Usambara Mountains

The Usambara Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc chain and among the oldest mountains in Africa, formed nearly a hundred million years ago. They rise sharply from the plains near Mkomazi in the north-east of Tanzania, about three hours' drive west of Tanga, and remain one of the least-visited highland areas in the country. What guests find here is a landscape of grassy ridges, virgin tropical rainforest, terraced farmland and small mountain villages, all wrapped in a cool and welcoming climate that feels a world away from the coastal heat below.

Lushoto is the main highland town, sitting at 1,400 metres and originally developed as the German colonial hill station Wilhelmstal. It is the base for most Usambara visits, with a small choice of hotels and long-established cultural tourism programmes run by local guides. Walks range from a two-hour stroll to the Irente viewpoint, where the rift escarpment drops 1,000 metres to the Mkomazi plain below, to multi-day traverses across the range from Lushoto to Mtae with village overnights.

The Eastern Arc endemism story is on full display in Usambara. There are endemic sunbirds, chameleons, orchids and butterflies, and Amani Nature Reserve on the East Usambara side protects one of the most biologically rich lowland forests in Africa. Birders come specifically for the Amani sunbird, banded green sunbird, Usambara weaver and Usambara akalat.

The other draw is the community itself. Cultural tourism is well established here, and visitors are welcomed into homes for coffee tastings, cheese making at the Irente farm, natural medicine gardens and traditional healer visits. A Usambara stop pairs beautifully with a Mkomazi safari or with a coast trip to Pangani for a very different flavour of Tanzania.