Kilimanjaro

Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Udzungwa Mountains National Park has a size of 1,990 km2 (770 miles). The habitats contained within the national park include tropical rainforest, mountain forest, miombo woodland, grassland and steppe. There is a vertical height range of 250–2,576 metres (the peak of Lohomero).

There are more than 400 bird species, 2500 plant species (25% of which are endemics) and 6 primate species.

Tourism in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park revolves around hiking and trekking, as the park has no roads and is accessible only on foot. The hiking trails range in difficulty from the short one-hour Sanjo trek to the extremely challenging 6-day camping trek, the Lumemo trail. The most common walk is the Sanje Waterfalls trail which takes approximately four hours to complete and allows the visitor access to the stunning 170 m waterfall and includes swimming in the waterfall plunge pools as part of the activity. 

Two Day tour to Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Day 1:        Drive from Dar es Salaam to Mang’ula village in Kilombero District

Drive from Dar es Salaam direct to Mang’ula village, a distance of about 410 kms / 254 miles for about 6 hours arriving at Hondo Hondo camp site in late afternoon. Mang’ula village is situated near the main gate of Udzungwa National Park.This village has a vibrant market and lively drumming group. It has three main local tribes: Wapogoro, Wandamba and Wabena. Dinner and overnight at Hondo Hondo camp site.

Day 2:        Hike to Sanje Waterfall

After breakfast you take the most popular trail in Udzungwa to Sanje Waterfall. The Hike to Sanje Waterfall may take about 4 hours. This 180m waterfall is very impressive, surrounded by rainforest with excellent views over the Kilombero floodplain and out to the Selous Game Reserve.  At the top, there are two more waterfalls, both beautiful, and another half-way up, and you can take a well-deserved break from your hike to swim in the cool waters of their plunge pools. Then you descend and drive back to Dar es Salaam arriving there in evening.

Overnight Hike on Udzungwa Mountain National Park

To get a true feel of the forest, spend a night under the canopy.  Instead of taking half a day to complete the Sanje trail, head up and make camp in the forest overnight.  Spend the afternoon in the forest and then a magical evening under the forest canopy, eating by firelight and sleeping under canvas to the sounds of the forest.  Awake early to breakfast looking out over the Kilombero Valley from the top of the waterfall, and then spend the morning wandering down through the forest, spotting wildlife and splashing in waterfall pools on the way down. 

Three days Hike on Mt. Udzungwa National Park

For a keen hiker, Mwanihana peak at 2,150m is one of the highest peaks in the Eastern Arc and the second highest peak in the Udzungwa Mountains.  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 Mangebey.  Although rarely encountered there are also elephant and buffalo up on the plateau so your trek will be accompanied by an armed ranger.

Five Days Hike on Mt. Udzungwa

The Lumeno Trail is the longest and most arduous trail in Udzungwa. You are transferred to the start of the trail, beyond Ifakara on the Lumeno river, and hike up into the hills for 4 nights, returning along the same trail as Mwanihana to the road not far from the National Park gate.  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. etc.