Kilimanjaro & treks
Moshi, Lushoto, Irente and Magamba, Mtae, Magoroto, Arusha
your journey
The Usambara Mountains rise steeply out of the plains of north-eastern Tanzania, about 90 kilometres long and 30 to 50 kilometres wide. They belong to the Eastern Arc, a chain of ancient mountains whose forests have been isolated for so long that many plants and animals live nowhere else: the Usambara eagle-owl, the Usambara weaver and akalat, several chameleons and the wild African violet among them.
The range splits in two. The West Usambara is the larger block, a cool upland of farms and rainforest around Lushoto, the old German hill station once called Wilhelmstal. The East Usambara, closer to the coast, is wetter and more thickly forested. This trip spends two nights in each, walking to viewpoints and waterfalls in the west and exploring the forest estate of Magoroto in the east.
The days are spent on foot, with the long drives at the start and the end. Walks follow village paths and forest trails, some of them steep, so reasonable fitness helps, but there is no high altitude to worry about. It pairs well with a Kilimanjaro climb or a stay on the coast.
Walkers who enjoy forest, birds and village life more than big game, repeat visitors to Tanzania looking for somewhere new, and anyone who wants a cool, green break between a safari and the beach.
Parks visited
what makes it special
day by day
Leave Moshi in the morning and follow the main road south-east along the foot of the Pare Mountains to Mombo, about 220 kilometres of tarmac. There the road turns off and climbs in tight bends for the last 17 kilometres up to Lushoto, the air cooling and the views widening at every corner. After a late lunch you walk round the town and its market, and a local guide explains the pressures on the Usambara forests and how they are being protected.
A morning walk from Lushoto through farms and villages brings you to Irente viewpoint, a cliff edge where the plateau drops about 1,000 metres to the village of Mazinde and the flat Maasai steppe beyond. Lunch is in the garden of the Irente biodiversity reserve. In the afternoon you walk in the Magamba rainforest, looking for black-and-white colobus and forest birds, and visit the historic village of the Kilindi kings and an old German bunker from the First World War.
Today you walk through the rainforest to the Mkuzu waterfalls, your guide searching the undergrowth for the Usambara two-horned chameleon and listening for forest birds. You then continue to Mtae, on the far western edge of the mountains, for the view over the plains far below. From there it is a long drive of about 150 kilometres to the East Usambara, with a stop for lunch in Muheza, arriving at the Magoroto forest estate in time for dinner.
Magoroto began in 1896 as one of the first commercial plantations in East Africa, growing rubber and later oil palm, and today it is kept for its forest. Spend the day on its trails with a guide, learning about the plants and watching for birds, and cool off under a waterfall. There is a spice tour, a picnic lunch by the lake with the chance to swim or fish for tilapia and catfish, and a quiet evening at the estate.
After breakfast there may be time for a horse ride or a bike ride through the forest, where available, before you leave the mountains. The drive back to Arusha is long, around 420 kilometres, following the main road north-west past the Pare Mountains and Moshi, with a stop for lunch on the way. You reach your hotel in Arusha in the evening, where the tour ends.
in pictures
the price
Price on request
before you ask
Kilimanjaro needs no ropes or technical climbing skills, but it is a serious high-altitude trek. You walk for several hours a day on uneven ground, nights are cold, and summit night starts around midnight in thin air. Walking regularly on hills before you come, with a loaded daypack, is the best preparation.
We choose routes and itineraries with enough days on the mountain, and we follow the principle of climbing high and sleeping low. On the Machame route, for example, you take short walks above camp at Shira, Lava Tower, Karanga and Barafu before returning to sleep lower. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide straight away about any headache, nausea or dizziness.
Many climbers use acetazolamide (Diamox) to help with acclimatisation, but it is a prescription medicine and not right for everyone. Talk to your own doctor before the trip, especially about allergies and side effects, and tell your guide if you are taking it.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year, but the driest months are mid-January to mid-March and late June to October, which are also the busiest. The long rains from late March to early June bring wet trails and cloud, and we generally advise against climbing then unless you are experienced in those conditions. November brings short rains, often in the afternoon.
On our Kilimanjaro packages with hotel nights, you stay at our partner hotel, Weru Weru River Lodge near Moshi, or a similar hotel, on the night before and the night after the climb. Your guide holds the pre-climb briefing and gear check there.
You need good broken-in hiking boots, warm layers including a down jacket, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, a warm hat, a headtorch and a daypack. Tents, mats and all group and cooking equipment are provided. Your specialist will confirm what can be rented locally, including sleeping bags, and send you a full packing list.
The walks last a few hours a day on village paths and forest trails, some of them steep and muddy after rain. If you walk regularly at home you will manage well. Your guide sets an easy pace, and walks can be shortened if you want a quieter day.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
5 days · 4 nights
also consider
17 days · 16 nights
Arusha National Park · Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai · Mount Kilimanjaro · Mount Meru
Price on request
3 days · 2 nights
Arusha National Park · Mount Meru
Price on request
4 days · 3 nights
Arusha National Park · Mount Meru
Price on request
karibu
Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
Plan your trip
Enquiry about: 5-Day Usambara Mountains Hiking Tour
Asante sana
We'll reply within 24 hours. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) for our confirmation email.
Need an answer sooner? Chat with us on WhatsApp
