Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Udzungwa Mountains National Park (1992), A Rain Forest Park With Exceptional Endemism, Home To The Iringa Red Colobus, The Sanje Mangabey And The Udzungwa Forest Partridge, And The 170 M Sanje Waterfall. Known As The Galapagos Of Africa; Visited On Guided Hikes Of 1 To 3 Days From Mang'Ula. · Mang'ula, Morogoro

Udzungwa Mountains National Park covers about 1,990 sq km of ancient rain forest in the Eastern Arc Mountains, sometimes called the Galapagos of Africa because the forests are around 30 million years old and hold species found nowhere else. It has some of the richest primate life in Africa for its size: the Iringa red colobus, the Sanje mangabey (found only here), Sykes' monkeys and black-and-white colobus, plus the Udzungwa forest partridge, first described in 1991. The honest picture: this is a trekking park with no vehicle safaris, the forest is dense, and wildlife is shy, so you may hear more than you see. Sanje Waterfalls, a drop of about 170 m in tiers, is the most popular hike. The entrance is at Mang'ula, about 6-7 hours by road from Dar es Salaam via Morogoro and Mikumi. It suits walkers and bird lovers, and it makes a good add-on to a Mikumi safari, but few would cross the country for it alone. Expect heat, humidity, leeches in the wet months and steep paths, and plan at least two nights here, not one.

Rain-forest park in the Eastern Arc about 350 km south-west of Dar es Salaam, entered at Mang'ula near Kilombero, with the Sanje Waterfalls trail, Mang'ula, Morogoro, Tanzania

The park is open every day of the year in daylight hours, and walks must start with a ranger at the gate. Trails are CLOSED to anyone without a guide, and the longer treks need booking a day or more ahead. Confirm trail status after heavy rain, since some paths become impassable.

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