UDZUNGWA NATIONAL PARK

For more information contact the Dar es Salaam Tourism Office, tel +22 212 0373/213 1555 - Fax: +22 211 6420 - www.tanzaniatouristboard.com - [email protected] - (see «Dar» entry). This park of 1 900 km ² (6 ^th country by size), the most recently created (1992) - although already partly forested since the 1950 s - has a beautiful altitude amplitude: from 300 m to 2 576 m. It is located west of the northern part of Selous, only 10 km from the southwest of Mikumi park. It extends from the forest of Mwanihana, west of Morogoro, to the west Kilombero forest, east of Iringa, and bordered to the north by the Grande Ruaha River that runs along the road from Dar to Mbeya (Tanzanian Zambian Highway). The park is inhabited among others by lions, leopards, black hippotragues, elk, harnachés harnachés, céphalophes, elephants, buffalo, red colobes of an endemic type, souï-grouse, endemic also… In all, six species of monkeys (two endemic), including mangabeys, black and yellow, purple monkeys, reptiles (chameleon, serpents…). This park is also one of the ten largest in Africa for the preservation of ornithological fauna. It also includes many plant species (2 000), of which 20% to 30% are unknown elsewhere. Its forests play a very important role in the country's economy: construction, utensils, oils and honey, medicinal products… Compared to other parks, the establishment has been marked by a strong collaboration between the surrounding villagers and those responsible for conservation. This region has been preserved from all human occupation due to the enchevêtrement of its steep mountains, culminating in Luhombero. Some waterfalls are impressive, including those of Sanje, 170 m high. The park does not include roads or tracks. The explorers must therefore walk from the park headquarters on routes taking 15 minutes to a few days in tents. The park, which will delight the trekkeurs, can be visited in addition to the Mikumi or Ruaha (there are fewer than 400 visitors per year), in 2 or 3 days. In the programme: trekking, walking safari and bird watching. Better period: July to October and December to February.