HOW TO GET TO US? - Traveling to the Usambara mountains
First - traveling to Tanzania
There are 3 main international airports while traveling as a tourist to Tanzania:
➡️ Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA or JRO) between Moshi town and Arusha
➡️ Nyerere International Airport in Dar Essalam (DAR)
➡️ Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar (ZNZ)
If your goal is a safari to the parks of the Northern circuit, you should definitely choose JRO airport. If travelling to a beach destination – DAR or ZNZ.
Generally, the flights to Dar Essalam are cheaper than to Kilimanjaro. However, if coming to Uvi House & Restaurant, traveling from KIA is much easier and more pleasant than from Dar Essalam. Moreover, if the price difference isn’t too high, it’s more financially beneficial to fly to KIA as the cost of taxis, accommodation etc. is lower, as Moshi is a much smaller town than Dar Essalam. Also if you opt for a private transfer to Mambo – the shortcut from Moshi side guarantees a spectacular and much shorter drive than the one from Dar Essalam. If your flight arrives to KIA in the morning, while traveling by taxi, you can make it to Uvi House on the same day! If coming from Dar Essalam, an overnight in the city is required.
Most popular airlines flying to Tanzania: Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airways, KLM, Kenya Airways.
There are also cheaper, charter flights to Zanzibar from many Europena cities, however the transport to mainland can be challenging and expensive at times. Also, keep in mind that in 2024 Zanzibar introduced a mandatory healt insurance payable on arrival $44 per person.
Coming from Zanzibar to the mainland:
➡️ by the ferry – schedule and rates can be checked HERE
➡️ by air – there are several airways flying between Zanzaibar and various cities in Tanzania (Arusha (different airport than KIA), Dar Essalam, Mwanza, Tanga). The prices can vary between $25 up to $200 per passenger depending on the airline, departure/arrival town, time of the year. We recommend to use www.kiwi.com
How to get to Mambo?
From Dar es Salaam there are 3 ways:
1 – By 6:00 Kibomboi bus to Mtae. Arriving between 16:00 and 17:00. From the Mambo Junction (3km before Mtae) you can take a motorbike to the lodge for 5000 TZS.
2 – By 6:00 express bus to Lushoto or Mombo and from there by taxi.
3 – All the way by taxi (8-9 hours) – check the rates below.
From Arusha or Moshi you have 3 options as well:
1 – By 6:00 Fasaha bus to Mtae. Arriving between 16:00 and 17:00. From the Mambo Junction (3km before Mtae) you can take a motorbike to the lodge for 5000 TZS.
2 – By 6:00 express bus to Lushoto or Mombo and from there by taxi. Taxi from Lushoto is TZS 115,000 from Mombo TZS 180,000. Going by bus to Mombo is easier as there are many more buses than to Lushoto. You arrive to Mombo around 11-12 so with a taxi from there you can be at Uvi early afternoon.
3 – All the way by taxi (6-7 hours via a spectacular shortcut that’s a great adventure on its own!).
From Lushoto town:
1 – By Fasaha, Maqadir or Kibomboi bus to Mtae. The ticket is TZS 6000 per person. The buses are leaving Lushoto town between 12-14:00. Arriving between 16:00 and 17:00. From the Mambo Junction (3km before Mtae) you can take a motorbike to Uvi for 5000 TZS.
2 – A dala dala (Noah) to Lukozi – TZS 3000 per person, and then boda boda (motorcycle taxi) to Uvi House TZS 20,000.
3 – Taxi from Lushoto is TZS 115,000 from Mombo TZS 180,000 (the festest way – 2 hours drive).
Where are we?
Taxi rates
