Udzungwa National Park
Udzungwa is the largest and most biodiverse of a chain of a dozen massive, forested mountains that rise majestically from eastern Tanzania’s flat coastal scrub. This archipelago of isolated massifs, known collectively as the Eastern Arc Mountains, has been dubbed the African Galapagos for its treasure trove of endemic plants and animals, most notably the delicate African violet.
More About Udzungwa National Park
Among the ancient ranges of the Eastern Arc, only Udzungwa has been designated as a national park. It’s also unique in Tanzania because its closed-canopy forest stretches uninterrupted from 250 meters (820 feet) to over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet).
Udzungwa attracts hikers despite not being a traditional game viewing destination. The popular half-day hike to Sanje Waterfall, which plunges 170 meters (550 feet) into the forested valley below, is part of an excellent network of forest trails. The two-night Mwanihana Trail climbs to the high plateau, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding sugar plantations, before ascending to Mwanihana peak, the range’s second highest point.
Ornithologists flock to Udzungwa because of its avian diversity, which includes over 400 species ranging from the beautiful and easily found green-headed oriole to more than a dozen secretive Eastern Arc endemics. Udzungwa is home to four unique bird species, including a forest partridge discovered in 1991 that is more closely related to an Asian genus than any other African fowl.
Wildlife safaris in Tanzania
This trip was made for you if you think "safari" and "wildlife." This all-camping safari, designed to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities, will bring you up close and personal with creatures large and small, from big cats to birds.
