UDZUNGWA NATIONAL PARK
Overview
Brooding and primeval, the forests of Udzungwa seem positively enchanted: a verdant refuge of sunshine-dappled glades enclosed by 30-metre (100 foot) high trees, their buttresses layered with fungi, lichens, mosses and ferns.
Udzungwa is the largest and most biodiverse of a chain of a dozen large forest-swathed mountains that rise majestically from the flat coastal scrub of eastern Tanzania. Known collectively as the Eastern Arc Mountains, this archipelago of isolated massifs has also been dubbed the African Galapagos for its treasure-trove of endemic plants and animals, most familiarly the delicate African violet. Udzungwa alone among the ancient ranges of the Eastern Arc has been accorded national park status. It is also unique within Tanzania in that its closed-MASL forest spans altitudes of 250 metres (820 feet) to above 2,000 metres (6,560 ft) without interruption.
Not a conventional game viewing destination, Udzungwa is a magnet for hikers. An excellent network of forest trails includes the popular half-day ramble to Sanje Waterfall, which plunges 170 metres (550 feet) through a misty spray into the forested valley below. The more challenging two-night Mwanihana Trail leads to the high plateau, with its panoramic views over surrounding sugar plantations, before ascending to Mwanihana peak, the second-highest point in the range.
Ornithologists are attracted to Udzungwa for an avian wealth embracing more than 400 species, from the lovely and readily-located green-headed oriole to more than a dozen secretive Eastern Arc endemics. Four bird species are peculiar to Udzungwa, including a forest partridge first discovered in 1991 and more closely related to an Asian genus than to any other African fowl. Of six primate species recorded, the Iringa red colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey both occur nowhere else in the world – the latter, remarkably, remained undetected by biologists prior to 1979. Undoubtedly, this great forest has yet to reveal all its treasures: ongoing scientific exploration will surely add to its diverse catalogue of endemics
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F.A.Q
How can I pay for the tour?
For booking a tour we require it to be paid at the time of booking. This is the only guarantee for you to get the tour that you booked. You can also pay for the tour in cash at the start of the tour. But in this you will need to buy our cancellation insurance online at least. This insurance frees you from any cancellation penalties. No questions asked. No other payment required. For complex tours we require a prepayment, which you need to pay when you have agreed to our proposed itinerary and terms. The prepayment can range from 10% to 100%, depending on the tour.
Can I pay by credit card?
Yes, we offer credit card payments with our payment partner. You may pay by MasterCard and VISA.
Do I have to pay in Euro?
No. You can pay in Euro, US-Dollars or in Ukrainian Hryvnia. We simply quote the prices in Euro because it is a stable currency. You do not need to change to Euro to pay us. You can pay online in many currencies or in cash at the current exchange rate to Euro given by a currency exchange in Lviv.
What if I am late for the tour?
If you are up to 15mins late for the tour, then your guide/transport will of course wait for you and continue the tour as normal. Your guide will still give you the full tour. If you are more than half an hour late, then it may not make sense to go ahead with the tour as planned (and also, if private transport has been hired to get you to the tour start, it will almost certainly have been lost if you are this late). Instead we will probably suggest trying to rearrange the tour, or in some cases the only option may be for you to cancel. If the lateness or subsequent cancellation is out of your control then we will look at your situation specifically to see if we can offer any form of partial refund. In all cases of lateness (and even in the VERY rare case that it appears your guide or hired transport is late), please call us as soon as possible at +380-67-201 5297 to let us know. Please also make sure that your clock is turned to the right timezone. Sometimes guests forgot to switch. You can always ask your hotel for the current time.
If I cancel the tour, do you offer a refund?
Yes, we refund you based on our Cancellation Policy. The amount of the refund depends on when you cancel the tour. If you want to make sure to get your money back, we offer a Cancellation Insurance for all tours. If it has not been offered to you, please contact us!