Udzungwa Mountain National Park

Covering a total area of 2000 square km Udzungwa Mountain National Park, the biodiversity of this park is by far one of Tanzania’s most special characteristics. The Habitat includes mountain forests, tropical rainforests, Miombo woodlands, grasslands and steppe. The Udzungwa Mountains are division of the Eastern Arc Mountains which are found in Kenya and Tanzania and were created some 200 million years ago. Today they hold a unique assortment of flora and fauna and cover only 2% of Tanzania’s area but hold between 30-40% of the countries plant and mammal species.

Udzungwa National Park is 65 km distance from south of Mikumi National Park. Holding a wide range in altitude and habitat types, Udzungwa National Park has one of the highest numbers of wildlife species worldwide. Udzungwa National Park it is a hikers and backpackers paradise. Numerous breath-taking day-hikes can be organized along with multiple day excursions into the dense rain forest or onto the high plateau. One beautiful trek is up to the Sanje River Waterfall, which plunges for 170 metres through the forest to the valley below. The view from the top is magnificent! Udzungwa National Park supports a diverse number of large mammals including lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, African wild dog, eland, waterbuck and sable. The main attraction is around six species of primate are found here and two are endemic, the Iringa (Uhehe) Red Colobus monkey, and the Sanje Crested Mangabey. Udzungwa is also famous harbouring forest bird habitat in Tanzania. Several endemics have just been discovered recently (including a new species of francolin and the Rufus-winged sun bird).