Brooking and primeval, the forests of Udzungwa seem enchanted, a refuge of sunshine dappled glades enclosed by 100 foot high trees.  Their buttresses layered with fungi, lichens, mosses and ferns.

Udzungwa is the largest and most bio-diverse of a chain of a dozen large forest swathed mountains that rise majestically from the flat scrub of eastern Tanzania.  These are known as the Eastern Arc Mountains, this isolated massifs has also been dubbed the African Galapagos for its treasure trove of endemic plants and animals, most familiarly the delicate African violet.

Udzungwa alone among the ancient ranges of the Eastern Arc has been accorded national park status.  It is also unique within Tanzania in that its closed canopy forest spans altitudes of 820 feet to above 6560 feet without interruption.

This is not a game viewing destination; it is mainly for hikers, an excellent network of forest trails includes the popular half day ramble to Sanje Waterfall, which plunges 550 feet through a misty spray into the forested valley below.  The more challenging two night Mwanihana Trail leads to the high plateau, with it panoramic views over sugar plantations, before ascending to the peak, the second highest point of the range. Oronithogists are attracted to this park for avian wealth, embracing more than 400 species. Some of the birds are the green headed oriole, the forest partridge which was discovered in 1991 and more closely related to an Asian genus than to any other African fowl.

Six primate species are recorded, the Iringa red Colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey both occur now where else in the world, the later remained undetected until 1979.

About the Park, it is 770 square miles; the location is five hours 215 miles from Dar es Salam and 40 miles southwest from Mikumi.  To get there you come from Mikumi National Park or from Dar es Salam.

Things to do, you have choices of a two hour hike to the waterfall to camping sites. And the best time to visit is all year round, trails will be slippery in the rainy season of course.

Accommodations in the park, there is camping outside the park, you have to bring all of your supplies and food.  There are two modest but comfortable lodges with en suite bathrooms within a mile of the park entrance.