
Udzungwa Mountain National Park, which contains one of East Africa's major forests, has an area of 1990 square kilometres and is bounded to the north by the Great Ruaha River, with Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve situated farther to the north and east. The Udzungwa Mountains, which were protected as a national forest reserve until 1992, when they were designated as a national park, are unquestionably one of the few really pristine and unique wooded territories surviving in the world. The main attractions are its ecologically rich forest, which is home to plant species found nowhere else on earth and ranges in size from a small African violet to 30-meter-tall trees.
Walking safaris to the 170-foot Sanje River waterfalls are a popular activity in this park. You can easily combine game drives in the Udzungwa Mountains with those in the nearby Mikumi National Park, which is an hour's drive to the north, or you can add them to the plans for Ruaha National Park (which takes 4-5 hours to get to) and Selous Game Reserve.
In addition to the forest, which helps collect water, Udzungwa Mountains is home to many native animals and plants, beautiful landscapes, grasslands, boulders, rivers, waterfalls, and other natural features.
The Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje crested mangabey are two of the most interesting primates that live in the country and were not known until 1979. Elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, African hunting dogs, and many different types of forest birds live on its plateau. Around six species of primates are also present.
Since there are no roads for game drives, this is one of the primary activities in Uzungwa Mountains National Park. At the park, hiking safaris begin with a briefing at the park's headquarters. Following that, an armed park ranger will be assigned to you to ensure your safety and show you the many paths available. There are several hiking paths in the park, ranging in length from 20-minute strolls to 5-day treks to Lumemo. The most popular is the four-hour-long Sonje waterfalls trek, which enables you to watch the breathtaking 170-meter waterfall, observe monkeys, and bathe in waterfall plunge pools.
The mountains are accessible year-round, but caution is advised during the wet, rainy season due to slippery conditions. The dry season extends from June until October.
Udzungwa boasts top-notch accommodations, such as the Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp, where guests can indulge in the comfort of luxurious tented accommodations. Another option is the Hondo Hondo Udzungwa Forest Camp, which offers luxurious services. If you're looking to save some money, the Twiga Hotel is a great choice. It's a Tanapa hotel that provides cosy rooms and convenient access to the park entrance.