HOW TO REACH
HOW TO REACH USAMBARA
Lushoto is one of the eight districts of Tanga region in Tanzania country and is a hometown of Usambara mountains that’s to say if you are planning to reach Usambara mountains you need to reach Lushoto town first.
The main entrance to Tanzania country by foreigners is through available International Airports which are Dar es Salaam International Airport (DAR) 375km to Lushoto, Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) 360km from Dar ferry Port to Lushoto, and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) 310km to Lushoto, also Lushoto is bordered to Kenya country where the nearby town is Mombasa in Kenya side, so Moi International Airport (MBA) is the landing airport 360km to Lushoto.
Lushoto doesn’t have a landing airport hence for tourists who want to reach Lushoto on domestic flights the best and nearby option is to land at Tanga town airport (TGT) 180km to Lushoto either an airstrip found at Mombo minor town (HTMO) 40km to Lushoto.
MOMBO MINOR TOWN
Mombo is a minor town located at the foothills of the Usambara Mountains 32km to Lushoto township.
This town is the Lushoto main entrance junction from all country destinations.
Whether you’re coming from Dar es salaam, Bagamoyo, Morogoro, Tanga town, Pangani, Arusha, Moshi and Same district Mombo is your Lushoto entry point and drop-off town in case you didn’t board a direct bus.
Travelers who prefer usage of Train either from Dar es salaam, Arusha or Moshi the drop-off station should be Mombo station.
PANGANI, TANGA AND MUHEZA TO LUSHOTO
Travelers who are intending to come to Lushoto from Pangani have the option to go to Muheza first and wait for buses that are coming from Kange bus terminal in Tanga town via Muheza either they can go straight from Pangani to Kange bus terminal in Tanga town and board the buses.
Travelers who are in Tanga town coming to Lushoto has to go to Kange bus terminal and board buses that comes to Lushoto.
Travelers who are at Muheza should wait for buses that comes from Kange bus terminal in Tanga town and board them to Lushoto.
Kange bus terminal to Lushoto is about 180km and travelling hours is between 6 to 7 hours due to tendency of these passenger minibuses of frequency stops for pickups and dropoff of passengers.
Actually there are plenty of passenger minibuses from Tanga to Lushoto and you don’t need a prior bus ticket as you will get one once inside the bus.
These buses has frequency departure from 6am till 16:30 on daily basis.
DIRECT BUSES DAR ES SALAAM TO LUSHOTO
The main bus terminal at Dar es salaam is named after our late president “Magufuli Bus Terminal” located at Mbezi ward.
From Magufuli bus terminal to Lushoto is approximately 360km where travelling time can be 7 to 8 hours.
Below are our recommended direct buses from Dar es salaam which has daily departure.
1) Kiluwa bus
2) Burudani Tosha bus
3) Mwesino bus
4) Side Safari bus
DIRECT BUSES ARUSHA, MOSHI TO LUSHOTO
For travelers coming from Arusha and Moshi to Lushoto these are the ordinary buses which has a daily single departure schedule. Both bus’s departure is at 6:00 am hence you need to arrive early to the bus terminal approximately 30 minutes before departure.
Travelers who are at Moshi these are the same buses you will have to board, you need to book your ticket earlier.
Arusha to Lushoto is 360km hence expect 9 to 10 hours of travelling with these ordinary buses.
Moshi to Lushoto is 270km and travelling with these buses can take 6 to 7 hours
1) Kibomboi bus
2) Fasaha bus
3) Chakito bus
INDIRECT COMFORT BUSES WITH MOMBO DROP-OFF
Mombo minor town is regarded as a centre between Dar es salaam and Arusha hence both travelling ways the travelling hours is between 5 to 6 hours to your drop-off.
These are our recommended comfortable buses with daily multi-departure from Dar es salaam to Moshi, Arusha and either way where you must drop-off at Mombo junction.
1) Kilimanjaro express
2) BM bus
3) Abood bus
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN
There are travelers who prefer to use train to come to Lushoto where they drop-off at Mombo station.
The train usually has two departure in a week at either direction Dar es salaam or Arusha.
Train from Dar es salaam to Moshi and Arusha the departure is on Saturday and Monday where you’re required to arrive at 13:30 as departure from Dar es Salaam station is 14:30.
Train from Arusha to Moshi and Dar es salaam the departure is on Sunday and Tuesday where you’re required to arrive at 13:30 as departure from Arusha station is at 14:30
By using a train from Arusha/Moshi your expected arrival time at Mombo is between 21:00 to 22:30 whilst from Dar es Salaam is expected to be 1:00am to 2:30am midnight. With such arrival time you will definitely need a transfer to Lushoto.
Let’s know earlier your decision for hiring private transfer from Mombo to Lushoto so that we can organise that prior your arrival.
TRAIN TICKETS
The train has three (3) classes to choose from which starts from:-
Second class A: Separate seats
Second class B: Sleeping single bed
Third Class: Long coach seat (3 people to seat)
To book your ticket you need to have a valid Passport with you.
NOTE:
Visit Usambara company we have an affiliation with all above mentioned buses and train, we are in a position to book or make a reservation for a ticket on your behalf, you need to contact us for smooth ticket arrangements.
