Home
Background
Flora & fauna
Routes & camps
Park fees
Getting there
TANAPA
www.udzungwa.net
[The Eastern Ark ]Udzungwa Mountains are a part of The Eastern Ark, which is a series of mountains running from the Taita Hills in Southern Kenya to the Makombako Gap in southern Tanzania. Mountain ranges like the Ulugulus, Usambaras and Udzungwa are all sections of the Eastern Ark Mountain chain.
The Eastern Ark are ancient crystalline mountains formed more than 200 million years ago. Geological changes caused the rising of the Central Plateau, now the Tanzania/Kenya Highlands, and the formation of the Rift Valley. The creation of the highlands lead to the formation of the east facing escarpments. One of the effects of these escarpments is that a number of large water catchment areas were formed.
The mountain range has had a constant climate now for millions of years. The humidity in the air from the Indian Ocean is forced, by the sudden change of altitude, to precipitate as rain in the mountains. Since the prevailing wind comes from east, the mountain range constantly receives rain. In addition, there have been no major natural catastrophes in these areas. In effect, an enormous amount of time coupled with a steady climate has given evolutionary processes extraordinarily good conditions.
[Udzungwa Mountains National Park]Udzungwa Mountains National Park covers the largest altitudinal range of any natural reserve in all of East Africa. Inside the park there are areas of many different habitats types. From lowland rainforest at 250 m (above sea level), moist cloud forest around 2000 m to the rocky Peak of Mwaniahana Mountain rising to 2700 m. This park ensures the conservation of transitional habitat types as well as mature Parinari excelsa rainforest.
It is a quite atypical African national park since there is no possibility of using a vehicle in the park; instead all visitors will have to hike. This makes the park unsuited for very old and disabled people. The hiking in the park is quite hard and a low pace is recommended.
Significance of Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
- Is the only Eastern Arc Mountains blocks in East Africa with the greatest altitudinal range and relatively undisturbed forest
- Is the only known National Park in Tanzania that has ten primate species two of which are endemic.
- Is an important water catchments area providing fresh water throughout the year for fishing and agriculture
- Contributes to the national economy through the production of hydroelectric power at Kidatu and Kihansi plants.
- Is the only known National Park in Tanzania with a culturally important natural cave.
- Has survived destruction before gazettement due to traditional taboos and beliefs.
- Is famous for the diversity of medicinal plant species (over 160 known species to date)
LOCATION AND SIZE:
The Udzungwa Mountains National Park is part of unique Eastern Arc Mountains, which cover about 10,000 square kilometres. The park is centred on 3o 41 and 7o 485 in the Iringa and Morogoro regions of south central Tanzania.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park is the sixth largest National Park in the country covering an area of 1990 square kilometres (rises between 250m Park HQs and 2576m Luhomelo).
BACKGROUND:
The word "Udzungwa" is probably a linguistic corruption possibly by the Germans of the word "Wadsungwa" which means the people who live on the slopes of the Mountains.
The Eastern Arc Mountains, which are almost entirely in Tanzania, have been described as the "Galapagos Island of Africa". They are arcs shaped hence the name. The importance of protecting these mountains with National Park status gained momentum in the late 1980's.
Support for the effort to establish the park, and for Basic Park infrastructure, was provided by WWF.
The bill to establish the park was passed by a resolution of the National Assembly on 23rd of January 1992 and the President Proclamation announced the new park on the 29th February 1992. The Founder President of WWF, HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, officially opened Udzungwa Mountains National Park on 20th October 1992.