Pare Mountains

The Pare mountains run in two blocks, North and South, between Kilimanjaro and the Usambaras, and they are Eastern Arc country: old forest on the tops, terraced farms below, and a Pare population who have worked these slopes for centuries with their own irrigation and sacred forest groves. Cultural walking programmes run from villages such as Usangi and Mbaga, taking in the forest, the ridges and viewpoints looking out over the Maasai plains and towards Kilimanjaro.

Background

The Swahili name is Milima ya Upare, and the mountains take their name from the Pare people who live there. The range lies within the Kilimanjaro Region, divided between Mwanga District and Same District, north of the Usambara Mountains. Shengena Peak is the highest point at 2,464 metres, with a prominence of 1,746 metres. Among the birds is the South Pare white-eye, Zosterops winifredae, an endemic species, along with the mountain buzzard, the olive woodpecker, the moustached tinkerbird and the African hill babbler.

Source: Wikipedia, "Pare Mountains"

What's there

• The sacred groves - forest patches kept for ritual use and never cleared.
• The terraced farming - hand-built terraces and irrigation on the slopes.
• The village walks - guided routes run from Usangi, Mbaga and other villages.
• The plains view - the Maasai steppe and Kilimanjaro from the ridge tops.

When to go

June to October is driest and best for walking. The rains make the tracks difficult. Mornings are clearest for the long views.

Practical notes

There is no tourism infrastructure to speak of and arrangements are made through village programmes. Accommodation is homestay or basic guesthouse. Roads up into the hills are rough.

Nearby

Mkomazi is east, and Moshi is northwest.

Key facts