Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

Eastern Arc rainforest, Sanje Falls and rare endemics, with the Kilombero Floodplains and its own endemic weaver next door.

The Udzungwa Mountains are the largest and most varied of the Eastern Arc ranges, sometimes called the “Galápagos of Africa” for the number of plants and animals found nowhere else. There are no roads inside the park: you explore on foot, through rainforest to viewpoints and the Sanje Falls.

Birders come for the Udzungwa Forest Partridge, Rufous-winged Sunbird and Iringa Akalat, and for primates such as the Udzungwa red colobus and Sanje mangabey.

Below the mountains, the Kilombero Floodplains hold one of Africa’s largest seasonal wetlands, with the endemic Kilombero Weaver and White-tailed Cisticola, and herds of puku.

Getting there

Udzungwa is about six hours by road from Dar es Salaam, passing Mikumi National Park on the way. The Kilombero Floodplains lie a short drive south of the park headquarters at Mang’ula.

Where to stay

Simple lodges and forest camps near the park gate at Mang’ula, with fly-camps deep in the forest on longer birding trips.

Our guides’ tips

Bring good walking shoes: every visit is on foot, and trails can be steep and slippery.
Start early for forest birds and the Sanje Falls trail.
Allow time for the Kilombero Floodplains as well as the forest.
Combine with Mikumi and Ruaha for a southern circuit.

Common questions

How fit do I need to be?

Moderate fitness is enough for the shorter trails. The longer forest hikes are steep and full-day.

Which safaris go here?

Our 13-Day Udzungwa & Rubeho Birding Adventure and 27-Day Tanzania Ultimate Birding Expedition both include Udzungwa.

When is best?

June to October is driest. Avoid the long rains in April and May.

Safaris that visit Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

Baobab country in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

20days

20-Day Southern Tanzania Birding Expedition

Mbulu, Ukaguru, Udzungwa, Ruaha, Kisolanza, Mikumi, Kilombero, Uluguru, Nyerere & Pugu Hills

Twenty days through Tanzania’s southern highlands and Eastern Arc mountains, from Mbulu and Ukaguru to Ruaha, Mikumi, the Ulugurus, Nyerere and the Pugu Hills.

See the itinerary Enquire

Bar-tailed Trogon perched in Usambara montane forest

39days

39-Day Ultimate Tanzania Birding Expedition

From Lake Victoria, Northern Savannahs to Eastern Arc Forests & Southern Wilderness

Tanzania’s most complete birding trip: 39 days from Lake Victoria and the Serengeti to the Eastern Arc forests, the southern highlands, Ruaha, Nyerere and Pugu Hills.

See the itinerary Enquire

Streaky-breasted bird perched on a branch, Udzungwa Mountains

13days

13-Day Udzungwa & Rubeho Birding Adventure

Udzungwa, Rubeho & Mikumi

This incredible tour takes you through the Udzungwa and Rubeho Mountains in search of the rare Udzungwa and Rubeho Forest Partridges—two fascinating birds that were only recently discovered.

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Wildlife

Iconic wildlife of Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

The animals, trees and reptiles our guides look for here, with the best season and where to find them. See the full wildlife guide.

Primate

Udzungwa red colobus

Piliocolobus gordonorum

Found nowhere else on earth. One of two endemic monkeys that make the Udzungwa Mountains famous.

Seen in

Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

Primate

Blue monkey

Cercopithecus mitis

The quiet grey-blue monkey of Tanzania’s forests, usually noticed by a shaking branch high in the canopy.

Seen in

Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Usambara Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Gombe & Mahale Mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Tanganyika

Primate

Sanje mangabey

Cercocebus sanjei

Discovered by science only in 1979 and found nowhere outside the Udzungwa Mountains. A habituated group can be tracked near Sanje.

Seen in

Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

Birding

Birds to look for in Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

Specialities, endemics and the birds that make this place different, chosen by our birding guides. Browse all birds.

Resident

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

A huge forest hornbill with a cream casque, whooshing overhead with every wingbeat.

Seen in

Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Usambara Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Mount Kilimanjaro

Resident

Bar-tailed Trogon

Apaloderma vittatum

A jewel of the montane forest that sits motionless for minutes, then is simply gone.

Seen in

Arusha National Park, Usambara Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Ngorongoro Crater

Near-endemic

Red-capped Forest Warbler

Artisornis metopias

Also called the African Tailorbird. A tiny, restless bird of the montane undergrowth with a rusty cap.

Seen in

Usambara Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Ngorongoro Crater

Near-endemic

Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes neglectus

A quiet, canopy-loving sunbird of the Eastern Arc forests, with a violet back that shows only in good light.

Seen in

Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Usambara Mountains

Endemic

Rufous-winged Sunbird

Cinnyris rufipennis

Discovered in 1981 and found only in the Udzungwa Mountains. One of the most restricted birds in Africa.

Seen in

Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

Endemic

Udzungwa Forest Partridge

Xenoperdix udzungwensis

Discovered in 1991 from a cooking pot. A partridge with Asian relatives, found only in the Udzungwa forests.

Seen in

Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

Resident

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

A vulture that eats palm fruit. Black and white, with a bare pink face, along Lake Tanganyika and the eastern rivers.

Seen in

Gombe & Mahale Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Usambara Mountains, Lake Tanganyika

Resident

White-starred Robin

Pogonocichla stellata

A yellow-and-blue robin of the forest floor with a white star on its forehead, singing in the half-light.

Seen in

Arusha National Park, Usambara Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Ngorongoro Crater

Near-endemic

Short-tailed Batis

Batis mixta

A tiny black-and-white flycatcher of the Eastern Arc forests, hunting insects in the mid-storey.

Seen in

Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Usambara Mountains

Resident

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

A neat, dark hornbill with a red bill and a white belly, usually in pairs along the forest edge.

Seen in

Gombe & Mahale Mountains, Usambara Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Arusha National Park, Lake Tanganyika

Resident

Narina Trogon

Apaloderma narina

Emerald back, scarlet belly, and a habit of sitting absolutely still. Finding one is a highlight of any forest walk.

Seen in

Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Usambara Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains, Gombe & Mahale Mountains

Activities

Things to do in Udzungwa Mountains & Kilombero Floodplains

How a day here is spent, from game drives to walks and boat trips. All safari activities.

Hartlaub’s Turaco in Arusha National Park

Any length, from a morning walk to a 27-day expedition

Birdwatching

More than 1,100 species, dozens of endemics, and guides who find most birds by ear. Our speciality.

Waterfall in the montane forest of Arusha National Park

One to four hours

Walking safaris and nature walks

Leave the vehicle behind. Walk with a ranger to a waterfall, across the plains, or into Eastern Arc forest.

Eastern Arc forest in the Usambara Mountains

Half day to full day

Forest hiking and waterfalls

Hike through ancient Eastern Arc rainforest to Sanje Falls and the viewpoints of the Usambaras.

Explore other Tanzania destinations

More parks, plains and forests our safaris visit, each with its own wildlife, birds and best season.

Arusha National Park

Montane forest, the Momella Lakes and Hartlaub’s Turaco, just 45 minutes from Arusha.

Flamingos in flight over a Rift Valley soda lake

Lake Natron

The Rift Valley soda lake where East Africa’s Lesser Flamingos breed.

Black-winged Stilt wading in shallow water

Lake Eyasi

Seasonal soda lake with flamingos, waterbirds and quiet dry bush.

Grey-headed Gull on a Rift Valley lake, Tanzania

Lake Victoria

Africa’s largest lake, with papyrus specialists and lakeshore birds.

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) in reeds, Tanzania

Rubondo Island National Park

Quiet island park with forest birds, waterbirds and sitatunga.

Lake Tanganyika

Clear lake, western forest birds and the gateway to Gombe and Mahale.

Bird singing on an acacia branch, northern Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro

Montane forest birding on the slopes of Africa’s highest mountain.

Lark Plains

The only place on earth to see the critically endangered Beesley’s Lark.

African elephant walking through dry grass, Tanzania

Tarangire National Park

Huge elephant herds, ancient baobabs and Tanzania’s endemic birds.

Lioness resting in an acacia tree, Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park

Tree-climbing lions, groundwater forest and a soda lake full of waterbirds.

Ngorongoro Crater

A volcanic caldera with black rhino, lions and big grassland birds.

Wildebeest herds of the Great Migration, Serengeti

Serengeti National Park

Vast plains, the Great Migration and big cats all year round.

Usambara Mountains

Ancient Eastern Arc forests holding Tanzania’s rarest endemic birds.

Wild chimpanzee in the forest at Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania

Gombe & Mahale Mountains

Track wild chimpanzees in the forests where Jane Goodall began her research.

Ruaha National Park

Tanzania’s largest park: big predators, baobab plains and 570+ bird species.

Start planning your safari

Let’s plan a safari around your interests. Share your travel dates, number of people, the ages of any children travelling, and the birds or wildlife you hope to see. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and a detailed quote.

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