UDZUNGWA WILDLIFE

The Udzungwa Mountains are a sanctuary for wildlife, home to various species. Among the notable residents are the rare Abbott’s duiker, the elusive Kipunji, and the unique grey-faced sengi. The forests along the southern escarpment also support a population of elephants, enhancing the park’s charm. Remarkably, six species of primates inhabit this area, including the exclusive Iringa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey, which astonishingly remained undiscovered by biologists until 1979.

The Kihansi spray toad is a remarkable conservation success story that can be found around a waterfall on the Kihansi River. This species faced brief extinction in the wild in 2009 due to habitat changes brought about by an upstream dam. However, through the dedicated efforts of scientists, the Kihansi spray toad was successfully reintroduced after a successful captive breeding program, providing hope for the future of wildlife conservation.

BIRDS IN THE NATIONAL PARK

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a paradise for birdwatchers due to its rich avian diversity. The park is home to over 400 species of birds, making it one of the top destinations for bird enthusiasts and one of the three main bird conservation areas on the African mainland.

Among the park’s unique bird species are the African marabou, crowned eagle, Rüppell’s vulture, and African hobby. Recent discoveries by scientists include exciting finds such as the Francolin and the Rufous-winged Sunbird. The park also hosts species like the Dappled mountain robin, Sharpe’s akalat, Olive-flanked robin-chat, and White-chested alethe. A thrilling discovery in 1991 was the Udzungwa forest partridge, which appears to have close relatives in the hill partridges of Asia. These distinctive bird species make Udzungwa a must-visit destination for birdwatchers.

CLIMATE IN UDZUNGWA

Udzungwa experiences most of its rainfall during the wet seasons from November and from March to May. However, even in the dry season, mist and light rain are common at higher elevations. Temperatures tend to be milder at these higher altitudes, providing a pleasant climate for visitors. It is advisable to avoid visiting the park during the rainy season, with the best time to visit being from June to October.

Traveling to Udzungwa National Park takes about 6 hours from Dar es Salaam, 1.5 hours from Udzungwa to Mikumi, and 6 to 7 hours by car from Udzungwa to Ruaha.