Mufindi Highlands

Mufindi located in the Southern Highlands of Iringa District at an altitude of around 6700ft offer a cool temperate climate not generally expected in Africa.

Mufindi is an area of stunning beauty located above the Great Rift Valley in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania between the main towns of Iringa and Mbeya.

The country side is spectacularly undulating ending abruptly at the 2000ft rift valley escarpment. The area has stunning scenery, dark thick montane rainforest and pristine tea estates interlaced with lakes, rivers and streams.

Activities in Mufindi

Scenic view of lush tea estates and forested land by walking, driving, mountain biking and horse back riding, visiting local tea farmers & villages, visiting orphanage centers, fishing & golfing.

With a glimpse of Tanzanian culture and an array of activities to choose from, this Southern Highlands tour will be unforgettable!

Accommodations in Mufindi

Mufindi Highland Lodge: 9 log cabins overlooking lake and golf coarse at altitude of 6,000ft and rooms are spacious and comfortable with en suite shower with hot water, toilet & basin.

Matamba Farm Cottages: comfortable family accommodation in self contained cottages with open fireplaces and delightful private garden, with delicious home cooked meals.

Kilombero Valley

Kilombero valley is a unique and complex area, the site is amongst the largest seasonal wetland in East Africa, and this wetland is an important source of nutrients and sediment for the downstream area.

It observed that Kilombero valley has one endemic species of Crocodile called Crocodylus niloticus and endemic population of Colobus Monkey.

Also Kilombero valley contains a property population of Puku antelope which are only found in 18 locations in Africa and 3 endemic bird species namely weaverbird and 2 Cisticolla species.

During the wet seasons, it is an important spawning area for many kinds of fish in Rufiji River.

In Kilombero valley in short study it observed that there are 27 types of fish. More study is needed to confirm the observation.

Activities: Bird watching, Canoeing & Cultural tour

Dry Season in Kilombero:

June – Mid November: Best time to visit

December – February: Humid & Hot: Good time to visit.

Rainy Season in Kilombero:

Mid November – Mid December: Short Rain: Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery

April – May: Heavy rain: Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery but many roads become impassable after heavy rains.

Getting to Kilombero :

By Road : 1 hour drive from Udzungwa

Amani Nature Reserve

Amani Forest Nature Reserve is one of the latest Nature Reserve established by the government to protect flora and fauna of East Usambara and is the 2nd largest botanical garden in the world.

Today the area continues to play a significant part in medical research hosting the Amani Medical Research Centre.

Peculiar in floristic diversity (3,450 vascular plant taxa). This peculiarity attracts Eco tourists to the area. Presence of African violet flower (11 species) in the wilderness of Amani Nature Reserve and availability of endemic and endangered plants add the tourism attractions of Amani Nature Reserve

More than 340 bird species has been recorded in East Usambara and most of these are found in Amani Nature Reserve. Many bird watchers visits Amani looking for the endemic and endangered birds including Usambara Eagle Owl (Bubo vosseleri), Usambara Weaver (Ploseus nicolli), Amani Sun bird (Anthreptes pallidigaster), Long billed tailor-bird (Orthotomus moreaui)

The Amani Nature Reserve being part of Eastern Arc Mountains has been recorded to have74 genera of animals including reptiles, mammals, amphibians, birds and molluscs.

Some of visitors visiting Amani nature Reserve they are interested with chameleons (the endemic one with three horn), snakes including mountain Cobra, and amphibians’ particularly legless frog. Butterfly and other insects. Sometime you can do night walk to see some of these animals, nocturnal ones.

Activities in Amani Nature Reserve :

The Nature Reserve has now been turned into an Eco tourism attraction with greater emphasis on birdwatching, nature watching , walking and hiking.

Dry Season in Amani Nature Reserve :

June – Mid November: Best time for game viewing.

December – February: Humid & Hot: Good time for game viewing.

Rainy Season in Selous:

Mid November – Mid December: Short Rain: Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery but many roads become impassable after heavy rains

April – May: Heavy rain: Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery but many roads become impassable after heavy rains. Don’t recommend to travel during these months.

Getting to Amani Nature Reserve :

Road: 5 – 6 hours (during dry season) from Dar es salaam / 3 – 4 hr drive from Saadani / 2-3 hr drive from Pangani

Suggested Itineraries for Amani Nature Reserve : Minimum 3 Days/2 Nights Safari : Amani Nature Reserve can be combined with Saadani , Pangani & Mikumi : Check for Itineraries.

Udzungwa National Park

Udzungwa recently established conservation area of about 2,000 Sq Km in the South Central Tanzania and is boarded with Great Ruaha River and it’s 60kms from Mikumi national Park.

Udzungwa rises from 250m to 2,576 m at the peak and is well known for its biologically diverse forest with approximately 20 – 30% out of 200 animals and plant species that grow here not found anywhere in the world.

Udzungwa is really beautiful place for hikers.

The major attraction of Udzungwa is bio-diversity and unique rain forest, where most rare plants are not found anywhere else in the world, have been identified, from a tiny African violet to 30 meter high trees.

There are more than 400 bird species, 2500 plant species (25% of which are endemic and 6 primate species. It has the second largest biodiversity of a national park in Africa.

Udzungwa plateau supports Iringa Red Colubus Monkey, Sanje Crested Mangabey Monkey, Buffalo, Yellow monkey, Blue monkey, Velvet monkey, Red Duikers, Honey badgers, Squirrels, Mongoose, Sables and Blue Duiker’s as well rare species of birds.

Activities in Udzungwa:

Hiking safaris, bird watching safari, camping safari are the major activities, an excellent network in the forest trial through beautiful scenery, trials are maintained regularly. Also can visit local villages around and local Sugarcane farmers.

The most popular half day ramble to Sanje Water fall, which pledges 170 m through a misty spray in the forested below valley.

Dry Season in Udzungwa:

June – Mid November: Best time for hiking but be prepared for rain any time

December – February: Humid & Hot: Good time hiking.

Rainy Season in Udzungwa:

Mid November – Mid December: Short Rain : Slippery for hiking

April – May: Heavy rain: Slippery for hiking.

Getting to Udzungwa:

Road: 6 hours from Dar es salaam / 1 hr drive from Mikumi

Suggested Itineraries for Udzungwa : Minimum 3 Days / 2 Night Safari : Udzungwa can be combined with Ruaha, Mikumi, Saadani & Selous :Check for Itineraries

Accommodations in Udzungwa

Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park is located north of the Selous Game Reserve covering an area of 3,230 Sq Km.

Mikumi is one of the most frequently visited National Parks.

It’s surrounded by open grasslands and mountain ranges.

Lion are commonly seen there, other animals seen there are Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Eland, Hartebeest, Crocodiles, Hippos and Baboons.

Over 300 species of birds are seen as many of them are Eurasian Migrants who stay between October – April.

Dry Season in Mikumi

June – Mid November: Best time for game viewing.

December – February: Humid & Hot: Good time for game viewing.

Rainy Season in Mikumi
Mid November – Mid December: Short Rain : Wonderful for bird life and lush scenery

April – May: Heavy rain: Wonderful for bird life and lush scenery.

Getting to Mikumi::

Road: 5 hours from Dar es salaam

Suggested Itineraries for Mikumi : Minimum 3 Days / 2 Night Safari: Mikumi can be combined with other parks – Ruaha, Selous & Udzungwa :
Check for Itineraries

Accommodations in Mikumi: Mikumi Wildlife Camp, Vuma Hill tented Camp, Mikumi Safari Lodge, Tanswiss Lodge

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha is best kept wildlife secrets covering area of 20,300 Sq Kms with altitude of 1,000 m.

Ruaha is 1st largest National Park with biggest elephant sanctuary in Tanzania.

Ruaha is home of Hippo’s and Crocodile’s, also Water buck, Reed buck and Buffalo venture into the river’s edge to drink.

Other animals found there are Leopard, Hyena, Wild dog, Jackal, Pride of Lion etc, Antelope species such as Kudu, Impala, Sable antelope, Roan antelope, Grant gazelle, tiny Dik-dik thrive in the grasslands bordering the river alongside Giraffe, Zebra, Warthogs, Mongoose, Porcupine, Wildcat and Civet.

Ruaha bird life is prolific, over 370 species have been recorded and some of them are not found in Northern Tanzania.

Eurasian migrants flock to Ruaha twice a year March – April and October – November joining the Resident Kingfisher, Horn bills, Sunbird, Egrets and Plovers.

Activities in Ruaha :
Game drive, bird watching & Walking Safari accompanied with armed ranger.

Dry Season in Ruaha
June – Mid November: Best time for game viewing: Animals are concentrated around the shrinking water course
December – February: Humid & Hot: Good time for game viewing.

Rainy Season in Ruaha
Mid November – Mid December: Short Rain : Wonderful for bird life and lush scenery
April – May: Heavy Rain: Wonderful for bird life and lush scenery.

Getting to Ruaha
Road: 12 hours ( during dry season) from Dar es salaam, 5 hours from Mikumi National Park
Flight: 3 hours flight from Dar es Salaam.

Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)

Selous Game Reserve with endangered wild dogs
Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve) is the largest protected wildlife area in South of Tanzania and the biggest game reserve in Africa which covers a vast area of about 32,400 km², with an altitude of between 110 – 1250 m and covers 6% of Tanzania.

Nyerere National Park is designated park due to its unique ecological importance which has the finest unspoiled virgin bush and it is one of the list scientifically researched areas in Africa. 1,700 botanical species have been identified.

Nyerere National Park boost larger population of Elephants as well as large numbers of Buffalo, Hippo, Crocodile and endangered Wild dog.

Commonly seen are pride of Lion, Bush buck, Impala, Warthogs, Ostrich, Giraffe, Eland, Baboon, Zebra, Hyena, Kudu, rare sable antelope and Leopard.

In Nyerere National Park there are more than 400 species of bird life: Fish eagle, Kingfisher, Secretary bird, Sunbird, Hammer kop, Red & Yellow bill stork, Open bill stork, Weavers, Water birds, Marabou stork, Vulture’s etc.

Activities in Nyerere National Park
Walking safari accompanied by armed ranger , Boat Safari, game drive & Visiting local village at Mloka / Kisaki.

Dry Season in Nyerere National Park
June – Mid November: Best time for game viewing.
December – February: Humid & Hot: Good time for game viewing.

Rainy Season in Nyerere National Park
Mid November – Mid December: Short Rain: Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery but many roads were impassable after heavy rains
April – May: Heavy rain: Wonderful for birdlife and lush scenery but many roads are impassable after heavy rains. Don’t recommend to travel during these months.

Most of the lodges are usually closed from April to end of May.

Getting to Nyerere National Park:
Road: Apprx 5 hours (during dry season) from Dar es salaam
Flight: 45 Min flight from Dar es Salaam

Suggested Itineraries for Nyerere National Park ( Selous Game Reserve) : Minimum 3 Days/ 2 Night Safari : Nyerere National Park can be combined with Mafia Island, Kilwa & Mikumi :

Accommodations in Nyerere National Park