Your visit will be conducted by local people and can be designed in various ways and can range from a half day to several days. The Northern Pare Mountains are situated south-east of Moshi, almost in the shade of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The spectacular Northern Pare Mountains offer unique opportunities to experience the Pare culture of Tanzania. Surrounded by eleven peaks, the little town Usangi is a center of economic activities. On top of the mountains are protected natural forests and moor lands that often have the status of traditional clan-forest in the Pare culture. In these forests, ceremonies take place and witchdoctors perform their magic powers. Mt. Kilimanjaro is a stone's throw from the area and at many places the impressive mountain is revealed for your eyes.

For queries and further details about any Cultural Tour, Safari Tour, Trekking Tour or Zanzibar Tour as well as price quotations, please do not hesitate to contact us!

This is the invitation from the people of Northern Pare Mountains:

» Welcome to the green Northern Pare Mountains,
where you can get a real impression of rural African life,
while enjoying the tropical vegetation on sloping mountains.

We, the people of Northern Pare Mountains offer you:

• A walk through Kindoroko Forest Reserve, a natural rainforest on top of the mountain;
• Climbing to different mountain peaks, where you have excellent views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Lake Jipe and Nyumba ya Mungu;
• Visit to historical relics from the time of tribal war and colonial rule;
• A view into the Pare culture, with tales of ancient Pare legends;
• Thorough explanation about various development projects in our villages including irrigation, soil conservation, and reforestation.

Tourism profits will be used to promote energy-saving stoves.
Your visit helps to protect our environment.«

LOCATION:

The Northern Pare Mountains are situated 50 km south-east of Moshi, almost in the shade of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The mountains can be entered via the town of Mwanga, the district capital where huge palm trees grow abundantly in the water that streams downhill. From Mwanga a good sand road winds upwards to Usangi, the center of the Northern Pare Mountains. Surrounded by eleven peaks, the little town is a center of economic activities. Small local factories produce bricks, stoves, pottery and clothes. In their backyards, some families have local breweries, using traditional brewing methods inherited from their grandfathers. Every Monday and Thursday, there is a colorful market, where farmers from the surrounding villages come to sell their harvest. The mountains are among the most fertile in East Africa, and villagers do there utmost to use every square meter of cultivatable land. Hand-made dikes have drained swampy areas, terrace-building has enabled cultivation on steep slopes and traditional irrigation systems bring water to many farms. On top of the mountains are protected natural forests and moor lands that often have the status of traditional clan-forest in the Pare culture. In these forests, ceremonies take place and witchdoctors perform their magic powers. From the mountain tops you have wide views over the surrounding plains, seeing the extensive Kisangara sisal estate, the long-drawn lakes of Jipe and Nyumba ya Mungu (»House of God«) and at the horizon the Taita and Kiteto hills.

NORTHERN PARE MOUNTAINS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:

German (GTZ), Dutch (SNV) and local (ENIMASHA) development organizations have initiated several development projects in the area. The organizations work closely together and try to assist farmers in increasing their agricultural production, while preserving the natural environment. The improved traditional irrigation systems, the soil conservation terraces on the steep slopes and the vast number of tree nurseries in the area are the most visible results. Recently, development organizations have also started to promote energy saving stoves that use three times less firewood and therefore help to preserve the natural forests and reduce the workload of women. The profit from the tourism programme will be used for the promotion of these stoves. When you are in the mountains, feel free to visit the various development projects. The Pare farmers will proudly show you the results and provide you with interesting background information.

FACILITIES:

In Usangi, there are several local families that can offer a room to tourists. Most of these families stay at the compound of the Lomwe secondary school, where often one of the family members works as a teacher. The rest house of the school also offers three rooms for visitors. In Kisangara chini, tourists can spend the night at the Enimasha house of the Banduka family. Food can be provided at all of these places and is of good quality and prepared hygienically. In the mountains there are also areas suitable for camping.

Note:

• It is recommended that you wear proper hiking or walking shoes.
• Do not forget a raincoat, sun cap and sun cream.
• Your own camping equipment if you plan to camp.

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