Usambara Mountains, Mountain range in northeastern Tanzania
The Usambara Mountains extend across 90 kilometers with elevations reaching 2290 meters, featuring dense forests and varied microclimates throughout the range.
German colonists established settlements in the mountains during the 19th century, introducing tea plantations and transforming traditional agricultural practices in the region.
Different ethnic groups, including Wazaramo and Wazigua communities, maintain their traditions through local festivals, music performances, and agricultural customs in the mountains.
Visitors can reach the mountains from Dar es Salaam or Arusha, with the town of Lushoto providing accommodation, markets, and tourist information services.
The mountains contain over 500 bird species, including the Usambara Weaver and Usambara Akalat, which exist nowhere else on Earth.
Elevation above the sea: 2,290 m
GPS coordinates: -4.80000,38.42000
Latest update: March 5, 2025 21:33
Tanzania provides photographers with an extraordinary range of subjects, from the Serengeti plains to Zanzibar's coastline and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). The country contains major wildlife reserves including Tarangire, where elephant herds move between baobab trees, and the Ngorongoro Crater, which holds a dense concentration of large mammals within its 100-square-mile (260-square-kilometer) caldera. Coastal regions and offshore islands like Mafia and Pemba offer opportunities to photograph coral reefs, sea turtles, and traditional dhow boats. The Mahale Mountains support habituated chimpanzee groups, while Selous Game Reserve presents riverine landscapes and diverse animal populations. Stone Town's historic quarter features Arab, Persian, and Indian architecture spanning several centuries, including the House of Wonders and the narrow alleys of the former trading port. The less visited Katavi National Park delivers scenes of hundreds of hippos crowding shrinking pools during the dry season. Kondoa rock art sites preserve prehistoric paintings dating back as far as 30,000 years. The active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai and alkaline Lake Natron with its flamingo flocks add geological interest. From the terraced hillsides of the Usambara Mountains to the wildflower meadows of Kitulo National Park, Tanzania covers nearly every photographic interest.
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