Southern Circuit • Tanzania

Udzungwa Mountains

Ancient Eastern Arc rainforest alive with endemic primates, the spectacular 170-metre Sanje Falls, and over 400 bird species — Tanzania's most biodiverse mountain park.

What to See & Do Plan This Safari

1,990 km²

Park Area

11

Primate Species

400+

Bird Species

Jun – Sep

Peak Season

← Southern Circuit

Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Tanzania's Living Rainforest

Udzungwa Mountains National Park, tucked away in Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains, is a place that truly feels alive. What makes it special isn't just the rare species found here, but the sheer variety of landscapes — rolling hills, deep green valleys, and the stunning 170-metre Sanje Falls. Covering 1,990 square kilometres across the Iringa and Morogoro regions, Udzungwa sits between the Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park, making it a unique crossroads for nature lovers.

Home to a diverse array of wildlife, Udzungwa shelters elephants, buffalo, and endangered primates like the Iringa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey — species found nowhere else on earth. Its distinctive forests, stretching from lowland acacia woodland to verdant montane habitats, are crucial to the region's ecology and support important hydropower resources for Tanzania.

What to See

Wildlife & Highlights

Activities

Safari Experiences

When to Visit

Best Time to Go

Dry Season (June – September) is the best time for hiking, primate tracking, and general wildlife viewing — trails are drier and forest paths more accessible.

Wet Season (November – March) brings wildflowers in bloom and an abundance of butterflies, transforming the forest into a vivid natural spectacle.

For Birders (December – February) is the peak time, when most migratory birds are nesting in the park and endemic species are most active.

How to Get There

Getting to the Park

By Road: Approximately 7 hours from Dar es Salaam (380 km). Udzungwa is 1 to 1.5 hours from Mikumi National Park, making it easy to combine both parks in a single trip.

By Air: Fly from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi in approximately 1.5 hours, then continue by road to Udzungwa.

Through the Lens