The forests of Udzungwa exude a brooding, primordial charm, resembling an enchanted realm. Here, sunlight filters through the canopy to illuminate glades surrounded by towering 30-meter (100-foot) trees, their buttresses adorned with fungi, lichens, mosses, and ferns.

Udzungwa is the largest and most biodiverse of a series of a dozen grand, forest-covered mountains rising from the flat coastal scrub of eastern Tanzania. Part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, this cluster of isolated massifs is often referred to as the African Galapagos for its unique array of endemic flora and fauna, including the delicate African violet.

Among the ancient ranges of the Eastern Arc, Udzungwa stands out as the only one designated a national park. Uniquely, its uninterrupted closed-canopy forest stretches from 250 meters (820 feet) to over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) in altitude.

Although not a traditional game-viewing destination, Udzungwa is a haven for hikers. It boasts an excellent network of trails, including the popular half-day hike to Sanje Waterfall, which cascades 170 meters (550 feet) into the forested valley below in a misty spray.

For those seeking more of a challenge, the two-night Mwanihana Trail ascends to the high plateau, offering panoramic views of surrounding sugar plantations before reaching Mwanihana Peak, the second-highest point in the range.

Bird enthusiasts are drawn to Udzungwa for its rich avian diversity, with over 400 species including the easily spotted green-headed oriole and more than a dozen elusive Eastern Arc endemics.

Udzungwa is home to four bird species found nowhere else, such as a forest partridge discovered in 1991, which is more closely related to an Asian genus than to other African birds.

Of the six recorded primate species, both the Iringa red colobus and the Sanje Crested Mangabey are endemic to Udzungwa, with the latter having been identified only in 1979.

It’s clear that this vast forest still holds many secrets, and ongoing scientific exploration is likely to uncover even more of its unique treasures.