TANZANIA
FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
This tour focuses on two of Tanzania’s most beautiful national parks, the rainforests of Udzungwa and the flower-filled highland grasslands of Kitulo. Both offer a rich and beautiful flora as well as a huge range of fauna, this including an impressive array of primates and smaller mammals as well as Africa’s better known species. Birds, Butterflies and reptiles will also feature strongly – in short, a celebration of Southern Tanzania’s fantastically varied natural history, the big and the small, the brilliant and the bizarre.
A sweeping landscape reminiscent of the Scottish highlands, Kitulo is referred to by the locals as ‘Bustani ya Mungu’ meaning the ‘Garden of God’. The endangered Blue Swallow hawks over grassland plateaux perched at 2600m where rare Denham’s Bustards tread among many beautiful blooms including Parrot-beak Gladioli, canary-yellow Moraea tanzanica and white and purple Moraea callista, Protea humifusa, the nodding heads of Clematoptis villosa and the dainty yellow bulb Xyris obscura. Orchids include many Disas, Satyriums and Habenarias, whilst Buff-shouldered Widowbirds perch on the striking red-hot poker Kniphofia paludosa.
Udzungwa forms part of the Eastern Arc Mountain chain, recognized as one of 24 globally important "hot spots" for forest biodiversity. Around a quarter of the flora here is endemic including several African Violets and Bizzy-lizzies. The park contains vast tracts of lowland and montane forest which still harbour large populations of Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Lion and numerous ungulate species including the rare Abbot’s Duiker. Among over 400 species of bird are the endemic Udzungwa Forest Partridge and Rufous-winged Sunbird whilst a staggering 539 species of butterfly found to date include the endemics Papilio hornimani mwanihanae, Celaenorrhinus sanjeensis and Axiocerses kiellandi. Udzungwa is one of the most important areas in Africa for primate diversity and conservation, boasting 13 species including two endemic monkeys, the Udzungwa Red Colobus and Sanje Mangabey, as well as the near-endemic Highland Mangabey, a new genus and species discovered in 2004. We’ll also have time to enjoy a little of the coastal habitats around Dar-es-Salaam as well as the game-rich lowland miombo woodlands of Mikumi National Park.
INFORMATION
Focus
Flowers and Mammals, especially Primates. Also Birds, Butterflies, Reptiles and Landscapes.
Leaders
Walking
In East African national parks one is normally restricted to vehicles seeing the wildlife on morning and evening game drives. This tour is different. We use 4wd landcruisers merely to get us to the best parts of these national parks, and in them all, except Mikumi, we can walk as much as we require. The walking is easy and we cover three or four miles on most days, occasionally up to six or seven, always at a slow pace, perfectly suited to photographers. Occasional steep and sometimes muddy paths.
Included in the Price
All flights. All transport, meals and accommodation in Tanzania. Services of your leaders. Please note: drinks, tips and items of a personal nature including insurance, are not included.
Group Size
The minimum is 5 and the maximum is 14.
Accommodation
At either end of the tour we stay in the Hotel Mediterraneo in Dar-es-Salaam which has lovely one story cottage style rooms set in delightful gardens next to the ocean. We’ve three nights at Udzungwa in the wonderfully situated Hondo Hondo. Rooms are authentic mud hut style with no electricity, however lanterns are supplied and they come complete with proper beds and furnishings. This is the only place on the tour without en suite facilities, these being spacious western-style bathrooms close by the rooms (with electricity!). Next we’ll be well looked after in the luxury cottages in Kisolanza’s fine gardens. After a night here we have two nights at the fine Utengule Coffee Lodge situated on the slopes of the Mbeya Range, a bastion of comfort and elegance, with lovely en suite rooms and a great restaurant. We return here for two nights after visiting Kitulo where we’ve three nights in the rather basic Brown Colobus Lodge where the clean plainly furnished rooms are en suite but the showers cold (hot water available in buckets!).
Climate
Pleasantly warm for the most part though it can become quite hot in the middle of the day so relaxing siestas are certainly in order! Rain can be expected during some of the afternoons and is sometimes prolonged.
How To Book
Download a booking form (or contact us and we will send one to you)from the Booking Information section. Complete and send to us. A detailed information pack will be dispatched twelve weeks prior to departure. This will contain up-to-date health information. Flower, bird and mammal checklists are available.
