Southern Circuit · Eastern Arc Mountains
The Galapagos of Africa
Udzungwa is not a game-drive park — it has no interior roads at all. It is a walking park, rising from 250 m to 2,576 m through unbroken forest, and it belongs to the Eastern Arc Mountains, an ancient chain so rich in endemic life that biologists call it the Galapagos of Africa.
Over 2,500 plant species and more than 400 birds have been recorded here, alongside primates found nowhere else on earth — the Iringa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey, which was unknown to science until 1979.
- Two primate species found nowhere else on earth
- The 170 m Sanje Waterfalls, reached on foot
- Over 2,500 plant and 400 bird species
- Trails from a half-day walk to a six-day traverse
Good to Know
Udzungwa Mountains at a Glance
Wildlife You May Spot
Best Time to Visit
June to October for trekking — trails become slippery and leech-prone in the rains.
Size
Around 1,990 km², climbing from 250 m to 2,576 m at Luhomero.
Endemics
Iringa red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey, plus dozens of endemic plants and amphibians.
Getting There
About 5 hours from Dar es Salaam, and an easy add-on to Mikumi or Ruaha.
- Iringa Red Colobus
- Sanje Mangabey
- Blue Monkey
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Leopard
- Rufous-winged Sunbird
- Duiker
- Bushbaby
- Forest Hornbill
Things to Do
Walking the Mountains
Everything here happens on foot, with a park guide. Routes range from the half-day climb to Sanje Falls up to the multi-day Lumemo Trail deep into the massif.
- Sanje Waterfalls day hike — the classic half-day route
- Mwanihana Peak trek over two to three days
- The Lumemo Trail, a five to six-day wilderness traverse
- Guided primate tracking and forest birding
Trade the 4×4 for Walking Boots
Udzungwa pairs beautifully with Mikumi and Ruaha on a southern circuit. Let’s build it.