Exploring The Udzungwa Mountains

The Udzungwa Mountains is one of the highlights ofmountains. Moreover, most of these species are
Tanzania. Although Udzungwa is not a conventionalendemic such that these can only be found in the
game viewing destination, it is every hiker's dream.Udzungwa Mountains, including the African violets.
Since the Udzungwa has been accorded national parkWhile these are some of the reasons that generally
status, many hikers have been enticed to theseattract tourists to Udzungwa, the exciting trails and
grandiose mountains.breathtaking scenery toward the peak particularly
The Udzungwa Mountains are generally a part of theattract hikers and ornithologists. Among the many
Eastern Arc Mountain Range of Tanzania. Thesetrails that can be trekked in these mountains, the
mountains are covered with what are left of themost exciting and the most challenging is the
great forest that used to cover the whole country.Mwanihana trail. This trail leads to the second highest
Thus, the amount of biodiversity is just so greatpeak of the Udzungwa Mountains which is the
within these forests that a number of the rarestMwanihana Peak.
flora and bird species are actually found here.A trek along the Mwanihana trail is an experience of
Udzungwa is a towering stature that rises from thea lifetime. It is best enjoyed piece by piece, where
flat coastal scrub of Tanzania. It is the largest andevery stop over promises new adventures and
most biodiverse forest mountain in Africa. It coversexciting things to discover. Aside from unexpectedly
1990 square kilometers of surface area, and standsstumbling over an elephant along the way, a varied
2756 meters at its highest peak. It is home to a highrange of primates such as the Iringa Red Colobus
density of endemism species of plants, birds,and the Blue Monkey casually swing across the forest
butterflies, and insects. Moreover, these mountainstrees just a few feet above the head. Although the
are likened to an archipelago of isolated ranges,larger animals are not frequently seen, they are
because these mountains are small fragments of thebelieved to be silently lurking in the deep forests.
astounding Eastern Arc Mountain Range. Thus, justMoreover, the woodland and the sub-montane
like the Eastern Arc Range, Udzungwa Mountains canforests effectively provide cover for these larger
be classified as a tropical rain forest with high rainfallsanimals. Indeed, there is no better way to get in
and rich savanna vegetation.touch with nature than a trek at Mwanihana trail.
The major attractions of these mountains includeAside from the picturesque view at the top, one
reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants among others.could never compare the amount of excitement
The biodiversity is so great that hundreds ofderived from trekking up to one of the highest
different species can be seen at most parts of thepeaks of the Udzungwa Mountains.