The park is unique by hosting some of the endemic flora and fauna that cannot be found anywhere on earth hence referred to as the “centre of endemism.” The vegetation is absolutely pristine with closed canopy cover, woodland and moorland at higher altitude. The park is honored to be the Galapagos of Africa and one of the fewer remaining “biodiversity hotspots” of the world. Udzungwa is a magnet for hikers; with an excellent network of forest trails that include the popular half-day ramble to Sanje waterfall which visitors are attracted to see primates like sanje mangabey and Iringa coloubus Monkey, forest birds, amphibians, reptiles, plants and much more.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park was gazetted in 1992 from the former Forest Reserves of Mwanihana, Iwonde, Nyanganje and parts of Matundu and the West Kilombero Forest Reserves. The park was specifically created to safeguard the mountains’ water catchment and biological values.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park has different large animal species such as; elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus and leopard. The Park is also home to endangered and endemic species, such as the Iringa red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey; the Udzungwa partridge and the Rufous-winged sun bird. The discovery of new flora and fauna continues in Udzungwa Mountains, which is the only place in Tanzania where forest cover is intact from the lowland acacia and miombo forest of the Great Ruaha Valley to high montane forests and grasslands to more than 2,500m above sea level. The World Conservation Society lists the Udzungwas as one of the 25 most important areas in the world for its biodiversity.
While the park itself contains only part of the entire endemic forest of the Udzungwa Mountains, it plays a crucial role in the area’s ecology. The park has several major water catchment areas that feed the surrounding river systems, which include the Great Ruaha River. A significant number of communities in the Kilombero Valley rely on rivers and streams originating from the park to get water for agriculture activities and domestic use. The rivers are also contribute in production hydroelectric power at Kidatu and Kihansi stations.
