Interesting facts about Usambara

Discover intriguing and little-known facts about the Usambara region in Tanzania, known for its biodiversity, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Explore more about this hidden gem here:

• The main tribes are Sambaa,Kilindi ,Zigua and Mbugu

• The Usambara Mountains are part of the Eastern ARC (Eastern Academic Research) chain, (like the Udzungwa Mountains) and are divided into 2 series separated by a 4 km wide valley.

• The Usambara Mountains are estimated to be at least 100 million years old and the rocks that form that form them can be up to 600 million years old. The first settlement dates back 1.4 million years just near Mambo.

• The western Usambara Mountains, around Lushoto are most accessible, the Eastern Usambara Mountains around Amani are less developed.

• Lushoto was called Wilhelmsthal in German Times magazine and was favorite holiday destination for colonial ruers.Nowdays, you can still find many traces of the German times here.

• After the Kingdom of Mbegha of Sambaa, Germans settled down in this area in 1862.This made the Usambara Mountains part of the German East Africa and later of the British Mandate of Tanganyika.

• Due to the great diversity of unique animals that only occur in this area endemic species, the Eastern Usambara Mountain are often compared with the Galapagos Islands.

• There are several authentic and picturesque villages in the area.