnic lunch.
After lunch proceeds walking to Mtae village where you can obtain historical remnants of the Germans and the war between the Maasai and Shambaa tribe. Hike to Mambo viewpoint for sunset. If the weather is clear you can see Kilimanjaro mountains, Tsavo national park, Mkomazi National Park, Pare mountains, and the two lakes: Ndungu and Kihurio. Hike back for your dinner and night. Dinner & overnight at Magumba Hill Cottages
Early in the morning after breakfast you be taken and transferred by private transport for a 2 hours drive to Lushoto. On arrival, you will take a public bus to your next destination. It’s been an awesome adventure packed with amazing experiences and beautiful mountain vistas so you’ll have a lot to share with friends and family back home.