Udzungwa Mountains National Park Hiking Trails

Trail Name: Sanje Trail

Sanje Waterfall is one of the main attractions of UMNP, accordingly this trail is currently the most used trail in the park. Approaching the waterfall from Sanje village is a shorter but steeper route, starting from Sanje Ranger Post offers a longer walk through forest with some steep parts to the trail.

Trail Name: Sanje Waterfall Loop Trail

Start Point: Sanje Ranger Post
End Point: Sanje Village
Distance: Including trail to pool at bottom approx. 5.5 Kms
Not including trail at bottom approx. 4.5 kms
Sanje RP to Sanje Waterfall approx. 3 kms
Sanje Village to Sanje Waterfall approx. 1.5 km
Time: 4 – 6 hours depending on fitness and length of time spent at the top of the falls.
Difficulty: Moderate

Attractions:
Sanje Waterfall
African violets on smaller waterfalls
Pools for swimming
Spectacular views

Habitat Types:
Miombo Woodland
Submontane and Riverine Forest
Herbaceous scrub in forest gaps

Positive features:
Spectacular Views
Waterfall
Pools for swimming
Large trees with buttress roots on trail
Good chance of seeing smaller forest fauna

Description:
Vehicles can be parked safely at Sanje Ranger Post (Mkula village) where the trail begins. The trail follows the Mkula Ndogo river for several hundred metres and then turns north-west and begins to climb. Along the trail there are several labelled trees.
Although steep in places the trail climbs steadily through lowland and then sub-montane forest, offering good views from the occasional clearing. If lucky in these sunny clearings there is the chance of seeing the Red-winged sunbird (Cinnyris rufipennis) (species endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains). Along the trail there is an impressive tree with large buttress roots where the trail turns north, roughly following the contours (although there are some valleys with small streams that have to be crossed). Along the route there are many places to sit on a log, rest and admire the forest, if you proceed quietly there is a good chance of seeing Colobus monkeys, and if lucky other forest mammals such duiker.
The trail reaches a junction with the ‘Research Camp’ path and turns north-east (right) descending towards the falls. The top of the falls is an excellent picnic site and the view from this point is truly spectacular. Depending on the water level it is possible to cross the river easily, but a bridge is required for crossing during the rains. From the main falls there is a short path following the river upstream to two smaller waterfalls. Each of these has pools deep enough to swim in and there are African Violets clinging to the rock faces.

Descending to Sanje village is a shorter, steeper walk offering several views of the Sanje falls. Towards the end of the trail is the junction with the path that leads to the pools at the bottom of the main Sanje waterfall. It takes about twenty minutes to walk down to pool at the bottom of falls, it is possible to swim in the pool and there is a good view looking up the falls. Depending on how long is spent at the pool this short diversion adds about 1 hour to the journey.
Just past the trail to the bottom pool junction is a small clearing , this is an ideal viewpoint and rest point.
The majority of this trail is good for walking. Additional switchbacks have been constructed recently making the steep sections easier to climb.