Udzungwa Mountains National Park
The Udzungwa Mountains form part of the Eastern Arc Mountains — an ancient chain of peaks that predates the Himalayas and has been isolated long enough to develop extraordinary levels of endemic biodiversity. Udzungwa National Park, established in 1992, protects the largest continuous block of the Eastern Arc forest in Tanzania. It contains more endemic plant and animal species per unit area than almost anywhere else on earth.
Why Udzungwa is Unique
Udzungwa is not a conventional game drive park — you experience it on foot. There are no roads, no vehicles, no pop-up roof Land Cruisers. Instead, a network of trails ranging from a half-day walk to multi-day wilderness routes takes you through mist-shrouded forest where species found nowhere else on earth live undisturbed. It is the antithesis of the Serengeti, and all the more extraordinary for it.
The Waterfalls
The Sanje Waterfall — a spectacular cascade dropping 170 metres into a pool at the forest edge — is Udzungwa's most visited attraction and can be reached on a half-day hike from the park entrance. The Mwanihana Waterfall, deeper in the park, requires a longer hike through pristine forest.
Primates
- Iringa Red Colobus Monkey — Found only in Udzungwa, this species was not described by science until 1975. Groups are commonly seen on the Sanje Trail.
- Sanje Mangabey — Another Udzungwa endemic, discovered in 1979 and found nowhere else on earth. A large, distinctive grey monkey with striking orange crown.
- Chimpanzees — Small populations in the deeper forest zones.
- Blue Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys, Black-and-white Colobus — All present and commonly observed.
Combining with Mikumi
Udzungwa sits on the western boundary of Mikumi National Park, making the two parks a natural combination. Our 3-Day Mikumi Safari & Udzungwa Waterfall Hike is specifically designed to deliver both: game drives in Mikumi on Days 1 and 2, and the Sanje Waterfall hike through Udzungwa's extraordinary forest on Day 3.