About Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve

Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve (NFR) comprises the former Uluguru North, Uluguru South, Bunduki I and Bunduki II forest reserves and Bunduki ‘gap’ corridor, where the forest is being restored on former farmland to provide for biological connectivity between northern and southern parts of the Nature Reserve.

Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve has an area of 24,115.09 Ha with a boundary length of 197 kms and surounded by 62 villages, comprising of 91,426,000 persons, surround the Nature Reserve. Most of these villages are located adjacent to its boundary. The vegetation cover comprises sub montane (below 1,500 m), montane (1,600-2,400 m) and upper montane (above 2,400 m) forests, as well as grassland with swampy areas at Lukwangule Plateau, and Kimhandu and Lupanga peaks. In general, species richness decreases with altitude but the number of endemic species is greater at higher altitudes.

Tourist attractions

Uluguru NFR is one of the global centres of biological diversity, recognized at international and national levels as priorities for nature conservation. It is home to a number of endemism for both plants and animals species with some of these species being threatened to extinction due to human activities In comparison with other Eastern Arc Mountains, Uluguru NFR is  one among the Nature Reserve in the Eastern Arc  having higher number of endemic and near-endemic plant species. The reserve is a haven for at least 135 endemic plant species including rare African violets and orchids resource, and fund better management of the region’s biodiversity. Special sites and features in the UNR include sacred forests, summits and view points like Kimhandu summit, Kitumbaku ridges, Lupanga peaks and Bondwa peak where by various communication towers like that of TTCL are installed and therefore need special attention. Other features include Lukwangule plateau, Kibwe and Hululu water falls; headquarter of the Waluguru’s traditional leader, Chief Kingalu Mwanabanzi XIV and the famous Morning side.

Accessibility

The Uluguru NFR is accessible through eight key routes which includes Bunduki to Nyachiro, Bunduki to Vinile, Morogoro to Morning site, Kola to Bigwa, Kinole to Tegetero, Matombo - Tawa to Nyingwa, Mvuha – Bwakila juu to Lusange, Kibaoni – Nyandira to Tchenzema roads.