Udzungwa National Park
Description: Udzungwa is the largest and most biodiverse of a chain of a dozen large forest-swathed mountains that rise majestically in Eastern Tanzania.
Known collectively as the Eastern Arc Mountains, it has also been dubbed the African Galapagos for its treasure-trove of endemic plants and animals, most familiarly the delicate African violet. It is a magnet for hikers, with its excellent network of forest trails.
Ornithologists are attracted by the avian wealth of more than 400 species. Of six primate species recorded, the Iringa red colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey (discovered in 1979) both occur nowhere else in the world.
Undoubtedly, more treasures are yet to be uncovered as scientific exploration continues.
Location: Just south of Mikumi, between Ruaha and Selous. A visit can be done as a day trip from Mikumi
Things 2 Do: Hiking
Time: Spend from 1 day to several, depending on your interest in hiking
Animals: 11 species of Primates, Buffalo, Elephants, 400+ bird species, 3 endemic Reptiles (a Gecko, a Skink and a Chameleon), Millipedes, a Tree Frog and more than 70 species of Spiders.
Accommodations
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Wami River Camp
$$$$
Foxes Safari Camp (Mikumi)
Vuma Hills Tented Camp (Mikumi)
“Top notch! Everything was well planned. The lodging was amazing. My favorite was Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. It was located about 8000 feet in a very lush forest, constructed of river rock and polished African hardwoods – absolutely beautiful! The website pictures of all the places we stayed looked nice but the actual experience of staying at these places was well beyond expectations. Whenever we went to a new destination there was always some one to greet us, take us to our hotels, airport, etc.
Access 2 Tanzania attended to every detail including all the arrangements for our post-safari extension to Zanzibar. The hotels provided great breakfasts and dinners and even the boxed lunches we ate out in the “bush” were pretty decent. Our guide, Maningo, was excellent. He truly wanted all of us to have the best African experiences. If we ever travel to Africa in the future, Access 2 Tanzania will be our first choice.”