South of Mikumi town the road runs down into the Kilombero valley, and on your right a dark green escarpment climbs out of the sugar-cane fields into cloud. This is Udzungwa Mountains National Park, part of the ancient Eastern Arc chain whose isolated forests have evolved an extraordinary number of plants and animals found nowhere else.
Udzungwa is the opposite of Mikumi in every way. There are no roads and no game drives: you walk, always with a park ranger or guide, on forest trails that range from an hour’s stroll to multi-day treks. The two parks are little more than an hour apart, which makes them one of the best pairings in Tanzania.
Top things to do: Udzungwa Mountains
Hike to Sanje Falls
The park’s signature walk. The trail climbs steeply through the forest to a series of falls that drop about 170 metres in total, with viewpoints over the valley and natural pools where you can cool off. Allow four to five hours for the round trip, and expect to be hot and muddy. Several Mikumi–Udzungwa tours include it.
Look for rare monkeys
Udzungwa is famous among primatologists. The Udzungwa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey live only in these mountains, alongside black-and-white colobus, blue monkeys and others. Red colobus are often seen near the Sanje trail and around the park headquarters.
Take a shorter forest walk
If the Sanje climb sounds like too much, there are short trails near the headquarters at Mang’ula, including an easy walk to the small Prince Bernhard waterfall — good for butterflies, birds and monkeys without the altitude gain.
Go further
Longer routes, such as the two- to three-day trek to Mwanihana Peak, are for fit hikers with camping gear and need arranging with the park in advance.
How to get to Udzungwa Mountains
- The park headquarters is at Mang’ula, about 60 km south of Mikumi town on the road towards Ifakara — allow an hour to an hour and a half. The Sanje trailhead is a little north of the headquarters, where you register and pay first.
- Most visitors come on a combined tour or with a driver from Mikumi. Buses and minibuses between Mikumi and Ifakara pass the park gate if you are travelling independently.
Insider tips
- Wear proper walking shoes with grip; the trail is steep and slippery after rain.
- Carry at least 1.5 litres of water per person and something to eat.
- Start early — the forest is cooler and the monkeys are more active in the morning.
- Park entry and the obligatory guide or ranger are charged separately; check current TANAPA fees.
- Swimwear and a small towel are worth packing for the pools.
Best tours & safaris: Udzungwa Mountains
These experiences are the easiest way to see Udzungwa Mountains:
Safari & hiking combo from €582 3 Days: Mikumi National Park & Udzungwa Mountains National Park
The natural pairing in this part of Tanzania: open-plains game viewing in Mikumi followed by a rainforest hike in the Udzungwa Mountains, a short drive to the south. One park is done sitting down, the other entirely on foot. A new listing without reviews at the time of writing.
- Game drives in Mikumi
- Forest hike in the Udzungwa Mountains
- Waterfalls and rich forest wildlife
Safari & hiking combo from €554 Dar es Salaam: 3-Day Mikumi & Udzungwa Safari with Train
The Mikumi-and-Udzungwa combination with the train taking care of part of the journey from Dar. The programme includes game drives and the hike to the Sanje Waterfalls. No reviews yet, so look at the operator’s other listings before you commit.
- Train travel for part of the journey
- Game drives in Mikumi
- Hike to the Sanje Waterfalls
Multi-park safari from €2043 Dar es Salaam: 7-Day Southern Tanzania Safari Tour
A full week in the south: Mikumi, the Udzungwa Mountains and Nyerere National Park, with game drives, the Sanje Waterfall hike and a walking safari. This is the trip for people who have decided on the quieter southern circuit instead of the Serengeti. No reviews yet.
- Mikumi, Udzungwa and Nyerere in one week
- Hike to the Sanje Waterfall
- Game drives plus a walking safari
