Iyondo Mswima Forest plantation is located on part of the Mswima plateau in Ileje District, Songwe region at elevation between 1720 and 1800 m a.s.l. It lies between Latitude 9°26'00’’S and Longitude 33°31'00’’E. Iyondo Mswima Forest Plantation is established on Iyondo Mswima Forest Reserve with a total area of 12,053 ha. It is one of the new plantation established by TFS with plantable area estimated to be 5,000 ha and the rest is covered by catchment forest. The plantation headquaters are located at Katengele area

There are three main routes which may be used to reach the forest plantation. The first route is from Tunduma through Mpemba - Ileje road, this route covers about 134 km. The road is accessible throughout the year. The second route is From Mbeya via Kiwira (famously known as KK) and Sange about 168 km. The last one is from Mbeya via Mbalizi to Shigamba about 122 km to the plantation, though this route is not accessible during rainy season.

The core objective of this forest plantation is to ensure sustainable supply of forest produces and management of the remaining natural forests. In order to achieve these forest management plan are prepared and used.

The forest plantation is less than five years old planted with Pinus carribaea and Pinus patula.

Some of natural tree species found in natural forest are Ocotea usambarensis, Rauvofia cafra, Syzigium guanensis, Euphobia matabelensis, Grewia platyclada, Myrianthus arboreus, Afrocrania volkensii, Hygenia abysinica,Vitex doniana, Phoenix realinata, Fagaropsis angolensis and Ficus exasperata

The undulated scenery of natural forests that is cloudy most of the time gives good ambience and outlook and the presence of black and white colobus primates in the natural forest may attract ecotourism

Figure 1. White and black colobus in Iyondo Mswima Forest plantation

For further information please contact

Plantation Manager

Iyondo Mswima Forest Plantation

P.O.Box  47

 ILEJE

Email:iyondomswima@tfs.go.tz