Lushoto Altitude
The town of Lushoto is approximately 1,400 meters above sea level.
Have you ever been to Lushoto Tanzania? Do you know where Lushoto is? Perhaps let me begin this post by telling you more about that.
Where Is Lushoto Town (Lushoto Country)?
Lushoto is the name of both a town and a district, located in Tanzania’s northernmost coastal region, Tanga.
Although the region of Tanga borders the Indian Ocean, Lushoto lies further inland, nestled in the scenic Usambara Mountains (see the map below).
Lushoto Tanzania Map
In my last Instagram recap post, I told you how I ended up in Lushoto Tanzania: my mother was turning 71, and since she’d been saying for a while that she was yearning to travel, I suggested we do just that for her birthday.
READ ALSO: Matemwe Flights & How to Get to Tanzania in 2022
My original plan was to take her to Saadani National Park , which is beautiful and only a few hours away from Dar es Salaam, but she told me that she wasn’t quite in the mood for water and wildlife. Instead, she wanted to do something physical.
I suggested, “How about we go to Lushoto and hike in the Usambara Mountains? She replied, “Now that sounds like a plan!”
So that’s what we did and we had a great time.
Today, I’d like to share some photos from that trip with you. They are all from my Instagram gallery from within the past month. I’ve selected only the best ones (according to my Instagram followers) to share with you today. I hope you like them! 🙂
READ ALSO: Mr Price Garden City & Mr Price Home Kenya Instagram Account
Nos. 10–8: Sunset at Irente View Point, Lushoto Tanzania
Before the sun went down fully, it gave off a most intense golden light. I told you the last picture (the second one after this one in this post) was not even a beginning. Personally, this was the MOST beautiful sunset I had EVER seen.
READ ALSO: Mount Kilimanjaro Pictures & 18 Other East African Photos
It looks like a lovers’ scene….but it’s not. Just me and our tour guide, Charles, taking in a most gorgeous sunset.
We sat at Irente View Point for about an hour and a half waiting for the sun to go down completely. I am sooooooooooo glad we did. This wasn’t even a beginning.
No. 7: The View at Breakfast, Irente Farm Lodge, Lushoto Tansania
The view from my breakfast table at Irente Farm Lodge, Lushoto Tanzania. The breakfast itself was also amazing: fresh bread, homemade jams, cheese made on the farm, and lots of fresh produce straight from the garden. I’d go back just for this view and the great breakfast!
Tanga Lushoto Photos Nos. 6—3: The Drive to Lushoto Tanga Tanzania
Night begins to fall over the Usambara Mountains, Lushoto, Tanzania.
The real new part of the journey, for me, started once we turned off the main highway to Arusha onto the road that leads to Tanga and Korogwe. I had heard lots about Korogwe because I have close friends who are from there or partially from there, but no one had ever mentioned its beauty to me: winding roads through hills, beautiful skies, and distinct little red flowers that I saw only there. Korogwe was the beautiful calm before the treacherous storm of the tortuous, torturous mountain road to Lushoto.
The broody Usambara Mountains. And if you only knew what wind there was at this point! At some point, I got out of the car to take a picture and the wind was blowing so hard I could hardly hold my phone in one place.
READ ALSO: 16 Wonderful Hotels in Rwanda/Kigali
Shortly after we left Korogwe, we began to see the Usambara Mountains.
Tanzania Lushoto Photos No. 2: The View from Irente View Point Before Sunset (and Lushoto Altitude)
Part of the view from Irente View Point in the Usambara Mountains, Lushoto, Tanzania. Altitude: 1,450 m above sea level and 800 m above the land below.
Tanga, Tanzania Photos No. 1: Driving Through the Usambara Mountains
Approaching Lushoto. Driving through the Usambara Mountains at sunset.
Wow, all I can say is I truly enjoyed this trip to Lushoto. I had been wanting to visit Lushoto for over 8 years, and I regret that it took me so long to do so. I had no clue what I was missing!
Lushoto is not a Tanzanian travel destination that you often hear about in or outside Tanzania. After all, it has to compete with the Serengeti, Zanzibar, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Mt. Kilimanjaro just to name a few that are also located in the same country.
Still, it’s a beautiful place to visit and I recommend that you do so, if ever you get a chance.
I had no idea just how much I enjoyed mountainous environments until this trip, and you might find that you are the same way.
READ ALSO: 15 Best Hotels in Dar es Salaam
Tips for Visiting Irente View Point
Many of these pictures were taken at Irente View Point, which is not to miss if ever you are in Lushoto.
You can hike to Irente View Point starting from several destinations in the area depending on how long and/or taxing you want your hike to be.
For those who are not really into hiking, you can also drive/take a motorcycle taxi as far as the road will allow and then only walk the last three-minutes-or-so to the escarpment. It doesn’t have to be a physically taxing experience.
Whatever the case, don’t miss it. And if you go, I encourage you to do so around sunset and to stay until the sun goes completely down. Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does. At least, that was my experience.
Have you ever been to Lushoto? If so, have you ever been to any of the places mentioned in this post? If yes, I’d love to hear all about it. What were your experiences in Lushoto like? Please let me know by leaving me a comment below. Any advice for would-be travelers to the area?
Until the next time,
Biche
Tanga to Lushoto
Lushoto is located in Tanga region. The distance between Tanga town and Lushoto, as the crow flies, is 97 kilometers, but as this direct distance is measured along a straight line that passes though the East Usambara Mountains, the actual driving distance between Tanga and Lushoto is quite a bit longer.
The driving distance between Tanga town and Lushoto is 168 km, which takes about three hours to drive and is quite a scenic drive.
Tanga to Dar es Salaam
The drive from Tanga to Dar es Salaam is 346.6 km long and takes about 5.5 hours to complete.
It is possible to fly from Tanga to Dar es Salaam–though they are no direct flights. The flight duration is 1-2 hours depending on the carrier you are flying with.
Most flights between Tanga and Dar es Salaam transit through Zanzibar.
Tanga Tanzania Photos
P. S. Would you like to spread the word about your product, service, establishment or event? If so, find out how I can help you do that here.
P. P. S. Enjoyed this post? If so, how about subscribing to Chick About Town, so you get an alert whenever I publish a new post. To do so, simply enter your email address here. I’d also greatly appreciate it if you shared this post with your friends and followers on social media. Last but not least, you are welcome to use any of these photos on your own website. I simply request that you link back here. Thank you! 🙂
Photo Credits: Nature Bound Africa, Daily News, Booking.com, Wikimapia