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Rungwe Mountain is the highest
mountain in Mbeya region and dominates the skyline for several
kilometers around. It is composed of 10 or more dormant volcanic
craters and domes.
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Rising above the small town of
Tukuyu, at 2,960m Rungwe
Mountain is the southern Tanzania's highest peak and third in Tanzania
after Kilimanjaro and Meru in the north.
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The mountain is surrounded by the
catchments forest reserve that gazetted in in 1949, which incorporates
montane forest, upper montane forest and montane grassland, with
lesser amounts of bushland and heath at the upper elevations found
in low bushes along
streams and at the edges of montane forest.
the
mountain has spiritual significance to the Wanyakyusa tribe
for medicine and praying.
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The forest is home to a variety of
significant forest flora and fauna, including the threatened Abbot's
Duiker and it is regarded as important bird Area with two species
listed as 'vulnerable'. there are also two new species of primate (the
Kipunji monkey and the Rungwe Galago) and over 530 species
of orchid.
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Catchments
from the reserve feeds numerous villages and towns from Kiwira to
Katumba to Tukuyu and Kandete, and all settlements in between. All
streams from the north, west and southwest flow into the Kiwira River.
These streams include the Marogala, Sinini, Kipoke, Kilasi and
Mulagala. In the southeast begins the Mbaka River, with the Suma River
feeding into it. In the east the Mrambo and the Mwatisi flow out of
the reserve. All of the above rivers flow into Lake Nyasa.
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Hiking:
Well-defined hiking trails have been established to enable hikers to
reach the top, the famous route is from Rungwe Secondary School (where
I attended for 4 years, from 1983 to 1986), and can be measured in a day
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Walking :
Tea farm walking/Forest walking through local
villages and several catchments which dominated with pure clear water
is fascinating.
- Best
visit June to October when it is dry and warmer
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