The Udzungwa Mountains National Park which is part of the 'Eastern Arc' is a stunning forested area in the south of Tanzania which covers about 10,000 square kilometres. It sits between the Iringa and Morogoro regions. The 'mountains' vary in height with the highest peak being Lohomero at 2576m. The Eastern Arc Mountains contain about 30-40% of Tanzania's plants and animals and has a mix of unique flora and fauna. The humid air from the nearby Indian Ocean pushing inland falls as rain in the mountains and with the prevailing winds bringing weather from the east most of the time, there is rain in the mountains all year round. The forest here is the only place in Tanzania that has unbroken forest canopy and over 2500 plant species, the lowland rainforest rises from 250m to highland forest up on the highest peak.
The park includes some cultural historical sites such as several caves and mountains with folklore stories.
There are eleven primate species here - they can be hard to find, so allow a few days if you are particularly keen to see any of them. Five of the species are endemic which are the Sanje Magabey, a newly discovered monkey (Rungwecerbus kipunji) and Iringa Red Colobus Monkey which are all diurnal plus two nocturnal species, the Matundu Dwarft Galago and White Colobus Monkey. Other primates include the Black and White Colobus, Yellow Baboon, Blue Monkey and Vervet Monkey. Other mammals in the forest include several species of duiker, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard (though the cats are rarely seen).
Birding here is superb with over 250 species and this is the second most diverse area in Africa for birds (after a location in the Congo).
Details of hiking trails (information from Hondo Hondo):
Sanje Waterfall Trail - approximately 7km, 2-5hrs The most popular trail in Udzungwa is Sanje Waterfall. This 200m waterfall is very impressive surrounded by rainforest with excellent views over the Kilombero floodplain. At the top, there are two more waterfalls, both impressive, and you can swim in the cool waters of their plunge pools. This trek can be done by an enthusiastic hiker in half a day, heading quickly up the escarpment and back down again. We usually recommend a more leisurely approach, heading up the mountain in the morning, taking lunch on the top of the waterfall with its breath-taking views of the valley, and taking time out to swim during the heat of the day. Then you can follow the trail around the side of the escarpment and head back down the mountainside, making more of a day of your hike.
Njokamoni Trail - approximately 5km, 2-4hrs Njokamoni trail is very similar to the Sanje trail except less well-known and therefore less used. As a result, it is common to see many troupes of monkeys and in particular you stand a better chance of seeing the Sanje Crested Mangabey. You may also see red duiker, squirrels and other rare forest mammals. This hike will usually take you between 2 and 3 hours with a rewarding waterfall at the top, and a short scramble over the rocks to the start of the path down. The trail passes behind Hondo Hondo Tented Camp, and Njokamoni waterfall is on the same stream as that which provides water to Hondo Hondo. You can start and end the walk from Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp without needing vehicular transport.
Hidden Valleys Trail (Campsite 3 trail) - approximately 14km, 6-8hrs This trail follows a big loop around the large peak rising behind Hondo Hondo Tented Camp. It starts from Campsite 3, just after the turning for the park HQ, and arrives back on the decent trail from Njokamoni Waterfall, right back into Hondo Hondo. It's a long, steep walk that climbs to over 1000m, so you should plan to leave early. It is necessary to take a ranger on this hike as there are large mammals deep in the forest. You will certainly see plenty of wildlife on this trail. Once you've climbed the sometimes steep trail to the ridge, you walk through the flat grassy bottoms of some beautiful hidden valleys (hence our name for the trail) often frequented by elephants.
Mwanihana Peak - approximately 38km, 2-3 days For the keen hiker, Mwanihana peak at 2150m is one of the highest peaks in the Eastern Arc. The 38km hike takes 3 days and 2 nights at a leisurely pace, although for the very fit it can be completed in 2 days. For those who want to make the most of the hike we recommend that you take your time and enjoy the trek, as the trail passes through Miombo woodland, low-land forest, sub-montane forest, highland plateau and pristine montane forest. Just before the bare rock and grass of the summit, eerie glades of bamboo rustle in the wind. This is, in terms of habitat and associated wildlife, a very diverse journey. Much of the trek is alongside sparkling mountain streams with butterflies dancing through the dappled forest light. This is also the most successful route for spotting the elusive Sanje Mangabey. Although rarely encountered there are also elephant and buffalo up on the plateau so your trek will be accompanied by an armed ranger.
Lumemo Trail - approximately 65km, 5 days The longest, and most arduous trail in Udzungwa is the Lumemo trail, starting along the same path as the Mwanihana trail, except instead of hiking up the peak after camping at Njia Panda, the path continues for another 4 nights exiting the forest along the Lumemo river leading to Ifakara, where you'll be picked up and brought back to Hondo Hondo for a nice shower and a few much needed cold beers! This trail leads deep into the heart of the Udzungwas, to areas where few people have ever been and the wildlife there has had virtually no contact with humans.
