Mazumbai — 3 Nights / 4 Days

Mazumbai is a managed research forest belonging to Sokoine University of Agriculture and one of the few intact pieces of submontane rainforest left in the Eastern Arc. Walking here is calm and unhurried — your guide will help identify endemic trees, listen for rare bird calls, and explain why botanists from around the world come to study this small patch of green.

All hikes can be customised by number of days and difficulty level — let us know what suits your group.

Duration	3 nights / 4 days
Total walking	≈ 30–45 km
Max elevation	≈ 1,500 m forest
Difficulty	Moderate

Itinerary

Day 1

Lushoto to Bumbuli

Take private transport from Lushoto down to Soni (1,300 m), then walk the rolling road and trail south to Bumbuli (1,194 m). Overnight in a local homestay where dinner is cooked from village ingredients.

Walking time: about 4–5 hours.

Day 2

Bumbuli to Mazumbai

From Bumbuli, walk uphill toward the Mazumbai forest border, passing tea estates and small farms. The forest edge is dramatic — old farmland giving way to dense submontane canopy. Overnight at the Mazumbai rest house, a simple, characterful base for the night.

Day 3

Mazumbai Forest

Spend the day exploring the forest with your guide — there are several looped trails through the reserve, and you'll have the chance to learn about the trees, mosses, butterflies and birds that make Mazumbai special. Return to the rest house for a second night.

Day 4

Mazumbai to Lushoto

Take private transport back to Lushoto. If time allows and you'd prefer it, we can swap the drive for a walk back from Mazumbai to Bumbuli.

Rates

LUSHOTO – MAZUMBAI	1 Pax	Group of 2–3	Group of 4–6
Price per person	330,000 TZS	275,000 TZS	215,000 TZS

Per person, per day. Includes accommodation, all meals, guide, fees and water (see inclusions).

Included

Local English-speaking guide for the duration of the trek
All accommodation along the route (guest house / convent / homestay / rest house)
Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner on every trekking day
Forest, conservation and entrance fees
Private transport where indicated in the itinerary
1 bottle of drinking water per person per day

Not Included

Flights and Tanzanian visa
Travel insurance (recommended)
Soft drinks, alcohol and beverages outside meals
Personal expenses, souvenirs and tips
Optional add-ons (e.g. private return transfer)

What to Bring

Hiking boots already broken in (essential)
Daypack (20–30 litres) for water, layers and lunch
Warm layer for evenings — mountain nights are cool
Light rain jacket and quick-dry trousers
Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
Refillable water bottle (1.5 L+)
Headtorch or torch for the village guesthouses
Personal first-aid (plasters, ibuprofen, blister care)
Light evening clothes and a change for each day

Best time of year: June–October for the most reliable visits. Mazumbai is a working research forest — access can occasionally be limited; we'll always confirm at the time of booking.

Highlights

Visit Mazumbai — one of the last untouched submontane forests in East Africa

Walk Soni → Bumbuli → Mazumbai through old farms and tea estates

Sleep in a local homestay and the university rest house

Spend a full day exploring Mazumbai's biodiversity

Quiet, off-the-beaten-track itinerary