Pare Mountains

The Pare Mountains are a collection of peaks located in northeastern Tanzania. The range is divided up into northern and southern subranges, both of which are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. Within the range, there are 52 named mountains, the highest and most prominent of which is Shengana Peak (2,463 m/8,081 ft) in South Pare.

The North Pare Mountains and the South Pare Mountains are located in northeastern Tanzania. They begin about 35 km (20 mi) to the southeast of Kilimanjaro and end just to the north of the Usambara Mountains. To the east of the North Pare Mountains is Lake Jipe, which is located on Tanzania’s border with Kenya.

The North Pare Mountains in the Mwanga District of the Kilimanjaro Region contain six forest reserves: Kindoroko, Minja, Mramba, Kiverenge, Kamwella I, and Kamwella II. In total, these reserves cover 7,407 ha (18,303 acres) of terrain. In addition to this, there are nearly 300 clan forests that protect 371 ha (917 acres) of land in the region.

The South Pare Mountains are located in the Same District of the Kilimanjaro Region. Within the southern part of the range you’ll find:

• 1 Nature Reserve – Chome Nature Reserve. 
• 8 Gazetted Forest Reserves – Chambogo, Kiranga-Hengae, Chongweni, Kankoma, Kisiwani, Vumari, Kwizu, and Maganda.
• 5 Proposed Forest and Village Forest Reserves –Kwamwenda, Mwala, Dido, Mambugi, and Ishereto.

In total, these reserves cover more than 27,168 ha (67,134 acres) of terrain.

Chome Nature Reserve encompasses 14,283 ha (35,294 acres) of land in the Pare Mountains, including Shengena Peak, the tallest mountain in the range. It was established as a forest reserve in 1957 and upgraded to a nature forest reserve in 2016.

Geology

The mountains in the Eastern Arc began forming around 100 million years ago. They reached a topography that’s somewhat similar to their current state at the start of the Miocene epoch about 25 to 30 million years ago.

The rocks in the range date back to the Precambrian epoch but have since been deformed from millions of years of uplift and erosion. The Eastern Arc Mountains are primarily composed of migmatites and granites, with some significant quartz veins running through them. Shengena Peak and the surrounding mountains in the South Pare are rich in mica deposits.

Ecology

The Pare Mountains are generally considered to be of lower conservation priority than other sections of the Eastern Arc Mountains due to their lower levels of endemism.

The South Pare Mountains support a range of habitats including sub-montane, montane, and upper montane, as well as areas of montane heath within the Chome Nature Forest Reserve.

Some of the trees that you’ll find in the South Pare Mountains include Guinea plum (Parinari excelsa) in sub-montane forests, and Ocotea usambarensis, Albizia gummifera, and Podocarpus latifolius in montane forests. The South Pare white-eye (Zosterops winifredae) is a bird species that’s endemic to the range.

The mountains receive approximately 140 cm (55 in) of rain per year, primarily in the short rainy season that occurs in November and December and in the long rainy season from March through May.

Threats to forests in this part of the range have come from logging for valuable timber species and fires. When fires damage existing forests in the region, invasive trees like black wattle and Eucalyptus grow in. Oftentimes, these invasive species out-compete the range’s native flora.

The North Pare Mountains encompass montane forests, dry montane forests, dry woodlands, and heathlands. Some of the primary tree species that you’ll see in this part of the range include African cherry (Prunus africana), Albizia gummifera, and Newtonia buchananii. This part of the range is relatively dry when compared to other forests within the Eastern Arc.

There are approximately three endemic vertebrate species and three endemic plant species in the Pare Mountains. There have not been many biodiversity surveys done (particularly on reptiles, amphibians, and plants) in the region. The forests of the Pare Mountains support a wide network of fauna and Hundreds of birds thrive in the Pare Mountains, including hawks, buzzards, eagles, shrikes, flycatchers, warblers, thrushes, and sunbirds. Genets, civets, mongoose, Syke’s monkeys, hyraxes, duikers, bushbucks, yellow baboons, elephant shrews, and other rodents can be found throughout the forests of the range, too.

Human History

Pareland is also known as Vuasu (Asu the root word and Chasu or Athu, the language). The location lies on one of the northern routes for historic east-African long-distance trade, connecting the hinterland with the coast of the Indian Ocean. The residents of northern Pare recognise two sub-areas based on ethno linguistic differences: Gweno-speaking Ugweno to the north and Chasu-speaking Usangi to the south.

To the Pare tribe, also called the Wapare, the mountains in this range have been home for at least 500 years. While many tribes in Tanzania today have begun to forgo traditional practices and adopt more urbanized lifestyles, the Pare are known for upholding their tribal traditions.

Traditional practices and knowledge continue to be shared within the Pare tribe to this day. This sharing of cultural knowledge and practices has helped conserve much of the region’s forests because many of them are considered sacred to the Pare. The Pares continue to practice traditional customs, such as collecting plants from within the region’s forests for medicinal uses and other cultural purposes.

Southern Pare Mountain Tours:-

Tanzania Tourism - South Pare Mountains

Itinerary: Arusha/Moshi – Same – South Pare Mountains – Same/Marangu/Moshi/Arusha.

1. Trip to Southern Pare Mountains

A hike through Southern Pare Mountains takes visitors through local villages and beautiful forests, and offers an opportunity to explore roads less traveled. On the top of Mountains to Chome Forest reserve, which is a dense tropical forest with many rare trees and plants. Hikes through the mountains can be a day or multi-day trips and can also be combined with a trip to Mkomazi National Park and Lake Jipe.

We begin exploration and head to Same District and then up to Mbaga and hike the highest and most prominent Shengena Peak (2463 m/8081 ft) in Chome Nature Forest Reserve, within the range, there are 52 other peaks. 

This tour packages will include walking tours to Ranzi Dam, Ikongwe Village tour, Mkwakweni village, where you will learn about traditional healers and how to make local brew (dengelua).  Then explore some local caves and proceed to Heiganda, Duma Viewpoint for a view of Mkomazi National Park.

Pare Mountain Wildlife species include the endemic South Pare white-eye, mountain buzzard, olive woodpecker, moustached tinkerbird, and the African hill gabbier.

Attraction - South Pare Mountains

Shengena / Chome Nature Forest Reserve
Chome Nature Forest Reserve consists of a 16 km central ridge running north-south cloaked in lush, evergreen forest. Shengena Peak (2,463 m) in the north-west of the reserve is the second highest peak in Kilimanjaro Region, after Mt Kilimanjaro. From Shengena Peak, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Mkomazi National Park, the North Pare Mountains, Taita Hills and even Mt Meru. The forest is the main source of water for Same Town and the irrigation schemes in the adjacent lowlands. The reserve is predominantly montane forest with patches of heath montane grassland and moss-draped elfin forest. Visitors can admire the impressively large East African Camphorsome reaching 30 m high and 2 metres in diameter.

Mghimbi Caves and Malameni Rock
Visit the Mghimbi Caves, which in 1860 were used as hiding places during slave raids. Proceed to Malameni Rock where until 1930, thousands of children were sacrificed to the Gods to appease the evil spirits.

Mpepera View Point
From this viewpoint, see Mt. Kilimanjaro and the expanse of the Mkomazi National Park. A cross on the hilltop symbolizes a peaceful union between the Protestants and Roman Catholics of the area.

Tona Moorland – Ranzi Dam
From Tona Lodge, walk though lush rainforests to view Malameni Rock and Proceed to Tona Moorland. Behind the Moorland are ruins from the period of German missionary influence in Mbaga Hills. Go on to Ranzi Dam, where you can picnic beside a natural spring. Ranzi Lake “Maji ya juu” which literally means waters on high. The lake is 2,000 meters above sea level in the south Pare Mountains.

Thornton Falls - Gonja (446 Ft.)
The first European to see the falls in the South Pare Mountains was Richard Thornton in 1862 hence named after him. Thornton had previously worked with the famous explorer Dr. David Livingstone on the Zambezi before travelling north to the Pares and Kilimanjaro. The local people call the falls “Ndurumo” The falls are formed from the river Hingilili originating from the Shengena rain forest on the mountain top. From the falls you get a breathtaking view of Lake Kalemawe on the plains along with rice fields.

Heiganda Duma Viewpoint
Visit Mbakweni village, home to traditional healers and breweries, Go on to Mlamba Natural Caves and Chabaru, a traditional village, before you begin your ascent to Heiganda Duma viewpoint.

Ikongwe Village Tour
Walk along mountain terrace and waterfalls from Ikongwe Village. The area abounds in tropical fruits. On the way back, stop by Mpepera viewpoint.

Red Reservoir Tour
This is an excellent picnic and bird viewing sport high in the mountains near the Tona Moorlands.

Old Dannholz House - The Legacy of Jakob Dannholz
In 1902 Mbaga became the site of one of the earliest Lutheran missions in the interior of what was then German East Africa, founded by Jakob Dannholz. The original church built by Dannholz is still in use, an oddly Bavarian apparition in these remote African hills, as is the stone house in which he lived. A more enduring legacy of the man’s work, however, is his seminal and sympathetic treatise documenting rare oral traditions that might otherwise have been forgotten. Written between 1912 and 1918, “The Curse and the Blessing”. It provides much insight into the cultural sites around Mbaga.

2. Tona Cultural Tourism includes:-

1. A trip to the hill top, Ranzi Dam and Tona grounds to get glimpses of German history unique flora and fauna.
2. A climb to the different mountain peaks from where you get excellent views of Mkomanzi National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Shengena Peaks the highest point of the Eastern Africa Mountain.
3. A view and picturing of Pare people cultural.

Difference tour are on offer half day walking tours:-

1.  Mghimbi caves and Mkumbavana cave.
2. Mpepera view point, from this view point you can see Mount Kilimanjaro and Shengena rain forest peak.
3. Also you enjoy the expanse of Mkomazi National Park, a cross on the hilltop symbolizes a peaceful union between the Protestants and Roman Catholic from the area.
4. Picnic waterfall tour, where we must enjoy different colour from our Fauna and Flora then different colorful Birds.

Ikongwe Village Tour

From Tona a walk along mountain terraces and waterfall, the area abounds in tropical fruits, on the way back stop by Mpepera view point.

Red Reservoir Tour

This is an excellent picnic and bird viewing sport high up in the mountain near the Tona.

3 Day Hike to Shengena Forest

• Day 01: Leave Tona early morning and walk through the green county side to chome village where we stay tonight with local people or family, local food and enjoy the rich pare culture.
• Day 02: Continue your ascent to the edge of Shengena Forest where you can camp under the star.
• Day 03: Rise at 4 am and hike up she Shengena peak to watch a stunning sunrise.

Thornton waterfall it takes three days to enjoy this tour

• Day one: From tona to Gonja the village where we stay tonight.
• Day two: From Gonja to waterfall and back Gonja to stay a night again.
• Day three: From Gonja and walk back to Tona.

Getting there:

Public transport: Mbaga Hills are about 150km from Moshi. Buses are available from Dar es salama up to Same at the bus stand, direction can be obtained about public transport to reach Mbaga Tona.

4 x 4 Car round trip: The beautiful Pare Mountains can be explored by driving around, visit the villages, the farmers and listen to the legends of the Pare people. 

Facilities: We have a lodge in Tona where people and visitors can stay and enjoy the view of Mkomazi National Park.

Meals: Meals are  prepared in clean environments; you can enjoy various tradition Pare meals.

Guide: Taking into consideration that all our guides are Pare they speak reasonable English. They are familiar with the area and can tell you many stories about history and daily life of the Pare people.

Recommended Equipment: Good walking shoes, sun cap, sun cream and drinking water and If you want to sleep over you will need camp equipment (We have tents for rent) and torch.

“ The first word a visitor to Tona is likely to hear is JAMBO, the swahili expression of greeting of HELLO “