The Usambara Mountains are accessible from the Dar es Salaam to Moshi road (the A14 highway). Mombo, the junction town at the foot of the Western Usambara escarpment, lies on this highway about 320 kilometres from Dar es Salaam and 120 kilometres from Moshi. From Mombo, the road climbs steeply to Lushoto (25 kilometres, about an hour by car or minibus).
Dalla-dallas (minibuses) run frequently from Mombo to Lushoto throughout the day, and direct buses run from Dar es Salaam and Arusha to Lushoto. For the Eastern Usambaras and Amani, the junction is at Muheza on the Tanga road; dalla-dallas run to Amani from there.
A car or 4WD is useful for the more remote areas of both ranges but not essential for the Lushoto area.