Tue Aug 3: UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

7:00 am: Breakfast  (have luggage packed and ready by 7am)

7:30 am: Travel to Udzungwa NP headquarters for brief orientation

8:00 am – 12:30 pm: Sanje Falls Hike Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Leader: Rukia Mallya, Tourism Warden, Udzungwa National Park, TANAPA

Mallya and her staff led the group on a 7 km round trip hike to experience Udzungwa NP by foot. We had the chance to see Sanje falls and view some of Udzungwa’s 12 primate species, birds, butterflies, and forest vegetation types. The views were spectacular and the swimming holes were amazing. The only disappointing moment came when Wilson (Tanzania) killed a snake that was on the path when it was not necessary to do so. 

12:30 pm: Lunch (Twiga Hotel)

1:30-3:00 pm: Discussion: Ecology and conservation of Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Presenter: Paul Banga, Chief Ecologist, Udzungwa National Park, TANAPA

Mr. Banga highlighted the ecology and conservation history of Udzungwa NP, part of the Eastern Arc, a fragmented range of mountains containing relic rain forest stretching from Southern Kenya through Southern Tanzania. The park is a World Biodiversity Hotspot and a WWF Ecoregion of global critical importance. Although the Eastern Arc Mountains cover less than 2% of Tanzania’s area they hold 30-40% of the country’s plant and mammal species, many of which are found no where else on Earth. Conservation challenges, the cultural and economic importance of UMNP to surrounding communities in the park, and community conservation were discussed. 

3:00 pm: Depart UMNP for Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro

For the first time since we got to Africa things did not go entirely smoothly. The laundry service at the hotel caused a huge problem for everyone. They charged an insane fee (over $1 just to wash a pair of socks), used markers that bled onto peoples clothes, and mixed up everyone’s laundry. While most people were getting quite upset, I found it quite funny that there were several pairs of underwear that people were too shy to claim…

7:30 pm: Dinner and settle into lodgings in Morogoro 

For the first time in many weeks we each have our own rooms! It is nice to have a bit of personal time to catch up on things like this blog!