Udzungwa mountains, home of different animal species

UDZUNGWA National park is the largest and most bio-diversity of a chain of a dozen large forest-swathed mountains that rise majestically from the flat coastal scrub of eastern Tanzania. Known collectively as the eastern arc mountains located in Southern tourist circuit. The park covers an area of about 1,990 square kilometers and is centered on 30 41’ E and 70 48’ S in the Iringa and Morogoro regions of south central Tanzania. It is five hours drive (350 km/215 miles) from Dar es Salaam and 65 kms (40 miles) southwest of Mikumi. Located west of Dar es Salaam city, the Udzungwa Mountains rise up from the western edge of the Selous Game Reserve. Vervet monkeys play high in the forest canopy, and small forest antelope can be viewed at the right time of day. Botanical diversity is exceptional, and the park is host to a large number of endangered bird species.

A physical geographical outlook of Udzungwa mountains as it can be seen from the background.

Views from the peaks of the mountains, towards the Selous Game Reserve and the distant Indian Ocean coast, are incredible and well worth the effort. The Udzungwa Mountains offer visitors the opportunity to view several species of primates and endangered birds in a beautiful African rain forest. Five distinct trails cover the forests and mountain peaks within the park, and offer varying levels of difficulty for everyone from novices to experienced trekkers. With no roads entering Udzungwa National Park it is a paradise for hikers and backpackers alike. 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!

Sanje Mangabey (discovered in 1979), are typical monkey species which can be found at Udzubgwa Mountains park.

Udzungwa National Park supports a diverse, large mammal community including elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, African wild dog, eland, waterbuck and sable. Six species of primate are found here and two are endemic, the Iringa (Uhehe) Red Colobus monkey, and the Sanje Crested Mangabey, which was discovered in 1979. There is also a rich small bovid community including good numbers of Red, Blue and Abbots duikers, and bushbuck. Known collectively as the Eastern Arc Mountains, this archipelago of isolated massifs has also been dubbed the African Galapagos for its treasure-trove of endemic plants and animals, most familiarly the delicate African violet. The major attractions found there is biologically diverse plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, butterfly, and insects of which some of species are found nowhere else in the world. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is the only known National Park in Tanzania with a culturally important natural cave and has survived destruction before gazettement due to traditional taboos and beliefs. “Udzungwa” which is the name of the area is probably a linguistic corruption possibly by the Germans of the word “wadsungwa” one of the tribes living on the slopes of the Mountains. The park has Cultural and Historical sites such as Bokela (mountain God), Mwanaruvele cave, Magombereka cave, Nyumbanitu and Ndundulu mountains.

Red Collobus monkey species are also found at Udzungwa Mountains park.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is one of Tanzania’s most outstanding, pristine, paradise and unique exciting wilderness mountains forested with greatest altitudinal range of forest. It is one of thirty-four “World Biodiversity Hotspot” and one of 200 WWF Eco-region of global critical importance. The park has high density of endemism species with some plants and animals that are only found in these mountains nowhere else in the world can be found hence center for endemism in the eastern arc mountains.
They have species concentrations of unique flora and fauna in the world, in addition it contains 30-40 percent of Tanzania plants and animals. Humidity in the air from the Indian Ocean is forced, by the sudden change of altitude, to precipitate as rain in the mountains. Since the prevailing wind comes from east, the mountain range constantly receives rain. Before ascending to Mwanahina peak, the second-highest point in the range Omithologists are attracted to Udzungwa for an avian wealth embracing more than 400 species from the lovely and readily located green headed oriole to more than a dozen secretive eastern arc endemics.

Water falls from the top of the mountains is a peculiar characteristics which can be viewed at Udzungwa mountains.

Four bird species are peculiar to Udzungwa including a forest partridge first discovered in 1991 and more closely related to an Asian genus than to any other African fowl. Undoubtedly, this great forest has yet to reveal all its treasures: ongoing scientific exploration will surely add to its diverse catalogue of endemics. The dry season occurs from June to October, when it is best to visit. During the rainy season from March to May visits are not recommended.