 The Udzungwa Mountains are the highest in the Eastern Arc chain of mountains and contain some of the most pristine rainforestremaining in Tanzania. They are situated between the Uluguru and the Mahenge Mountains in Morogoro region, Southern Tanzania between the Selous and Ruaha National Park. A large proportion of the range (1,900 square km) has been gazetted as a National Park.
Udzungwa is a 'primate park' with 3 endemics (Iringa red colobus, Sanje crested mangeby and the Matundu dwarf galago, and 6 other species of primate (black & white colobus, blue monkey, yellow baboon, vervet monkey, greater and lesser galagos). The botanical diversity of the Udzungwas is also magnificent to behold, giant trees of over 30m are festooned with epiphytes and bryophytes. There are rushing waterfalls with plunge pools for swimming and on the edge of one grow endemic African Violets.
Night walks in the forest show endemic chameleons, galagos, frogs, genets, tree hyraxes and even aardvarks.
The most famous attraction in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park is Sanje Falls which can be visited as a day-trip or it is possible to camp next to the top of the main waterfall. There are two trails leading to the campsite, one slightly longer than the other.
There are several walking trails within the park of varying lengths and difficulty but there are options for all fitness levels.
The Mwanihana Trail is a 38km circuit taking in the second highest peak - Mwanihana Peak 2150m. This hike takes 3 days and involves camping for 2 nights in the park.
There are no motorable tracks in Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
Getting there
By road: The Udzungwa Mountains are a 6 hour drive from Dar es Salaam (dependent on road conditions as the last 23Km is on dirt road) and a 1.5 hr drive from Mikumi National Park.
By train: The park headquarters are conveniently located near to the TAZARA railway (Mang'ula Station) and it is possible to arrive by train.
A good option to spend some time visiting Selous Game Reserve or Mikumi National Park then continues to Udzungwa.
When to visit:
Accessible all the year round but it can be very wet from March to June. The best times are July -October, and December-February.
Where to stay:
The Udzungwa Mountain View Hotel is the best option and public campsites. However to really appreciate the park it is advisable to book an organised camping trip with qualified guides.
From Iringa, the Tanzam highway continues southwest, winding its way gradually up, past dense stands of pine, before reaching the juction town of Makamabako.
About 85km out of Iringa is Mafinga, the turn-off point to reach the forested highlands around Mufindi, which are laced with streams and known for their tea estates and trout fishing.
Where to Stay:
Highland Fishing Lodge is the best option in the area.
MAKAMBAKO
Makambako is a break and wundy juction town where the road from Songea meets the Dar es Salaam - Mbeya highway. It's also a stop on the Tzara railway line. Geographically, the area marks the end of the Eastern Arc mountain range and the start of the Southern Highlands.
Mbeya Region Attractions
The thriving town of Mbeya sprawls at about 1700m in the shadow of Loleza Peak, in a gap between the verdant Mbeya mountain range to the north and the Poroto mountains to the southeast.
The cool climate, jacarandas and views of the hills compensate, amd there are dozens of good excursions nearby.
Crater Lakes:
Ngosi crater is part of a large volcano that is surrounded by tropical rain forest where you can observe Columbus monkeys when climbing to the sharp crater rim. The Crater Lake is majestic, surrounded by a wonderful tranquility and the sound of exotic birds.
Masoko Crater Lake near Tukuyu which was a major town in the German colonial time offered an impressive sight. Lots of old coins can be found in the lake and boys sell them along the nearby road.
Worlds End Viewpoint
22 km from Mbeya this picnic spot located on the edge of the Rift Wall offers spectacular views over the Usangu plains towards Makambako.
Kimani Falls
This beautiful cascade of falls running in a horseshoe shape can be easily reached by car and is an ideal family picnic site. A full day excursion can be arranged from the hotel that can include a picnic or barbecue lunch.
Bat Caves & Hot Springs.
For a short half day excursion why not visit an ancient part of the Rift Valley where dinosaur eggs were discovered. Nearby are old Bat Caves and an adjacent Hot Spring where boiling water rises to the surface.
Mbozi Meteorite
This very large Meteorite weighs an estimated 12 tons and hit our planet thousands of years ago at a speed of several tens of thousand Kilometers per hour. It is the world's eighth largest recorded Meteorite and first discovered in 1931. The extremely dense and hard material consists of 90.45% Iron, 8.69% Nickel, 0.66% Copper and 0.12% Sulphur and Phosphorus.
Utengule Coffee Estate
The Utengule coffee estate is a traditional, well managed East African Coffee farm that produces an exquisite Arabica coffee. There is a large variety of rare trees and flowers growing on the farm and several clear water rivers cross the land. By walking through the 500-acre coffee estate you can explore how coffee is being grown, harvested and processed.
When to visit:
Best season is April to July, but Mbeya region is accessible year round.
Getting There:
By road: Mbeya is roughly 11 hours by road from Dar es Salaam. There are regular connecting coach services. Mbeya can also be used as a start point for trips out to Lake Tanganyika and Katavi National Park. There are also connecting buses on to Malawi and Zambia from Mbeya.
By train: Mbeya is on the TAZARA railway line, which connects through Iringa region, Udzungwas and Selous to Dar es Salaam. Southbound the train continues to kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.
Where to Stay:
The Utengule Country Hotel is the best option in the area.
For further information contact info@tourtanzania-safaris.com
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