Location:
South central Tanzania in Iringa and Morogoro regions in the Eastern Arc Mountains. The park offers the greatest altitudinal range of the Eastern Arc Mountains and has an incredible range of biological species as well as several endemic species. The undisturbed forest areas offer good hiking opportunities and birdwatching and the park receives very few tourists.
Park HQ is at Mangula.

How to get there:

TAZARA Train
From Dar es Salaam its about 8 hours to Mangula station, the gateway to the Udzungwas.

Please note the TAZARA train is a public service and as such can be subject to delayed departures or variations in seat allocations to those shown on tickets.

By Road:
Its about a 6 hour drive from Dar es Salaam and 2 hours from Mikumi NP.

UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS PHOTO GALLERY

Attractions:
Sanje waterfalls
The falls are in 3 stages that drop from 200m, 70m and 40m respectively. All the falls have natural pools which provide refreshing swimming.

A primate park with 10 species of primates with 4 endemics :
Sanje Mangabey, Iringa red colobus, Matundu galago and Mountain dwarf galago

Hiking trails
Several hiking trails have been established.

Sonjo Trail – 6 km/3 hrs
Attractions – 2 waterfalls, primates, birds, miombo vegetation

Sanje Circuit – 5 km/4 hrs
Attractions – 3 waterfalls, primates, birds, butterflies, a variety of vegetation

Prince Bernhard Trail – 1 km/40 min
Small waterfall, baboons, primates, red duiker, birds, good views of Bokela Mountain

Mwanihama Trail – 38km, 3 days/2 nights
The summit is at 2500m and trail passes through different vegetation types according to altitude
Mwanihana Trail article

Lumemo Trail – 65 km, 5 days/4 nights
The trail passes along the saddle between Luhomero and Mwanihama peaks. May encounter herds of buffalo, elephant and good birdwatching.

For further information on alternative trails and specialized guided hiking trips for groups please ask for further information

Where to Stay:
There are 2 basic hotels in Mangula. Campsites are being developed along the hiking trails.
Day trips are possible from lodges in Mikumi.
In 2009 a new campsite has opened in Mangula - Udzungwa Forest Campsite

Park Fees: $20p.p., guide fees $10/group

UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS HIKING ITINERARIES

Option 1. 3 DAYS/2 NIGHTS - Sanje Waterfalls Hike

DAY 1. UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS
Drive Dar-Mangula (approx 6 hours). Afternoonto relax at campsite or visit the village.
O/n Hondo Hondo campsite or mudhut bandas. BB

DAY 2. UDZUNGWAS
Walk to the park HQ in the morning, and transfer to the start of the Sanje Trail. Hike
into the pristine Eastern Arc forest looking for endemic primates including the Sanje Crested Mangeby and the Iringa red Colobus.
On arrival at the top of the 180m Sanje waterfall you will have the opportunity to relax by idyllic plunge pools and see endemic African violets growing in the spray zones. Enjoy a spectacular lunch overlooking the Kilombero Valley, descend in the afternoon looking for primates and transfer back to Hondo Hondo Campsite - camping or mud hut bandas. BB

DAY 3. UDZUNGWAS
After breakfast depart by car to Ruaha (approx 6 hours) or Mikumi (approx 1 ½ hours).

Option 2. 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS Mwanihana Trail

DAY 1. UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS
Drive Dar-Mangula (approx 6 hours). Afternoonto relax at campsite or visit the village.
O/n Hondo Hondo mudhut bandas. BB

DAY 2. UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS
Walk to the park HQ in the morning, and transfer to the start of the Sanje Trail. Hike
into the pristine Eastern Arc forest looking for endemic primates including the Sanje Crested Mangeby and the Iringa red Colobus . On arrival at the top of the 180m Sanje waterfall you will have the opportunity to relax at idyllic plunge pools and see endemic African violets growing in the spray zones. Enjoy a spectacular lunch overlooking the Kilombero Valley, descend in the afternoon looking for primates and transfer to Hondo Hondo Campsite – camping or mud hut bandas. BB

DAY 3. UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS
After breakfast you will transfer to the village of Sonjo and begin the Mwanihana trek. You will be accompanied by a park ranger for your protection as there are numerous elephant and buffalo in the area.
As you trek you will learn about the tracks and signs in the forest and various medicinal plants. After covering around 13km you will reach Njia Ya Panda (the 'climbing path') Campsite where you will have dinner and overnight. FB

DAY 4. UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS
Trek through the changing forest until you reach the summit of Mwanihana. Here you will be in true montane vegetation amongst the Giant Ericas. Below you will see a spiders web of elephant trails crisscrossing the park. Descend and trek through the forest until you reach your camp for the night. FB.

DAY 5. RUAHA
An early start, after breakfast hike for about an hour (looking for Red Duiker and primates on the way) and a half before exiting the forest to rejoin your safari vehicle and drive to Ruaha (approx 6 hours) or Mikumi (approx 1 ½ hours).

Kilombero Valley Game Controlled Area

The Kilombero Valley is located in Morogoro region, southern Tanzania between the Udzungwa Mountains and the Mahenge escarpment, part of the Eastern Arc Mountains.
The Kilombero Game Controlled Area is approximately 7000km2 and could serve as a 'wildlife corridor' between the Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi and Udzungwa National Parks. The Kilombero Valley is a unique, complex ecosystem with one of the highest wild mammal densities in Tanzania.
The main location to visit in Kilombero is the fishing village of Mikeregembe. Located a kilometre form the border of the Selous G.R. this idyllic village nestles between Boomerolanga Forest Reserve and the Kilombero River.
The Kilombero valley contains the only sustainable population of Puku in Tanzania and 3 endemic bird species (the Kilombero Weaver, and 2 Cisticolla species). Its status as a Game Controlled Area means that people still live in the valley in their traditional manner, co-existing with wildlife. In Tanzania this presents a unique chance to glimpse the rapidly disappearing past. Encouraging people to visit Kilombero will stimulate local economy and encourage the protection of the remaining threatened wildlife and habitat.
In addition to this unique cultural experience in the village, wildlife highlights include canoeing past pods of hippo and herds of elephants. The bird watching is however the main attraction of the Kilombero, with many water birds and raptors.

KILOMBERO CULTURAL TOURISM

When to visit:
Best time to visit is July/August/September/November/December/Jan. The area is inaccessible March-June due to inundation - the floodplain is the largest seasonal wetland in E.Africa.

Getting There:
The Kilombero Valley is accessed by road from the Udzungwa Mountains National Park (1hr to Ifakara, then 1.5hrs to Mikeregembe by car/canoe) or by train (Tazara from Dar 12hrs or Zambia) then road, both via Ifakara. The trip to Kilombero works well when combined with Selous and Udzungwas then a stop in Mikumi on the return to Dar. Special itineraries available on request.

Where to Stay:
As Kilombero has no lodges or formal development for tourism only camping is available and facilities are basic.