Udzungwa waterfalls

Udzungwa waterfalls : One of Tanzania’s national parks, Udzungwa Mountains National Park is situated in the country’s south. With a total land area of 1,990 square kilometres, the park is primarily made up of mountains, rainforests, and Miobo woodlands. The park was named after Udzungwa Mountain, which is its biggest and tallest peak in the area. Lohomero is the highest summit of the mountain which is 2,576 meters high. The Eastern Arc Mountains encircle the mountains. The name of the park or the mountains is derived from the Kihehe dialect word “Wadzungwa,” which translates to “the people who leave by the side of the mountains.” The locals have traditionally taken good care of the mountains and woods, thus the biodiversity of these protected areas has remained mostly unchanged over time.

When was Udzungwa Mountains National Park formed?

Udzungwa Mountains National was established in 1992, and the Netherlands formally renamed it as WWE. The main objective of gazetting the park was to create the five forest reserves that were established in the early 1950s.The park was created in order to preserve its great diversity of uncommon plant and animal species. Six primate species—which are unique to Udzungwa Mountains National Park and nowhere else in the world—have been documented at the park. These include the Iringa red colobus monkey, the crested mangabey monkey, and many more. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is one of the 34 parks designated as a “World Biodiversity Hotspot” worldwide. Additionally, it is in the top 200 globally significant ecoregions designated by the World Wide Fund for Nature.

The park’s diverse variety of mountains, varied forest canopy, and water falls are its main draws. Hikers can enjoy fantastic hiking experiences at the summits of Luhomero and Mwanihana, while birdwatchers can see numerous kinds of birds spread across several canopies. The five forests that make up the park are the Forest Mwanihana Reserve, the West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve, the Iwonde Forest Reserve, the Nyanganje Forest Reserve, and the Matundu Forest Reserve. These forest reserves are connected to the Congo Basin Forest Basin and have existed for more than 30 million years.

The park is situated alongside the Eastern Arc Mountains, which extend from Taita Hills in southern Kenya to the Makambako Gap in southern Tanzania. The highlands are sometimes called “Africa’s Galapagos Islands.” This is a result of the region’s indigenous animal and tree species’ great diversity and abundance.

Several national parks border it, including Ruaha in the north, Mikumi in the northeast, and Ruipa in the southwest. It is reachable from Mikumi, the closest town, as well as from the former capital city, which is the largest town closest to the park. It is approximately 350 kilometres, or two hundred and fifteen miles, from Dar es Salaam. It is also 65 km to the southwest of Mikumi Town. In several parts of Tanzania, including the park, there is an abundance of precipitation each year. The longest early rainy seasons, with the highest rainfall, occur in November and March. The park experiences around 2000 mm of yearly rainfall, with the eastern region receiving the most, and the western region receiving up to 600 mm. Every year, the dry seasons extend from June to October and then from December to February. It is best advised that visitors visit the park during this dry season. Nonetheless, one can visit the park at any time of year.

The Attractions of Udzungwa Mountains National Park

The Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a Tanzania wildlife safari destination with numerous tourist attractions. What makes it a popular tourist attraction in Tanzania that should not be missed is its distinctive landscapes, which are shaped by the enormous ridges of the Eastern Arc Mountains. Here are a some of Udzungwa the Mountains National Park top attractions.

Waterfalls

The distinctive waterfalls that provide visitors with the most visual and sightseeing experience are the national pride of the Udzungwa Mountains. The tallest waterfall in Tanzania is the Sanje Waterfall, which is located in the centre of the park. The is divided into three distinct phases, or breaks. We can cover every step of the one-day climb to the top of the water fall, depending on the hiker’s level of fitness. The longest stage is the first one, measuring 170 meters. The next longest stages are the ones with 30 meters and 70 meters, respectively. At the base of the falls, you are welcome to take a bath. Experienced swimmers can enjoy the deep pools of water available at each step.

The park also features a few smaller water falls, including Mwaya Falls, Sonjo Falls, Njokamoni Falls, and Prince Bernhard, which was named for the Prince who was the source of the falls.

Hiking

The park’s highest mountain bears the same name as the park itself. One of the park’s main draws is the mountain ranges that dominate the area. The mountain ranges that provide breathtaking views of the park canopy make up the Udzungwa Mountains. Further hiking expertise is not required to reach these summits. A certain level of physical fitness is all that is needed to successfully finish the walk during your park safari. Trekking pathways across the mountains and woodlands are used by hikers and birdwatchers to explore the park. This beautiful woodland is usually visited by researchers who are interested in finding out more about some rare types of trees in the forest. Since its establishment, the park has preserved one of Tanzania’s unspoiled forests. Hiking routes range from a one-day journey to the Sonjo Trek to a six-day hike to the Lumemo Trail. Due to the park’s inadequate road system, cars cannot enter it; only foot traffic is permitted.

Cultural safari tours

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a location rich in culture and history. With a greater number of locations that give a deeper historical connection. More Tanzanian tribes that have long resided in Tanzania’s southern region are said to have shaped the park’s historical context. The park is credited with providing a historical backdrop for numerous Tanzanian tribes who have long resided in the country’s southern region. Before dispersing into Tanzania’s other southern regions, the majority of these tribes made their home in the mountains.

Home to primates and Birdwatching

The Udzungwa Mountains National Park is home to unique primates that are not even visible anywhere else in the globe. Of the six known species of primates, the Sanje crested Mangabey and Iringa red Colobus are the most famous. Birding is excellent in the Kolumbero floodplains, which is home to numerous wetlands and forest bird species. It is only two kilometres to the major road.

The Hondo Hondo camp is about two kilometres north of Mangula town and adjacent to the main road. It is one of the birding safari destinations in Tanzania with more than 400 bird species, including both forest and marsh species, have been recoded in the park. African fowl, Forest Partridge, Green-headed Oriole, and other bird species are among them. Due to its inadequate internal road system, Tanzania’s Udzungwa National Mountains continue to be one of the most unspoiled and less visited national park in Tanzania, it attract few people annually.