Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Udzungwa is the largest and least disturbed block of the Eastern Arc mountains, and its distinction is continuity: forest runs unbroken from around two hundred and fifty metres up to over two thousand, which is rare in Africa and allows species to shift with the climate. Two primates live only here, the Iringa red colobus and the Sanje mangabey, and the sanje mangabey was unknown to science until 1979. The park covers about 1,990 square kilometres up to the 2,576-metre Lohomero peak, with more than 400 bird species and some 2,500 plants, a quarter of them endemic. There are no roads inside; everything is done on foot.

Background

Udzungwa Mountains National Park covers 1,990 square kilometres in the Kilolo District of Iringa Region and the Kilombero District of Morogoro Region, and takes in the Udzungwa section of the Eastern Arc Mountains. It rises from 250 metres to 2,576 metres at the peak of Lohomero, through tropical rainforest, mountain forest, miombo woodland, grassland and steppe. More than 400 bird species, 2,500 plant species, a quarter of them endemic, and 6 primate species live here, and it is said to have the second greatest biodiversity of any national park in Africa.

Source: Wikipedia, "Udzungwa Mountains National Park"

What you'll find

• Sanje Falls - a waterfall of around one hundred and seventy metres in three stages.
• The Sanje mangabey - a monkey found only in this forest, discovered in 1979.
• The unbroken forest - continuous cover from lowland to montane, rare on the continent.
• The walking trails - a network from short walks to multi-day traverses.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and the best for walking. The rains from November to May make the trails very slippery. Mornings are best for primates.

Before you go

Everything here is on foot and the trails are steep; the Sanje Falls walk is hard work. Guides are compulsory and charged separately. There is no game driving and visitors expecting a standard safari will be disappointed.

Nearby

Mikumi is north, and Iringa is west.

Key facts