Rungwe Mountain is the second 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.
Rising above the small town of
Tukuyu, at 2,960m Rungwe
Mountain is the southern Tanzania's second highest peak;
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 southeastern slopes of these mountains receive up to 3,000 mm
of rainfall a year, the highest rainfall in Tanzania.
The
mountain has spiritual significance to the Wanyakyusa and
Wasafwa tribe
for medicine and praying.
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.
In 2003 a new
species of monkey was discovered on the volcano. It is
called the highland mangabey (Rungwecebus kipunji). Fewer
than a thousand highland mangabey exist. Scientists have
assigned it to a new genus, Rungwecebus, named after Rungwe
volcano, where it is found
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.
Hiking:
Well-defined hiking trails have been established to enable hikers to
reach the top, the famous route is from Rungwe Secondary School and can be measured in a day
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
