Udzungwa Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Udzungwa Mountains are a mountain range
south east of Dodoma
in Tanzania
and are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains
. They are covered with tropical rainforest, mountain forest, miombo
woodland, grassland, steppe and are home to many large mammal
s, including the Udzungwa Red Colobus and Tana River Mangabey
, and unusual animals such as the Grey-faced Sengi
. The area has extremely high biodiversity with numerous endemic species (more than 25% of the vertebrate species). They rise to 2579m at Luhombero and 10% of them are protected by national park
s (the Udzungwa Mountains National Park
and Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve).
It is possible to visit the Udzungwa Mountains National Park
and go hiking and trekking. The park has no roads passable by vehicle and is accessible only by foot. The trekking routes vary, from the short easy one hour Sonjo Waterfall hike to the extremely difficult 6 day trek the Lumemo Trail. The most popular route is the Sanje Waterfalls trail, taking about four hours to complete - this trail provides visitors with access to the breath-taking views from the top of the 170m Sanje waterfall and includes a swim in the plunge pools, water levels permitting.
Accommodation choices for tourists within the park consists only of camping because there are no lodges inside the park itself. Next to the National Park Headquarters is the Hondo Hondo Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp
, an ecolodge powerede by hydro and solar and providing ensuite accommodation for visitors. In the nearby village of Mang'ula there are some local guesthouses offering a budget accommodation choice.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
south east of Dodoma
Dodoma
Dodoma , officially Dodoma Urban District, population 324,347 , is the national capital of Tanzania, and the capital of the Dodoma region. In 1973, plans were made to move the capital to Dodoma...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains
Eastern Arc Mountains
The Eastern Arc Mountains are a chain of mountains found in Kenya and Tanzania. It comprises:* Taita Hills* North and South Pare* East and West Usambara* North and South Nguru* Ukaguru* Uluguru Mountains* Rubeho* Udzungwa Mountains* Mahenge Escarpment...
. They are covered with tropical rainforest, mountain forest, miombo
Miombo
Miombo is the Swahili word for Brachystegia, a genus of tree comprising a large number of species. Miombo woodland is classified in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome...
woodland, grassland, steppe and are home to many large mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s, including the Udzungwa Red Colobus and Tana River Mangabey
Tana River Mangabey
The Tana River mangabey is a highly endangered species of primate in the Cercopithecidae family. Some authorities have included the taxa agilis and sanjei as subspecies of this species, while others award these full species status.It is endemic to riverine forest patches along the lower Tana River...
, and unusual animals such as the Grey-faced Sengi
Grey-faced Sengi
The Grey-faced Sengi is a species of elephant shrew that is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania. The discovery of the species was announced in January 2008; only fifteen species of elephant shrew were known until then, and the last discovery was made more than 120 years ago...
. The area has extremely high biodiversity with numerous endemic species (more than 25% of the vertebrate species). They rise to 2579m at Luhombero and 10% of them are protected by national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
s (the Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a national park in Tanzania. 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 , which incorporates the Udzunga Mountains part...
and Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve).
It is possible to visit the Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a national park in Tanzania. 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 , which incorporates the Udzunga Mountains part...
and go hiking and trekking. The park has no roads passable by vehicle and is accessible only by foot. The trekking routes vary, from the short easy one hour Sonjo Waterfall hike to the extremely difficult 6 day trek the Lumemo Trail. The most popular route is the Sanje Waterfalls trail, taking about four hours to complete - this trail provides visitors with access to the breath-taking views from the top of the 170m Sanje waterfall and includes a swim in the plunge pools, water levels permitting.
Accommodation choices for tourists within the park consists only of camping because there are no lodges inside the park itself. Next to the National Park Headquarters is the Hondo Hondo Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp
Hondo Hondo Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp
Hondo Hondo Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp is a small family-owned ecolodge bordering the Udzungwa Mountains National Park in southern Tanzania. The lodge is a growing eco-aware business which works closely with the local village community and is powered solely by a micro-hyrdo generator and solar...
, an ecolodge powerede by hydro and solar and providing ensuite accommodation for visitors. In the nearby village of Mang'ula there are some local guesthouses offering a budget accommodation choice.