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Udzungwa Mountain National Park, has a total area of 2,000km².
It contains the greatest altitudinal range of forests
in East Africa - the eastern escarpment is the only place in East
Africa with unbroken forest cover from lowland forest communities
at below 250m above sea level, through intermediate types, to mountain
communities at over 2,800m. Because of such a wide range in altitude
and habitat types, Udzungwa National Park has one of the highest
numbers of species endemism worldwide. Udzungwa National
Park is located 65 km south of Mikumi National Park.
With
no roads entering Udzungwa National Park it is a paradise
for hikers and backpackers alike. Numerous breath-taking
day-hikes can be organized along with multiple day excursions into
the dense rain forest or onto the high plateau. One beautiful trek
is up to the Sanje River Waterfall, which plunges for 170 metres
through the forest to the valley below. The view from the top is
magnificent!
Udzungwa
National Park supports a diverse, large mammal community
including elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, african wild dog, eland,
waterbuck and sable. Six species of primate are found here and two
are endemic, the Iringa (Uhehe) Red Colobus monkey, and the Sanje
Crested Mangabey, which was discovered in 1979. There is also a
rich small bovid community including good numbers of Red, Blue and
Abbots duikers, and bushbuck.
Udzungwa
has the richest forest bird habitat in Tanzania. Several
endemics has just been discovered recently (including a new species
of francolin and the Rufus-winged sun bird).
The
dry season occurs from June to October, when it is best to visit.
During the rainy season from March to May visits are not recommended.
Accommodation
in Udzungwa National Park
There are no lodge or hotel facilities in the Park. The closest
highly recommended upmarket accommodation is located at Mikumi
National Park where there is Mikumi
Wildlife Camp and Vuma
Hill Tented Camp. Day trips can be done from there.
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