Udzungwa National Park

Overview

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is one of Tanzania’s most biodiverse and enchanting parks, known for its lush tropical rainforests, scenic hiking trails, and endemic species. Often called the “African Galápagos”, Udzungwa is home to over 400 bird species, 250 butterfly species, and several primates including the rare Udzungwa red colobus and Sanje mangabey. Visitors can explore dense forests, waterfalls like the stunning Sanje Falls, and panoramic mountain views. Ideal for eco-tourists, bird watchers, and hikers, the park offers unmatched opportunities for forest treks, wildlife viewing, and nature photography. Accessible from Mikumi or Dar es Salaam, it’s part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a recognized biodiversity hotspot.

Safari Tours to Udzungwa National Park

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Accommodations in Udzungwa National Park

Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge

Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge – Southern Serengeti, Tanzania Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented Lodge

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Niyara Lodge Arusha

Niyara Lodge Arusha Niyara Lodge Arusha sits at the heart of Tanzania’s northern safari

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Ishasha Jungle Lodge

Ishasha Jungle Lodge is an eco-friendly wilderness retreat near the Ishasha sector of Queen

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Haven Lodge (Buhoma Sector)

Haven Lodge Buhoma Community is a welcoming, community-run lodge on the edge of Bwindi

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Ichumbi Hotel (Kisoro)

Ichumbi Hotel is a stylish and comfortable hotel on Mutolele Road in the heart

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Travellers Rest Hotel

Travellers Rest Hotel is a historic hotel in Kisoro, southwestern Uganda. It offers a

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Marafiki Safari Lodge

Marafiki Safari Lodge is a charming safari lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park in

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The Haven – Eco River Lodge

The Haven Eco River Lodge is a peaceful riverside retreat in eastern Uganda, set

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Park View Safari Lodge

Park View Safari Lodge is a scenic safari lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park

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Buffalo Safari Lodge

Buffalo Safari Lodge is a safari lodge near the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth

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FAQ about Udzungwa National Park

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is located in south-central Tanzania, approximately 350 km (215 miles) southwest of Dar es Salaam. It’s easily accessible from Mikumi National Park (about a 2-hour drive), making it a great addition to a Southern Circuit safari itinerary.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park stands out for several reasons:

  • Hiking Focus: Unlike most Tanzanian parks, Udzungwa has no roads for game drives within its boundaries. Exploration is primarily done on foot, offering a unique immersive experience in the forest.
  • Exceptional Biodiversity: It’s part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots. It boasts the second-highest biodiversity of any national park in Africa.
  • High Endemism: The park is home to an incredible number of endemic species (found nowhere else), including numerous plants, birds, amphibians, and notably, several primate species.
  • Lush Forests & Waterfalls: It encompasses a variety of habitats from tropical rainforests and montane forests to grasslands, featuring spectacular waterfalls like the iconic Sanje Falls.
  • Undisturbed Nature: Due to its “foot-only” access and more remote location, it offers a tranquil and less crowded experience, appealing to nature lovers and hikers.

The park’s activities revolve around its unique natural environment:

  • Hiking & Trekking: This is the park’s signature activity. Trails range from short walks (e.g., 1-hour Sonjo trek) to challenging multi-day expeditions (like the Lumemo Trail).
  • Sanje Waterfalls Hike: The most popular trek leads to the magnificent Sanje Waterfalls, where you can enjoy breathtaking views and even swim in the plunge pools.
  • Primate Tracking: Udzungwa is a prime location for primate viewing. It’s home to six species of primates, five of which are endemic, including the rare Iringa Red Colobus and the Sanje Crested Mangabey (discovered only in 1979).
  • Birdwatching: With over 400 recorded bird species (including endemic ones like the Udzungwa forest partridge), it’s a paradise for bird enthusiasts.
  • Cultural Tours: Explore nearby villages like Mang’ula to interact with local communities and learn about their traditions.
  • Forest Exploration: Guided walks allow you to appreciate the lush vegetation, towering trees, and listen to the sounds of the untouched forest.

While not a traditional “Big Five” safari park, Udzungwa is rich in diverse wildlife, particularly:

  • Primates: Its most famous inhabitants are the endemic primates like the Iringa Red Colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey. You can also see Sykes’ monkeys, yellow baboons, and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
  • Birds: An exceptional variety of bird species, making it a top birdwatching destination.
  • Mammals: Larger mammals like elephants, buffalo, leopards, and duikers are present but are much more elusive and harder to spot due to the dense forest environment.
  • Butterflies & Insects: The park boasts an impressive array of butterflies and other invertebrates.

The dry season (June to October) is generally considered the best time to visit.

  • Hiking Conditions: Trails are drier, less slippery, and more accessible.
  • Wildlife Viewing: While still challenging in the dense forest, it can be slightly easier to spot primates and other animals.
  • Weather: Clear skies and pleasant temperatures make for comfortable trekking. The park remains open year-round, but the rainy seasons (March-May and November-December) can make hiking trails very muddy and some inaccessible.
  • By Road: The most common way to reach Udzungwa is by road. It’s about a 5-6 hour drive from Dar es Salaam and a short 2-hour drive from Mikumi National Park (making it an easy addition to a Mikumi safari).
  • By Air: For higher-end travelers, there are charter flights available to Kilombero Airstrip from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, which then requires a short road transfer to the park gate. Some also fly to Mikumi Airstrip and then transfer overland.
  • By Train: The TAZARA (Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority) train passes through Mang’ula village, which is near the park gate. This can be a unique, albeit often slower, travel option from Dar es Salaam or Zambia.

There are no lodges located inside Udzungwa Mountains National Park itself; accommodation is primarily outside the park boundaries in the nearby village of Mang’ula or slightly further afield. Options include:

  • Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp (Hondo Hondo): A popular eco-lodge located right on the edge of the park, offering comfortable tents and huts, known for its proximity to primate viewing.
  • Udzungwa Falls Lodge: Another well-regarded option near the park entrance.
  • Local Guesthouses: Budget-friendly guesthouses are available in Mang’ula village.
  • Camping: Basic camping facilities are available within the park at designated sites for those on multi-day treks.

The Udzungwa Mountains, despite their protected status, face threats due to human pressure:

  • Deforestation: Encroachment for agriculture, logging, and charcoal production in areas surrounding the park.
  • Poaching: Illegal hunting poses a threat to wildlife populations, including endemic primates.
  • Human-Wildlife Conflict: As human settlements expand, conflicts with wildlife sometimes occur.
  • Climate Change: Affects rainfall patterns and temperatures, potentially impacting the delicate forest ecosystems. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect this critical biodiversity hotspot, often involving local communities in sustainable livelihood initiatives.

Weguide African Safari on Trip Advisor

Here’s what our travelers have to say about their experiences with Weguide African Safaris

Excellent rating
Based on 16 reviews
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Hiked Kilimanjaro (6 days) and went on a Safari (5 days Kilimanjaro Hike was amazing! Our guide (Mollel) and porters were all excellent. They were each knowledgable, encouraging and friendly. They took time to get to know us and understand our needs. They helped us feel comfortable with the challenge and enabled us to enjoy our trek from start to finish!Our Safari was equally outstanding! Again, we had terrific guides (Sam & Tembo). They, too, were knowledgable, accommodating and made each day a super fun adventure for all of us! They were incredible at tracking down all of the Big 5! They even found the black rhinos!The Value for the Money was unreal, as well. I would 100% recommend Soul of Tanzania to anyone who is looking for a once-in-a-lifetime Tanzanian experience!
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Shairanking F
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Unforgettable Safari and experience at its best Journey to Africa My friend and I did a 8 day Safari, starting in Tarangire NP, Serengeti central and South (Ndutu) with big Migration, Ngorongoro crater and Lake Tanganyika. All planning including our wishes and suggestions from Weguide Safari what is best for the time we were traveling were done with WhatsApp. The communication was very easy with very quick respondSo we had an excellent Safari with weguide africa safaris with nice, safe and quite large accommodations and tented camps, including good food.I think our guide Mollel will be the best guide you can find. He has a very good knowledge about animals and their behavior, wildlife and Tanzania culture. Besides he is helpful, friendly and a very good and save driver.We have seen all Big 5 and a great number of other animals living there.He even could find animals hidden under bushes or in trees in a great distance and getting closer we could watch them very, very nearby.My brother with family did the Safari before us with Guide Kennedy. and we all together have the same opinion that this Safari couldn't be topped.It was my best Safari I've done until now and I couldn't imagine getting something better. So much wildlife!!!!I would it recommend to 100%
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GreengatePeter
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SOLO TRIP TO TANZANIA SAFARI WITH WEGUIDE AFRICA SAFARIS ( 100% I RECCOMENDED WEGUID FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS) Tanzania as a safari destination has it all: if this is your first safari and your driving ambition is to get some amazing sightings and to rack up the big 5 as soon as possible then Ngorongoro Conservation Area is probably the best place in the world. Head for the Serengeti, however, if you have time for a longer safari and your goal is to take time to roam – moving as a nomad with the vast herds, or simply skitting across the savannah between the rock outcrops that are the lookout posts of the Serengeti prides. The Serengeti remains for me (alongside Botswana’s Kalahari) as one of the very best places in the world to experience the awe-inspiring vastness of the African wilderness. There is no feeling like being in the middle of the incomparable immensity of the savannah with no other vehicle in sight and a herd of wildebeest stretching as far as the eye can see towards the horizon.
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GoPlaces65996083400
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Tanzanian Romantic Safari for Couple Unforgettable honeymoon - safari & beach holidayOverall, great experience with WeGuide Celia has been extremely helpful in tailoring the itinerary for the safari and has assisted us all along the process.Our guide, Sam, and was always on time and truly did his best to show us all the possible animals within the visited parks. We've had nice lunches (with juice and wine) during the 5 days of Safari and the car was always sparkling clean in the morning when our guide was picking us up :) We would've appreciated our guide to be a bit more involved in the conversation (the answers we got to our questions about birds/animals weren't really detailed and we would've enjoyed talking/getting to know our guide a bit more, especially during our common lunches) but of course this didn't ruin our experience.Our safari was followed by a beach holiday in Zanzibar : Ceci has arranged a pick-up at the airport for us. The hotel (Z hotel in Nungwi) was also great and the honeymoon package made our holiday unforgettable.I can only recommend Soul of Tanzania and Tanzania in general. The safari is a magical experience everyone should have in a lifetime.
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phillip
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Viajero solo en la vida silvestre de Tanzania y safaris de experiencia en Zanzíbar Planeamos nuestro viaje a Tanzania junto con Cecie en weguide Safari. Le hemos dicho aproximadamente lo que queríamos hacer (lago Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti y Zanzibar) y ella sugirió el itinerario y el alojamiento que discutimos y adaptamos juntos. El Serengeti fue probablemente el más impresionante de los parques y tal vez si el tiempo hubiera sido un problema, me habría saltado el lago Manyara para ir directamente al Ngorongoro. (Aunque el alojamiento en el lago Manyara fue increíble, Escarpment Luxury Lodge). Todos los alojamientos tenían algo especial y terminar con un par de días de relax en Zanzíbar fue simplemente perfecto.
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Marion
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Great experience at Mara River (Serengeti) So nice to see and read about sam maasai guide. He was my guide when I visited Tanzania. I also had great game driving experiences, and yes, being patient definitely paid off time after time. We experienced elephants crossing the Mara River, and Sam explained how the matriarch makes the decision to cross and how the elephants would not all cross at once, rather cross in small groups of adults, babies, and elders. We stayed and saw group after group cross and come up the bak of the river directly beside our vehicle,. We also saw a group in the river stop and surround each other and then there was trumpeting by the herd on both sides of the river. Sam explained that they must have sensed danger like crockerdiles, and that they would reteat back; that’s exactly what happened and the trumpeting continued on both sides of the river for a while. When we returned to the Mara River Camp that evening, everyone was envious of our experience and commented how much they loved to have heard the elephants communicating. Like you and your son, we had great experiences every day. Love your photos and descriptions. It’s truly the trip of a lifetime
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Whistler
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Mikumi National park and Zanzibar island The Mikumi National Park is located in eastern Tanzania, some 100 kms south of Morogoro and 280 km west of Dar Es Salaam. It is next to the Selous Reserve and a few kilometers from the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The wildlife includes monkeys, lions, leopards, panthers, elephants, giraffes zebras, hipos, etc. Approximately 360 different species of birds have been spotted. The park is very popular and is easily accessible from Dar Es Salaam. It is specially equipped for bird watching. Greenery includes the miombo forest which is dominated by Brachystegia spp. The Combretum-Terminalia forest is common between the hills and the plains along the river.In this lower part dominated by Acacia spp, Adansonia digitata baobab and Sterculia appendiculata and the top of gallery forest and riparian dense scrub along rivers Mgoda, Kikobogo and Mkata. The ebony Dalbergia melanoxylon, Sclerocarya caffra, Cassia abbreviata flabellifer and Hyphaene Borassus Ventricosa, Balanites aegyptiaca and Ficus spp are all very close to each other. They are common and important to elephants and baboona. A truly unforgettable experience. with weguide afrkca safaris
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ASHLEY P
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"Zanzibar family trip excursion" "This was our first trip with WeGuide Africa Safari - I believe it's no coincidence that the Bradt Africa guides are simply the best ones on the market and that WeGuide Africa are extraordinary in the depth of their knowledge of the situation on the ground and in their capacity to coordinate and synchronise everything to make it an excellent trip for a family with young children In Zanzibar excursion .We stayed Luxury property at Zuri hotel in Zanzibar .I saw some of the most amazing sights and things in Africa, which I would not have found without the guidance of WeGuide Africa Safari . And for the unforseeable and unavoidable occasional hick ups, the team is there to help where they can.I hope WeGuide Africa Safari stays a well kept secret
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Wilton Backer
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conquérir le Kilimandjaro" super 7 jours via machame route Bonjour mes amis de TripAdvisor.Je m'appelle Xavier.Je viens de rentrer d'une randonnée INCROYABLE sur le mont Kilimandjaro avec weguide Africa Safaris. J'y suis allé avec Erick le guide et il était IMPRESSIONNANT. Erick m'a tellement aidé à me sentir à l'aise tout au long du voyage et il m'a fait me sentir plus fort simplement en étant en sa présence.Tout d'abord, weguide Africa Safaris m'a aidé à chaque étape du processus de courrier électronique pour planifier le voyage. Ils sont tellement professionnels et organisés et m'ont fait me sentir vraiment très à l'aise et bienvenu pour voyager dans un pays étranger. (je viens de la FR)Je savais que c'était la bonne entreprise pour moi juste par la manière organisée et professionnelle de leurs e-mails. Ils vous guident à chaque étape.Si vous essayez de décider avec quelle compagnie escalader le Kilimandjaro ou avec quelle compagnie partir en safari, C'EST LA SEULE. WEGUIDE AFRICA SAFARIS est vraiment incroyable avec de très bons prix aussi.J'ai escaladé le mont Kilimandjaro avec Erick The Guide et il était un professeur tellement spectaculaire avec qui partager le voyage. Il avait tellement de connaissances sur la montagne et il a un VRAI amour pour la nature et l'exploration. . Erick The Guide et tout l'équipage qui nous a accompagnés étaient géniaux. L'équipage de porteurs que nous avions avec nous était tellement sympathique et accueillant. Ils m'ont vraiment fait me sentir chez moi pendant tout le voyage.Je sais que beaucoup de gens ont peur de voyager à cause de COVID. Mais je ne pense pas que cela devrait vous empêcher de venir en Afrique.Si quoi que ce soit, je pense que c'est le moment le plus courageux et le plus spontané pour parcourir le monde.J'ai passé un très bon moment avec WEGUIDE AFRICA SAFARIS et je pense que c'est le moment idéal pour explorer le monde. Allez saisir cette chance et VOYAGEZ. Cela pourrait juste changer votre vie.Erick The Guide et weuide Africa Safaris - vous étiez tous les meilleurs et je vous remercie de m'avoir donné l'opportunité d'escalader le mont Kilimandjaro.Quiconque lit ces mots - weguide Africa Safaris est super sympa, super professionnel et super organisé et ils ont des prix imbattables. N'ayez pas peur de suivre votre cœur. Le monde est fait pour être exploré.Merci Erick et toute l'équipe de weguide Africa Safaris qui ont facilité mon voyage. Je suis très reconnaissant de vous avoir trouvé.
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XAVIER
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Tanzania wildlife familiy safari with weguide africa safaris great company in Tanzania The trip was definitely a wonderful experience. The guide was very good, and that is one of the most important parts of a trip like this.Ngorongoro and Serengeti are two fantastic places, and we had the rare privilege of visiting with very little tourism, really feeling and breathing the place.With my current experience, I will change the first part of the trip avoiding lake Manyara and the long transfer of the first day, and planning at least two safaris in the crater
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