Enfolded by the green-painted ridges of Tanzania’s Poroto Mountains, great swathes of lush coffee farms and tea plantations, the kaleidoscopic meadows and highland plateaus of the Kitulo National Park and the dusty heights of Loleza Mountain, little Mbeya boasts plenty in the way of outdoorsy activity for the budding ecotourist and nature lover. Nearby, the iconic Mpanga-Kipengere Game Reserve encompasses some of the richest sections of the country’s Southern Highlands, throwing up gushing streams that carve their way through the valleys towards the venae cavae of the Great Ruaha River, ancient mountain forests, and the peripheries of the sprawling Usangu Wetlands. Elsewhere, sandy beaches thread their way along the shores of Lake Nyasa, hippos and crocodiles and Cape buffalo splash in the ponds of the Katavi National Park and hiking trails beckon walkers from the heath-clad heights of Mount Rungwe. All these wonders are best viewed with the help of Mbeya tour guides, who can be found clustering between the teahouses and welcoming homestays in the heart of town.