You can explore Udzungwa National Park on foot with waterfalls, monkeys and birds, including several endemic species.
Description
The Udzungwa National Park is located in the Eastern part of Tanzania and is known for its hiking trails. Situated in the “Eastern Arc Mountains,” this park boasts 30 meter (100 foot) tall trees lined with ferns, fungi, lichens, and mosses. This chain of mountains has also been called the “African Galapagos” for its wide variety of wildlife and local plants, including the precious African violet. The Udzungwa National Park is known as the biggest and most diverse in its biology in these sierras. It alone stands as the only recognized national park in this mountain range.
When walking under the canopy of the jungle that reaches from 250 meters (820 feet) to over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), you will know why the Udzungwa National Park is special. This makes for excellent hiking trails in the forest where you can climb to the Sanje Waterfall. This is a common destination to see the plunge of 170 meters (550 feet) from the mist into a firest which can be visited in just half a day. If you are looking for a more intense hike, there is the Mwanihana Trail which requires two nights. On its flat highland, this trail offers scenic views of the sugar plantations along the way to the peak which is the second tallest summit in the sierra.
While there is not as much game watching as compared to other African national parks, birdwatchers will be entertained by more than 400 species. Common sightings include the oriole (known for its green head), but there are a dozen species native to the Eastern Arc Mountains that remain more elusive. Further, there are four bird species that can only be found in the Udzungwa National Park, including a type of forest partridge that researchers first identified in 1991 and is likely descended from the Asian type of birds than any of its African counterparts.
In addition to birds, six types of primates have been spotted. These include the Sanje crested mangabey (which was not discovered by scientists until 1979) and the Iringa red colobus. Both of species are unique to the Udzungwa National Park.
With new species still being discovered in modern times, the Udzungwa National Park may still be hiding gems from mankind.
About Udzungwa National Park
- Size: 1,990 square kilometers (770 square miles).
- Location: five hours (350 kilometers/215 miles) from Dar Es Salaam; 65 kilometers (40 miles) South-West of Mikumi.
When to go
June to October is the dry season then there are short rains, but be prepared for rain any time. You can visit the park during all the year but it can be slippery in the rain season.
What to do
- Hiking and walking
- Bird watching
Wildlife
- Monkeys and birds
