Amani Nature and Amboni Cave and Pangani Beach

• Maziwe island and river cruising – snorkeling, diving and beach activities
• Cultural heritage and historical sites activities
• Walking along Coconut plantations

When visiting the most renowned reserve of the Usambara Mountains, one should start with what is the pride of the biologists who worked in Amani — the botanical garden. Today, it houses over 1000 plant species collected from various corners of the world. The garden is a practical training site for students from relevant Tanzanian educational institutions, and scientists often come here on excursions.

Seeing the African violet (Saintpaulia) in its original habitat is priceless. Look for it near rivers and waterfalls, where mists frequently arise or water mist forms. Sadly, some species of the Usambara violet and most chameleons are classified as Endangered or are under threat of habitat loss. This is due to deforestation and other human activities.

Usambara violet

Birding is another popular activity within the Amani forest and its surroundings. For the forest reserve as a hotspot on ebird.org, around 350 bird species are registered.

Amani Sunbird (Hedydipna pallidigaster) — another endemic species of the Usambara Mountains.

You won’t see large animals here. Elephants and leopards once roamed the Usambara forests, but due to human settlement and their active actions in this region, such animals are long gone. In the forest, you might encounter duiker antelopes, bush pigs, squirrels, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. Considering that the forest antelopes are quite elusive, one shouldn’t expect an exciting walking safari in Amani. However, it’s interesting to see the colobus with their luxurious tails, which they hang when sitting high in the trees. Large birds, such as hornbills and predatory vultures and eagles, can also be spotted here.

Silvery-cheeked Hornbills in Amani forest.