trekking

TREKKING
The Usambaras is one of the best trekking areas in Tanzania. Our tourism manager Juma Kahema organised the cultural tourism programme in Lushoto in the mid 1990s, which last year organised guides for more than 2,000 tourists. Yet there is no crowding. It is easy to find new routes through the vast network of scenic footpaths that criss-cross the mountains, and there are thousands of places to explore on the way. Villagers have remained curious and very hospitable. Local groups and entrepreneurs are beginning to provide bed-and-breakfast facilities, campsites and cultural events, which we seek to encourage. Juma has visited virtually every hill and every village in the mountains, and will be delighted to suggest routes and activities to meet special requests and expectations. Below are a few examples of routes we like:

GROWING ROCK, 1/2 day: Through coffee and tea plantations in Magila to "Growing Rock" and the Ndelemai forest.

BUTTERFLY PEAK, 1 day: Across the valley through smallholder farms and hamlets, through the Ndelemai forest if you want, and ascend the Kwa Mongo mountain with stunning view over the rest of Africa.

MAZUMBAI RAINFOREST, 2 - 4 days: Easy walk through scenic coffee and tea farms to Bumbuli on day one; then on forest paths to Mazumbai on day two. Mazumbai has the last unlogged rainforest in the West Usambaras, and is one of the richest forest environments in Africa. If you let us book in advance you can often stay in the research station, an old tea estate, and meet the resident forest biologist Mr Mrecha. Return to Maweni by car. There is much more to discover in this eastern part of the Usambaras A more adventurous option is to continue the trek for another two or three days over to Amani in the East Usambaras - one group cleverly solved the crux of this route by crossing the hot Lwengera valley on the carriers of chartered bicycles.

MLALO – MTAE – UMBA PLAINS, 3-4 days on the Northern Escarpment: We drive you to Mlalo, where you walk through the Shagayo forest to Mtae, a village on the edge of the mountains with a spectacular view on Kilimanjaro. Spend a day in the breathtaking landscape and villages around Mtae, which have lots of cultural experiences to offer. On day three, if your legs are stong, drop down to the semi-desert Umba plains, where we meet with a car. If you let us book in advance there is a Maasai boma near Mkomazi, which receives camping guests. From there you can continue on a safari to the little-visited Mkomazi game reserve.

GUIDES Our guides are trained and organised by the cultural tourism office in Lushoto. They are local secondary-school leavers, friendly, very professional and knowledgable, and well known by local people along the routes you go. A part of the guiding fees go to a village development fund which is greatly appreciated by villagers in the area.