7 Days 6 Nights Tanga Destination

Usambara Mountains.

The first European to reach Lushoto was the Missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf who in 1849 was given a warm welcome by king Kimweri I. In 1886 the German colonists entered the Usambaras and persuaded the local chiefs to sign away their domain for a pittance. The subsequent German advance was made easier because- in the latter half of the nineteenth century – Usambara was racked by chaos. The slave trade had started to invade the mountains, while at the same time the Sambaa-Kilindi-Dynasty was caught up in a civil war against the Bondei tribe who wanted independence.

After consolidating their rule, the German Colonial Government founded today’s Lushoto in 1898 as “Wilhelmsthal” (after the name of the German emperor), which became an important center of colonial settlement and plantation agriculture. Located at 1,400 m above sea level, the climate is cool and subtropical and up to independence much favored by European settlers. In 1912, the district already had 13 plantations growing vegetables, fruits, tea, coffee and a variety of other food crops.

Saadani Nationa Park
• Boat safari at the delta of Wami River and the ocean, mangrove vegetation, water loving birds, Hippos and Nile crocodile.
• Visit Green turtle Breeding site at Madete area.
• Visit to Mafui sand bank Island that opens during the day and closes in the evening, a sand bank where you snorkel in the caves with colorful fish and green turtles. A place where lunch and sun bathing can give maximum relaxation.
• Walking safari on natural  trails of Saadani gets you close to nature.
• Day game drive.
• Night game drive for sighting nocturnal animals
• AMANI NATURE RESERVE
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Amani Nature Reserve is a centre for biological diversity. The floristic composition is very diverse and there are 2012 vascular plants species per hector. Thus a large proposition of the endemic species is found within Amani Natural Reserve. The Reserve has been likened to the African equivalent of the Galápagos Islands in terms of their endemism and biodiversity. Therefore it is considered one of the most important forest blocks in Africa.

Approximately 3450 species of vascular plants recorded in the Usambara Mountains, over one quarter are likely to be endemic or near-endemic. In addition to the variety of plants, the mountains host a number of endemic or rare fauna species, including the Usambara eagle owl and a viviparous frog species.