Usabara Mountains

The Usambara Mountains are one of Tanzania’s most lush and enchanting highland regions, stretching across the northeast of the country near the border with Kenya. Part of the ancient Eastern Arc Mountains, the Usambaras are renowned for their cool climate, fertile soils, and breathtaking scenery of rolling hills, deep valleys, waterfalls, and dense montane forests. The range is divided into the West and East Usambara Mountains, each offering its own blend of natural beauty, traditional villages, and rich biodiversity.



These mountains are a global biodiversity hotspot, home to an exceptional number of endemic plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. Hiking trails wind through forest reserves, tea plantations, and farmlands, offering opportunities to spot rare birds, butterflies, chameleons, and monkeys while enjoying panoramic viewpoints over the surrounding plains. Beyond their natural appeal, the Usambara Mountains are also rich in culture, with welcoming local communities, historic towns like Lushoto, and a slower pace of life that makes the region ideal for trekking, nature walks, and cultural exploration.