Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is located in central Tanzania, spanning parts of the Kilolo District in the Iringa Region and the Kilombero District in the Morogoro Region. Covering an area of approximately 1,990 square kilometres (770 square miles), the park is one of the largest protected areas within the Eastern Arc Mountains system. Its landscape is remarkably diverse, encompassing a wide range of ecosystems such as tropical rainforests, montane forests, miombo woodlands, grasslands, and steppe environments. This ecological variety is largely influenced by the park’s significant elevation range, which extends from about 250 metres above sea level to 2,576 metres at the summit of Lohomero Peak.

This National Park forms an important part of the Udzungwa Mountains, which are themselves a key component of the ancient Eastern Arc Mountains, a region renowned for its exceptional levels of biodiversity. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is considered one of the most biologically rich national parks in Africa, ranking second on the continent in terms of biodiversity. It is home to more than 400 recorded bird species, making it an important destination for ornithological research and bird conservation. In addition, the park supports approximately 2,500 plant species, of which around 25 percent are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world.

The National Park is especially notable for its primate diversity. Six different primate species have been documented within its boundaries, and five of these are endemic to the region. Among the most significant are the Udzungwa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey, both of which are restricted exclusively to Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Remarkably, the Sanje crested mangabey remained unknown to scientists until its discovery in 1979. The park continues to yield new scientific findings, including the identification of a previously unknown endemic chameleon species in 2009, further highlighting its global conservation importance.