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The Usambara Mountains Of Tanzania |
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Submitted by Zoila Carbajal
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When visiting a poor country such as Tanzania it is important to know the money you are spending is actually doing some good in the communities you will be visiting. Your visit will change a life or a community for the better. You do not even have to be personally involved. Responsible tourism is changing lives for the better. This is, however, if you choose your operator with care and a little sensitivity.
It is also worth the time and effort to journey to the less well-traveled area of Tanzania to compliment your safari proper. The Usambara Mountains are uniquely African in character and well worth the effort of getting there.
Leaving Arusha and traveling for a few hours by road, passing the great Kilimanjaro and then onward across the seemingly endless arid landscape you arrive at Mombo. Turning left here the road magically transports you, in an instant, onto the Usamabara Mountains.
If you make it to this destination, bite the bullet and travel to the very top of the mountains. Nested at the very top is the magic of these mountains. It is essential to relax and to take time to enjoy and explore the area by foot. There is an amazing bird life here and if this does not interest you than this is a perfect place to start an interest.
There are many young men and women in the Usambara that have trained as guides and it is well worth the very small expense to pay a few dollars to theses enthusiastic young Tanzanian’s who will then share their mountains, culture and time. In Africa there is always lots of time – you must take everything slowly or you will miss the magic.
In pre-colonial days, these very fertile mountains were witness to many bloody battles between to Maasia and the resident Shambaa tribes. The Shambaa people were never defeated by the Maasia and managed to hang on to their prized green land.
Mtae is a small village on the westernmost tip of the Usambara Mountains. Here there is a spectacular view point with a 1000m sheer drop to the savannah bellow. Mt Kilimanjaro is over 240 kilometers away but on a clear day, it is possible to see this huge Mountain with its snow top, sitting on the border where Tanzania and Kenya meet.
When the first missionaries arrived in Mtae, at the end of the 19th Century, the leaders of the Shambaa people allocated for them to sleep in an area, which was regarded as the “residence of spirits of the dead” - the local people thought the newly arrived missionaries would surly die in this haunted area. They did not; and so amazed where the local elders that the missionaries were given land on which to build a church. This church can be visited to this day.
Mvueni Falls is high up in the mountains. It is so quiet here, there is no background noise, this silence has to be experienced to be believed. It is possible to swim here although the water is very cold. The Mkuzi River feeds Mvueni falls, which is more than 2,300 meters above sea level. The river moves down the mountains and as it passes along the Soni falls the water cascades dramatically toward the Pangani River, dropping more than 800 meters over a couple of kilometers.
Lushoto is the capital of the Usambara Mountains and is worth spending some time exploring. There is a locally run cultural tourism office on the main road and here is a good place to find a guide for your visit. If it is market day take some time walking around the market meeting these very friendly mountain people.
When visiting the Usambara Mountains if you are driving from Arusha consider taking a day to break the journey and spend this day walking on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. Marangu village is the best place to overnight among the many banana and coffee trees.
Once your time is over in the Usambara Mountains just a few hours down to road is the tropical Pangani Bay. This will finish off your Tanzanian Safari beautifully. This sleepy ancient fishing village is a little known jewel sitting on deserted beaches and has the warm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean for diving and snorkeling.
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