Usambara Mountains. From the grassy plains to the lush tropical jungle, Usambara is a beautiful mountain range. You can see a lot of different towns in this area while you’re here. The Usambara mountains are in northeastern Tanzania, close to Mkomazi National Park and 110 km west of Tanga, which is about a 3-hour drive.

It’s one of Tanzania’s little-known spots. This is what makes it a real paradise for people who love nature and camping. The cool weather in the lush, green mountains makes them great for walks and hikes. But the view is one of the best things about hiking in the Usambara mountains. Everywhere you go, you’ll see wide hills, mountains, valleys, farmland, cute towns, colorful markets, and plantations.

The easternmost sections of the Eastern Arc Mountains are made up of the Usambara Mountains. They’re 90 km long and about 50 km wide. They were made by faulting and rising rocks from the Precambrian period almost two million years ago.

Birds in the Usambara

The Usambara Mountains are very unique in East Africa because their natural areas are still covered in tropical woods. Because of this, they are a biodiversity hotspot with many protected areas and are very important for the environment. The Usambara eagle-owl, the Usambara akalat, the Usambara weaver, and the African violet are just some of the species that live in the Usambara woods. The Mountain buzzard, the Crown eagle, the Eastern bronze-naped pigeon, the Lemon and Dusky turtle dove, and the Hartlaub’s turaco are some of the other birds that you might see.

Animals and plants that live in the Usambara mountains

The Usambara mountains are home to more than 3000 plant species and more than 600 tree species. It is known as one of the world’s ecological hotspots because of this. Because of this, nature lovers and naturalists from all over the world come to watch birds, study trees, flowers, and butterflies. A number of species can only be found in the Usambara woods.

Activities for hiking

You can walk with a local guide and see how different and beautiful this huge area is. You can see both Kilimanjaro and the grass plains of Mkomazi on a clear day. This place has some of the most beautiful views in the world. People from the area will wave and smile at you as you go on this special walk. People there are very friendly, and if you show that you are interested, they will ask you to get to know them better on the spot.

You can hike up to the Irente viewpoint for a wide view of Mazinde village, which is almost 1000 m below, and the vast Maasai fields beyond.

You could also take a walk through the lush farmlands of Jaegertal to a fruit tree nursery and learn more about the different kinds of fruit trees and how to grow new ones. You start the “Growing Rock” trip in Soni and walk to the top of Kwamongo Mountain, which is known for its butterflies. From the top, you can see Soni, Lushoto, and the Handeni plains.

It takes about three hours to drive from Tanga to Usambara, which is 110 km away.
8 hours from Arusha to Usambara
6 hours from Moshi to Usambara

Advice from our experts on how to travel to the Usambara Mountains
My name is Kennedy, and I’ve been a mountain guide in the Usambara Mountains for eleven years. People who stay here like to hike in the untouched forest and are always amazed by the beautiful views they see along the way.

How long are you staying? Two days

Which hotel?

Magoroto Forest Estate (silver) in the east
Mambo View Point (silver) is in the west.

The best time to see the Usambara Mountains
The weather is nice all year, but from March to May, when it rains a lot, the roads become too muddy for trekking. From June to October, after it rains, is the best time to go. The air is mostly clear.