Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Established in 1994, Udzungwa protects the largest and most intact block of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a chain of ancient forested ranges often called the "Galápagos of Africa" for their high number of species found nowhere else. There are no roads inside the park and no game drives — it is explored entirely on foot.

Trails range from a half-day walk to the Sanje Waterfall, which drops 170 metres in three stages, to multi-day treks across the plateau. The forest is home to several endemic primates, including the Udzungwa red colobus and the Sanje mangabey, along with more than 400 bird species and a growing list of amphibians and reptiles new to science. It pairs naturally with Mikumi or Ruaha for travellers who want a change from savanna safari.