Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp (Hondo Hondo)

Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp (Hondo Hondo) — Rainforest Safari at Tanzania's Hidden Mountain Park

Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp — known locally as Hondo Hondo (Swahili for "hornbill") — is a solar-powered eco-camp at the boundary of Udzungwa Mountains National Park, one of Tanzania's most biodiverse and least-visited protected areas. The Udzungwa Mountains form the largest block of Eastern Arc Rainforest in Tanzania, with extraordinary levels of endemism: the park has endemic primate species found nowhere else on Earth, over 400 bird species in the broader mountains, and habitats ranging from lowland forest to alpine heath.

The camp is positioned for maximum convenience: the main park gate is within walking distance, making dawn waterfall hikes and primate tracking excursions achievable without any vehicle transfer. The camp grounds themselves host troops of colobus monkeys and up to 86 bird species observed on site. The pico-hydro generator and solar water heating make it one of the most genuinely sustainable lodges in southern Tanzania.

Accommodation

Six large canvas forest tents in en-suite configuration along or overlooking the forest boundary. All furniture is made from locally available renewable materials (coconut wood and bamboo). Solar power throughout with LED lighting and charging sockets. Five traditional thatched huts on a hill with shared bathroom facilities (a comfortable budget alternative). A campsite 300m from the road with mountain views. Full board is the standard option — breakfast, 3-course dinners and packed lunches for day hikes.

Activities

Hiking to Sanje Waterfall — one of the most dramatic accessible waterfalls in East Africa. Primate tracking (red colobus, Angola colobus, Sanje mangabey — an endemic found only in Udzungwa). Birdwatching with over 86 species in the camp grounds alone. Forest walks on the park trail network. Bicycle hire for exploration of the Kilombero Valley. Day trips to Mikumi NP and Selous (Nyerere) Game Reserve.

Who Is Hondo Hondo Best For?

Hondo Hondo is for nature travellers, hikers, birdwatchers, primatologists and anyone who wants a Tanzania safari experience genuinely different from the Northern Circuit. The Udzungwa Mountains are a scientific and ecological treasure — the endemic primates, the waterfalls and the rainforest hiking are experiences with no equivalent anywhere on the Northern Circuit. Best for those building a Southern Tanzania itinerary combining Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha or Selous.