Udzungwa Mountains National Park is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, which covers about 10,000 km2 and are almost entirely in Tanzania. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is located at UTM 37 206000 E and 9109000 N and 277000 E and 9170000 N in Iringa and Morogoro regions, south-central Tanzania. The Park covers a land area of 1,990 km2 and lies within Kilolo and Kilombero Districts in Iringa and Morogoro Regions respectively. The Selous Game Reserve is to the east and Mikumi National Park to the northeast. The Great Ruaha River borders the park in the north while the Ruipa and Msosa Rivers in the west. The park extends to an altitude of 200m to 2,576m above sea level.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park was gazetted in 1992 from the former Forest Reserves of Mwanihana, Iwonde, Nyanganje and parts of Matundu and the West Kilombero Forest Reserves. The park was specifically created to safeguard the mountains’ water catchment and biological values.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park has different large animal species such as; elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus and leopard. The Park is also home to endangered and endemic species, such as the Iringa red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey; the Udzungwa partridge and the Rufous-winged sunbird. The discovery of new flora and fauna continues in Udzungwa Mountains, which is the only place in Tanzania where forest cover is intact from the lowland acacia and miombo forest of the Great Ruaha Valley to high montane forests and grasslands to more than 2,500m above sea level. The World Conservation Society lists the Udzungwas as one of the 25 most important areas in the world for its biodiversity.
While the park itself contains only part of the entire endemic forest of the Udzungwa Mountains, it plays a crucial role in the area’s ecology. The park has several major water catchment areas that feed the surrounding river systems, which include the Great Ruaha River. A significant number of communities in the Kilombero Valley rely on rivers and streams originating from the park to get water for agriculture activities and domestic use. The rivers are also contribute in production hydroelectric power at Kidatu and Kihansi stations.
Moreover, Udzungwa Mountains National Park recognizes the centuries-old traditions of the local people. Local communities will continue to get access to the park for cultural and religious reasons.