Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
National Microfinance Bank
(
8am-3pm Mon-Fri) On the main road. Changes cash
only.
Tumaini Bureau de Change
( 8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat) Changes cash; next
to Tumaini Restaurant.
Tourist Information
Friends of Usambara Society
( 027-264 0132, 0787-094725;
www.usambaratravels.com
)
Just down the small road running next to the bank, this well-
organised place offers a full range of hikes and activities.
Tayodea
( 0784-817848; youthall2000@yahoo.com) On the small hill behind the bus
stand, and next to New Green View Guesthouse. Arranges guides and hikes at the standard
rates.
Tupande
( 0783-908597;
www.tupande-usambara.org
)
In the southwestern corner of
the bus station, with hikes at the usual prices plus drumming workshops, an 'Usambara
Kitchen' tour (Tsh45,000 per person) where you can learn to cook local dishes, and other
options.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Dalla-dallas go throughout the day between Lushoto and Mombo (Tsh2000, one hour), the
junction town on the main highway.
Daily direct buses travel from Lushoto to Tanga (Tsh6000, four hours), Dar es Salaam
(Tsh12,000, six to seven hours) and Arusha (Tsh12,000 to Tsh13,000, six hours), with most
departures from 7am. To get to the lodges near Migambo, take the road heading uphill and
northeast of town to Magamba, turn right at the signposted junction and continue for 7km
to Migambo junction, from where the lodges are signposted. Via public transport, there's
a daily bus between Tanga and Kwamakame that goes to within around 2km of Mullers,
departing Tanga at about 9am or 10am and reaching the Migambo area at around 2pm.
ST MARY'S MAZINDE JUU
Tucked away in the Usambara Mountains near Lushoto, in the tiny village of
Mazinde Juu, is St Mary's Secondary School, an impressive educational success
story. The school was founded in 1989 by a Benedictine missionary, based on
the idea that Tanzania's long-term development can only be achieved through
the education and empowerment of the country's women. The area around
Mazinde Juu, long neglected and lagging behind much of the rest of the region
economically, was an ideal place to put this belief into practice. Most local fam-
ilies made (and continue to make) their living from small-scale farming, and
