Wildlife tours Tanzania Trip Report 2011

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Southern Tanzania

Flora & Fauna of the Southern Highlands

A Greentours Trip Report

3rd – 18th February 2011

Led by Paul Cardy & Rosalind Salter

Day 1 – London Heathrow

Our Group of eleven all met at ‘Departures’ – well, except Derrick who we found on the plane!

The British Airways flight was on time.

Day 2 – Arrive in Dar-es-Salaam

We arrived early at 7.00am greeted by February’s warm sticky air as we disembarked the

plane. Everyone except Rondi (tour leader) and her Mum had got their visas so continued on

through to the sole baggage carousel in ‘Arrivals’ and then on to exchange money or use the

cash machine, which typically had run out of money!

Instead of going direct to the hotel we took the opportunity to detour through the city centre.

We passed characterful German, British, Asian and Arab influenced architecture, which have

over recent years been joined by smart high-rise buildings, giving the city a real up and coming

modern feel. We passed the port, the new and now not so smelly fish market, the new ship-

shaped lighthouse and President Kikwete’s Residence. We followed the coast north, via the

palm-fringed Coco Beach and Oyster Bay to Msasani peninsula, where the majority of

Ambassadors, Ex-pats and rich Tanzanians are in residence. Out to sea we could see the

incongruous mix of giant tankers (who queue for months to get into Dar-es-salaam’s

undersized port) and small wooden fishing and passenger dhows gliding inbetween them.

Continuing north, we reached the quiet area of Kawe, where we found our Hotel Meditteraneo,

situated amongst attractive and mature gardens overlooking the Indian Ocean. Whilst waiting

for our rooms to become available we relaxed, our weariness soothed by a warm breeze, a cold

drink and warm fresh croissants, as we watched crab plovers, ibises, herons, egrets, sandpipers

and cormorants enjoying the fishing opportunities at low tide. Another easy spot was a yellow-

headed dwarf gecko running along wooden railings, separating us from the beach below.

Bongoyo Island

Late morning the advanced group paddled out to the Hotel boat through bath warm water,

which took us swiftly across the bay to Bongoyo Island, which forms part of Dar-es-Salaam’s

Marine Reserve. In 20 minutes we arrived on this gem of an island and quickly scampered over


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the baking hot sand to the shade. After a short walk through the coastal thicket the second

group joined us and we had freshly prepared red snapper and chips on the beach.

The intertidal zone surrounding the island comprises small sandy beaches as well as sharp

coral-based rocky flats, where we found Conger Eels, Nile Monitor Lizards and coral rag

skinks. Euphorbia candelabrum, Euphorbia tirucalli and Commiphora spp. dominate the bush here.

Common ground flora included a lily Chlorophytum sp. and wild coffee Coffea sp. Common

butterfly species observed included Clear Wing Acraea Acraea rabbiae, Small Salmon Arab

Colotis amata ssp.calais and Round-winged Orange-tip Colotis euippe ssp.omphale. Notable bird

sightings included Mangrove kingfisher, a pair of Black-throated Wattle-eye and Olivaceous

Warbler. Back at the hotel we had time to relax or do a spot of birding around the gardens

(sightings included Village Weaver, House Sparrow, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu and Red-

fronted Tinkerbird) or swim in the sea/pool before we dined on the seafront.

Day 3 - Dar-es-Salaam to Udzungwa National Park

We left promptly at 6.00 am. An early start was necessary to avoid the traffic hell that cripples

the city from 6.30 am every day. After a quick stop at Chalinze (junction to the north) to get

large & colourful umbrellas (perfect walking stick come rain protector) and water, we left the

urban and cultivated sprawl of the coast and the landscape opened up as we dropped down

onto the plains.

Uluguru Mountains

About 3 hrs into our journey we started to get views of the spectacularly steep peaks of the

Uluguru mountains, which form part of the chain of the Eastern Arc Mountains Hotspot. These

forested mountains comprised of Uluguru North and Uluguru South have recently been

upgraded from two Forest Reserves to a single Nature Reserve, as a result of extensive surveys

that highlighted the mountains high levels of endemism and critical importance as a water

catchment area. The small town of Morogoro lies at the

foot of these mountains, which we clipped the edge of as

we drove on towards Mikumi National Park. During a

brief stop here by a Sisal plantation we saw a group of

Abdim’s Storks circling high in the sky and of course a

few more butterflies and flowers!


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Mikumi National Park

As we entered the park we saw small groups of impala, and a lone bushbuck, whilst grey

hornbills glided gracefully overhead. As the landscape evolved we saw large numbers of

elephant, a two hundred strong herd of buffalo, numerous Burchell’s zebra, giraffe and

warthog. We had a brief stop at the park gate to admire various flowers such as ginger

Siphonochilus aethiopicus and butterflies including many Tiny Orange Tip Colotis evagore

subspecies antigone, Leaden Ciliate Blue Anthene amarah and the superb Peculiar Giant Cupid

Lepidochrysops peculiaris. Then, we continued on to Kikaboga Camp for a light lunch. From the

shade a Marula tree, around which a restaurant is built, we saw elephant, buffalo, giraffe,

impala and zebra out of the plains against the impressive backdrop of the Rubeho and

Udzungwa mountains. Memorable bird sightings included Grey Kestrel, Bateleur Eagle

Woolly-necked Stork, African White-backed Vulture, and a singing fruit bat was spotted under

the restaurant roof – easily identified by the white tufts in its ears.

Udzungwa National Park

Driving on from Mikumi NP, we turned off

south at Mikumi Town, a linear truck stop

settlement, where Internet Hotels are

advertised but actually supply neither

service! We wound our way around the

foothills; past the hydro-electric power

station at Kilombero, where the Great Ruaha

flows out of Kidatu dam. From here we wove

our way inbetween the sugar plantations,

which are set back from the Udzungwa mountain range on the fertile plains of the Kilombero

valley and allow for wonderful views of the forest and the majestic Sanje Waterfall, appearing

like a ribbon running through the trees. We arrived at Hondo Hondo Camp, near the park HQ

at Mang’ula village in good time, greeted with cool flannels and glasses of fresh juice to mop

our sweaty brows and quench our thirst.

Water comes straight off the mountain and in several of the luxury tents you bathe whilst

looking into the forest behind where you can hear and see Sykes (Blue) monkeys leaping from

tree to tree. That evening we dined on excellent food, cooked on charcoal in authentic

Tanzanian style, under the stars warmed by an open fire. A storm was visible in the distance

over the Selous Game Reserve and as we retired to bed we hoped the storm would pass us

by……..

Day 4 – Udzungwa National Park

……The storm had of course not passed us by and so there were a few bleary-eyed faces at

breakfast. The use of ear plugs or the removal of hearing aids had done little to soften the

sound of the booming thunder. A few made it up for some early morning birding and were

rewarded with sightings of various weavers, bishops and a Little Bee-eater. Around the camp

the endemic butterfly Kielland’s Bush Brown Bicyclus kiellandi was also recorded. It was a clear

morning and we were all keen to go out exploring. Whilst waiting for our permits at the park

HQ, some were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Harvey’s Duiker, then Paul took one group


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off up Sanje Waterfall, whilst Rondi’s group visited Prince Bernard waterfall and walked the

Sonjo Trail.

Walk up Sanje Waterfall

The walk up to the top of the falls is no further than 3 km but it is quite steep in parts so a

steady pace was needed with lots of butterfly, plant and primate spotting stops as usual. One is

unlikely to see Sanje mangabey on this trail as unhabituted groups are incredibly shy, however,

the also endemic Udzungwa Red Colobus, with their conspicuous heads of red spiky hair, are a

likely sighting and the group saw several groups along with the striking Angolan Black and

White Colobus displaying their fantastic long white epaulets as well as several Sykes Monkeys.

At the start of the walk an African Wood Owl was observed being

mobbed and then on reaching the halfway point the group were

rewarded with probably the best view en route of the falls (inset). Here

there are benches and in the sunshine a good spot for butterflies.

Continuing on up the forest canopy gets higher and denser with

species such as Parkia filicoidea displaying huge buttress roots, which

are used by locals as a natural drum. Other distinctive species seen

included Tabernaemontana elegans; a small tree with large glossy leaves

and sweet smelling creamy flowers that littered the path; Albizia

gummifera with their long flattened pods; and Anthocleista grandiflora

displaying extremely large cabbage like leaves clustered at the ends of

branches. Memorable ground flora included Impatiens wallerana and

the saprophytic orchid Polystachya meliodora; found on a precarious slope. Forest butterflies

seen included Forest Grass Yellow Eurema senegalensis, Angular Bush Brown Bicyclus angulosus

subspecies selousi, Forest Mother-of-Pearl Protogoniomorpha parhassus.

Once at the top you can walk out on to the rocks where you are presented with a spectacular

view looking out over the Kilombero Valley towards the Selous Game Reserve and the

Uluguru Mountains. Butterflies recorded along the river and in dappled light included Mocker

Swallowtail Papilio dardanus subspecies tibullus, Veined Swordtail Graphium leonidas, Dancing

Swordtail Graphium polistratus, Desmond’s Green-banded Swallowtail Palilio desmondi

usambarensis and several species of sailor Neptis saclava and Neptis carcassoni. Bird sightings

including Green-backed Woodpecker, White-throated Bee-eater, Eastern Nicator and

Livingstone’s Flycatcher.

The Hondo Hondo chef joined the group up the mountain at a simple shelter where he served

a simple but tasty meal next to the river. After lunch the group continued upstream (along the

flat finally!) where there were several more waterfalls with attractive pools surrounded by

impatiens and saintpaulias, before heading steadily back.

Prince Bernard Waterfall

Rondi’s group had intended to follow the habituated group of Sanje Mangabey but due to the

heavy rain the rangers had failed to find them, so while they continued to look we went for a

short walk through the forest behind the park HQ which lead us down to the Prince Bernard

Waterfall. Here we were treated with the sightings of the large endemic butterfly Horniman’s

Swallowtail Papilio hornimani subspecies mwanihanae and in amongst the Selaginella (spikemoss)

we saw flowers including prolific Impatiens wallerana, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sanseveria,


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delicate pink melastome Dissotis senegambiensis with its striking long yellow anthers and an

unidentified white orchid of the genus Aerangis.

Walking further into the forest the most dominant trees seen were Milletia excelsa, Sterculia

appendiculata and Anthocliesta glandiflora and here we caught sight of the Udzungwa Red

Colobus for the first time. We also saw dung beetles busy rolling pieces of old elephant dung.

Other plants seen included Sadoxus multifola (fruiting), Piper capense, with its heart-shaped

glossy leaves and blue Commelina latifolia (on disturbed ground).

Sonjo trail.

After a delicious lunch and relaxation in the shade back at Hondo Hondo we drove a short

distance to the beginning of the Sonjo Trail, passing several troops of baboon along the way.

Before we had even entered the forest we were presented with a wonderful view of a troop of

Angolan black and white colobus playing in the boundary trees. Ascending slowly we

followed the Sonjo river through good quality forest. We saw Giant Kingfisher and Palmnut

Vulture in a large tree along the rivers edge and along the path several charismatic plant

species including Zingiberale Costus macranthus (4 large leaves with a single large delicate

yellow flower) and Arum Amorphophallus abyssinicus. After reaching an attractive waterfall we

found pink impatiens wallerana, Begonia meyeri-johannis, the creamy white woolley-flowered

Kanahia laniflora and a purple species of Thunbergia. A few of us had a dip at the base of the

waterfall to cool off before heading back to Hondo Hondo. Butterfly sightings included the

locally common Savannah Bush Brown Bicyclus safitza and Gold-banded Forester Euphaedra

neophron, also known to local researchers as the ‘Forest Bitch’!

Day 5 – Udzungwa National Park

We awoke to another beautiful day after

another spectacular storm overnight. The dirt

road that runs back from the camp was silent

and there was news that trucks were stuck on

the road. Unfortunately the government had

been late in preparing the roads for the rain so

when the rain came, the piles of soil that had

been placed by the roadside (in preparation)

were spread over the road overnight by the

heavy rain. This created ‘quicksand’ and

inevitably vehicles got stuck and blocked the road. Rondi’s group who were heading to Sanje

waterfall that day went to investigate to see if there was a way through, but after some

impressive attempts by our driver Murshid, we decided to turn back and try our luck at

finding the habituated group of Sanje mangabey that we had missed the day before.

Amazingly, along the roadside on the way back we saw a group of Sanje Mangabey. Sightings

such as this are very rare as groups other than the habituated group are usually extremely shy

and elusive.


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Walking with the Sanje Mangabey

Paul’s group had set off to find the recently habituated group

of the endemic Sanje Mangabey first thing after breakfast.

Listed on the IUCN Red List as Endangered, the Sanje

Mangabey, discovered in 1979, are only found here in the

Mwanihana forests of the National Park and further south in

the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve.

The rangers had located them over night and they were not far

from camp. These rangers have followed this group since 2006

to track their location and study their behaviour. After a short

but slightly steep walk through the forest both groups (Rondi’s

Group met Paul’s group coming down as they went up) were

lucky enough to see the Mangabeys at close quarters. The group

was approximately 40 strong with four pregnant females and numerous new borns clinging

onto their mothers. These strangely beautiful animals are incredibly graceful to watch, as they

silently and effortlessly move between every stratum of their home, from the upper canopy to

the forest floor. It is no wonder that they are known as the ‘Ghosts of the forest’. The group

passed by, occasionally stopping to forage on the forest floor, tearing open dead wood for

insects, digging for roots and tubers and rummaging around for fallen fruits of the Sorindeia

madagascariensis tree.

Paul’s group had lunch back at Hondo Hondo while Rondi’s group had a tasty plated picnic

lunch on a forested ridge. The assistant chef from Hondo Hondo, with an endless smile and

ginormous biceps(!), had heroically carried lunch for six all morning; his smile even bigger

when every crump had been eaten up. After a few hours rest back at Hondo Hondo, shading

ourselves from the midday sun, Rondi’s group went for a walk to the village, via the

Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre, to get a taste of the amazing research that is being

done in the area and to see how the local community live and work. Meanwhile, Paul’s group

went for a walk around Prince Bernard’s waterfall. Having returned to Hondo Hondo we all

enjoyed a drink, whilst we went through the bird and mammal checklists and Trumpeter and

Crowned Hornbills flew overhead back to their roosts on the edge of the forest.

Another delicious meal under the stars was followed by a night walk around camp. Several

unidentified bat species were picked up on a bat detector and a bushbaby (most likely Small-

eared Galago Otolemur garnettii) was seen high up in a tree on the edge of camp.

Day 6 – Udzungwa NP – Kisolanza

Leaving Hondo Hondo we made our way back through the sugar cane fields where many

water birds were observed including Long-tailed Cormorants, Open-billed Storks and Cattle

Egrets. On reaching Mikumi we headed off on the Tazam highway towards the Southern

Highlands.


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Boabab Valley

The road winds its way down into Boabab Valley where the mighty Great Ruaha River, at this

time of year high and a muddy orange colour, flows along the northern edge of the Udzungwa

range. The forest here is much drier and where the wooded valley floor opens out you are

presented with thousands of Boabab trees in a very remote-feeling and breathtaking landscape.

Because of the recent rain everything was fresh and in flower and busy with butterflies and

birds for which we took time to stop and enjoy. Baboons were frequently seen scavenging on

the roadside. We stopped at Crocodile Camp for lunch and time for some bird watching and

butterfly spotting. Notable bird species included African Fish Eagle, Beautiful Sunbird and

Broad-tailed Paradise-whydah and several species of Cuckoo. Butterflies recorded included

Foxy Charaxes Charaxes saturnus, Purple Tip Colotis ione, Coast Hairstreak Hypolycaena pachalica

and the endemic Leucochitonia amneris which was found mud puddling.

Leaving the valley we ascended up the

dramatic Ruaha gorge to approx. 1500m and

entered into a landscape strewn with granite

boulders.

Isimila Stone Age Site

Mid afternoon we arrived at Isimila Stone

Age site just a few miles on from Iringa

Town. The caretaker of the site gave us a

short talk about the site and showed us a

collection of Stone Age tools, which are

thought to be over 200,000 yrs old. The

weather was pleasantly cool and overcast as we walked through some abandoned cultivated

land, showing remnants of Sisal plants, potato plants as well as attractive common species such

as Sesamum angolense, which resembles a foxglove but is actually part of the Sesame family. We

also came a cross a large Guttural Toad Buffo gutturalis. After a short walk we arrived at the

surprisingly impressive gorge filled with sandstone pinnacles capped with basalt. We walked

along the sandy gorge bed, enjoying many attractive species such as Flame Lily Gloriosa superba

and the slightly smaller Gloriosa minor, a large species of lily Chlorophytum sp., stonecrops, aloes

and cacti. Acacia species were also common with the Whistling Acacia displaying an

interesting symbiotic relationship with ants that occupy the swollen bases of the thorns. Vervet

Monkeys were seen leaping from pillar to pillar as well as a Rock Hyrax, which was seen

sheltering in a small cave on the cliff side. Birds observed included White-headed Sawwing,

Brown-headed Apalis and Cliff Chat. Butterfly species recorded included Red-spot Ciliate Blue

Anthene lunulata.

Kisolanza

Just half an hour on from Isimila we arrived at Kisolanza Farm where you almost feel you

could be in the English countryside with the rolling hills and cool evening air. We arrived in

time for a very civilized cup of tea and piece of cake (well some of us anyway!). The attractive

cottages in which we stayed are found amongst Brachystegia woodland, all with hot water

provided by woodburning stoves. The evening meal was served in the converted ruins of an

old mud building, which was very atmospheric and we were served with excellent home

cooked food.


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Day 7 – Kisolanza – Mbeya

Some made it up early for birdwatching and then breakfast

was taken on the restaurant veranda overlooking a beautiful

and colourful garden where variable sunbirds were also

enjoying their breakfast. Most of the group then took a guided

tour of the farm’s Shira Flower project. Here they are growing

flowers such as Eryngium (Sea Holly) on a small scale for

export. They are also trialing other species such as Agapanthus.

The rest of the group continued down to the reservoir for more bird watching with sightings

including Darter, Yellow-billed Duck and Eurasian Marsh Harrier. Butterflies including a sylph

Metisella orientalis.

Back at the farm we found a Tubercle-nosed Chameleon Chamaeleo tempeli, a restricted range

Tanzania endemic, in the garden. Then, after a sumptuous lunch back at the Farm we

continued Southwest along the Tazam highway passing the tea growing region of Mafinga, Sao

Hill and Makambako, where geographically the Eastern Arc mountains end and the Southern

Rift mountains begin. As a result of the fertile volcanic soils found in this area there is intensive

cultivation as well as productive pine and wattle plantations. Past Makambako we returned

into Miombo woodland and got a wonderful view of the Lugala escarpment to the South

reaching 2300m. This makes up part of Kipengere-Mpanga Game Reserve, a critical water

catchment area, and stretching out, to what seems like infinity, to the north are the Usangu

flats; these flats ultimately leading into Ruaha National Park and the Great Ruaha River.

Utengule

We passed Mbeya town, nestled beneath the

Mbeya mountain range, straight onto Utengule,

half an hour further West. Utengule Coffee

Lodge is set within its own nature reserve and

coffee estate. With a panoramic view over the

mountains towards Malawi and Zambia,

colourful garden and the therapeutic sound of

birds singing we felt instantly relaxed. There was

time to enjoy some late afternoon birding within

the mature gardens where common residents

include Spotted and Dusky Flycatchers,

Jamison’s Firefinch, White-browed Robin-chat, African Pied Wagtail and Variable, Olive and

Scarlet-chested Sunbirds. We had dinner out on the terrace and were visited by an Atlas Moth.

Day 8 – Around Utengule and Mporoto Crater Lake

Walk to Coffee farm

After breakfast on the terrace a small group stayed with Paul at Utengule for some birding and

wandered through the woodland down to the Coffee groves and along the river, where they


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saw various swallows, warblers, cuckoo-shrikes and flycatchers, as well as numerous

butterflies including Ruppell’s Dotted Border Mylothris rueppelli, Little Commodore Junonia

sophia and a hopper Platylesches picanini. A Red-headed Rock Agama was also sighted.

Songwe Bat caves and hot springs

After a leisurely lunch at the lodge Paul’s Group headed off to the nearby Pango la Popo (bat

caves) found beneath an old marble quarry on the edge of the steeply carved Songwe valley.

They ventured inside the cave which had unnervingly large holes, where locals had been

digging for the fertile bat guano. At least 5 species are known to the caves, including Pipistrelle,

Rhinolophus and Myotis spp. Local children apparently quite often eat bats from this cave

because they are a cheap source of protein! A narrow entrance opens up into an impressive

cavern where several species of bats were seen hanging and a disturbed few flying around.

A few hundred metres further along the valley we found a small hot spring that supported

several species of dragonfly including Palpopleura jucunda and a locally abundant species of

spurge. Trees included common coral tree Erythrina lysistemon, Commiphora sp and Euphorbia

candelabrum. Other sightings included Cinnamon-chested Rock Bunting, Red-winged Starling,

Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Spot-flanked Barbet and Great Plated Lizard Gerrhosaurus major.

Mporoto Crater Lake

The rest of the group started off at 8 am with Rondi. We picked up a

local guide in Mbeya and passed by the Wildlife Conservation Society

(WCS) project office, where the Southern Highlands Conservation

Project (SHCP) is based, to get information on any possible access

issues. Here we saw several specimens of a new species of bush baby

Galagoides sp. (from Mt. Rungwe) that had been collected for analysis.

We then took the Malawi road and wound our way around the hills,

through lush and productive cultivated land, with views of Mt

Rungwe; an extinct volcanoe, and the hills of Malawi in the distance.

We paid fees at a small wooden hut on the roadside and then

continued along a rough forest track to the base of the slope, which

leads to the craters edge.

Mporoto Crater is flanked by highland

forest, forming a Forest Reserve, and at

this time of year is a good place to see

flowering plants. Along the trail we saw

dozens of the large and very handsome

purple orchid Calanthe sylvatica, as well as

Streptocarpus sp, orange Begonia

sutherlandii, delicate pink Impatiens

confusa, and bright orange Montbretia Crocosmia aurea which were found along the crater’s

ridge. From here the beautiful lake was clearly visible within the steep caldera walls. We

lunched on the ridge and then descended and walked back along the rough track, which was

awash with tall red-orange Impatiens austrotanzanica and numerous striking Flame Lilies


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Gloriosa superba. We also heard the range-restricted Fuelleborn's Boubou and the calls of

Angolan Black and White Colobus as they crashed through the trees.

Day 9 - Mount Rungwe

After breakfast the whole group made its way to Mt.

Rungwe, located to the East of Mporoto crater. We

stopped at a thronging fruit and vegetable market

along the way to buy mangos and bananas to

supplement lunch – some of the cheapest in

Tanzania! Once off the main road we again wound

our way up rough tracks through small settlements

to the base of the mountain.

Mt. Rungwe not only has wonderful forest but is also

the home of the most recently discovered primate

Rungwecebus kipunji, the only member of its genus. A group of scientists from the Southern

Highland Conservation Project (SHCP), were the first to discover this newly described primate

in 2003. We were luckily enough to have permission to visit the research camp which was set

up primarily to study and monitor Kipunji but also to conduct research on various other

endemic species, including the Rungwe Galago and Rungwe Bush Viper, that have been

discovered here in recent years.

We had rather a hot walk through cultivated land to the edge of the forest where the instant

coolness from the shade was very welcome. Numerous bird species including Black Sawwing,

Yellow-browed Seedeater, Livingstone’s Turaco and Silvery-cheeked Hornbill were observed

on the forest edge and a short way into the forest in an area filled with spectacular tree ferns

we got a wonderful display from a troop of Angolian Black and White Colobus. These, a

different sub-species to those seen in the Udzungwa mountains. Butterfly species observed

included Emperor Swallowtail Papilio ophidocephalus, White-banded Swallowtail Papilio

echerioides, a patroller Henotesia ubenica and Mountain Pearl Charaxes Charaxes acuminatus.

After a short walk through the forest we arrived at the research camp where we were fed with

delicious freshly cooked chapattis, mango

and pineapple and a good cup of tea. Some

took a walk through the lush forest around

camp where Kipunji are often seen whilst

the others walked slowly back down the

mountain. Our guide, Rama, was a research

assistant for a PhD on the behaviour and

ecology of Kipunji and pointed out their

favorite food plants and trees as we walked.

Flower species such as Impatiens confusa and

Calanthe sylvatica were commonly seen.


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Day 10 – Utengule - Kitulo National Park

After a leisurely breakfast we made our way towards Kitulo National Park. After rain in the

night we decided against the route through Chimala Forest Reserve where 50 hair-pin bends

have to be negotiated before reaching the high grassland plateau. Instead we took the equally

impressive route from Ruaha village, which follows the boundary of the neighbouring

Mpanga-Kipengere Game Reserve. We stopped for a picnic lunch by a River set within an area

of Miombo woodland littered with attractive flowers. After lunch the road got steeper as we

ascended towards the plateau and the flowers became more striking with sightings of striking

large orange Thunbergia gregorii, pale pink Impatiens polyantha, white trumpet flowered Pentas

decora, the bright pink orchid Disa walleri and milk bush Xysmalobium undulatum. On reaching

Matamba village on the edge of the park we settled into the friendly and characterful Super

Eden Hotel and Mama Izengo’s Lodge and had time for a wander round the village before a

tasty traditional Tanzanian dinner.

Day 11 – Kitulo National Park

The road leading to the park climbs up to the far end of Matamba ridge (approx. 2600m) that

forms the boundary of the park. ‘Edge of the earth’ views were worthy of a photographic stop

and a quick ‘botanize’ then we descended a short way, through fresh smelling pine plantations,

into the park. Kitulo National Park was gazetted in 2002 for its floral diversity, most notably

orchids, and breeding populations of rare bird species such as Denham’s Bustard and Blue

Swallow.

Numbe Valley

The rains were late this year and so we were presented with species

usually seen much earlier in the season. The top of the valley was

covered in unmissable orchids, most striking were white Habenaria

macrura (see inset), red Disa robusta and Satyrium acutirostrum and the

large green orchid Habenaria occlusa. Forming carpets throughout were

delicate pink Geranium incanum and white Lobelia

angolensis. A short walk from the track we descended

into an area of marshland to find the charismatic

Mountain Marsh (or otherwise called Buff-shouldered) Widowbirds which

we, as expected, found displaying with their long ribbon-like tail feathers, on

the red-hot pokers (Kniphophia spp.) and the tall bright pink orchid Satyrium

neglectum var. brevicalcar. We also saw bright flashes of the Malachite

Sunbird. Pockets of the delightful canary yellow Morea tanzanica were seen

on the way back up to the vehicles and we then made our way down the

valley a short way to a small stream. Here we found the tiny purple orchid

Eulophia clavicornis and dainty bulb Xyris obscura. After a cooked lunch served on a bridge, we

drove up onto the plateau. Along the road side we found further species including Habenaria

kyimbilae whose green and white flowers resemble insects, the vermillion red orchid Disa stolzii,

Ever-lasting Flower Helichrysum herbaceum, Angel’s Fishing Rods Delphinium leroyi and the

nodding heads of Clematopsis uhehensis. Trees including the native high altitude species Hagenia

abyssinica along with an exotic Pinus sp scattered across the plateau.


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Notable bird sightings included Augur buzzard, Mountain Buzzard, Lannar Falcon,

Fulleborn’s Longclaw, flocks of Yellow-rumped Seedeater flying between scattered trees and

numerous Whinchats. Unlike last year, sadly we were not lucky enough to catch a glimpse of

Denham’s Bustard. Kitulo is one of the few remaining breeding sites for this bird and it is a rare

sight. The cloud came down and we headed home. Back in Matamba we were presented with

buckets of piping hot water for a very welcome evening wash and good food.

Day 12 – Kitulo National Park

Matamba Ridge

It was a slightly overcast day but the ridge was clear as we slowly ascended

along a well-trodden track used by locals travelling between Matamba and

Kitulo village. Forming the northern border of the national park the ridge

rises to 2895m and although we only reached around 2700m the thin air

was notable. Quartzite outcrops run the length of the ridge giving rise to

acidic soils which host a combination of species quite different from the

damp grasslands found below.

Species observed included yellow Crassula vaginata, Impatiens rosulata,

cushion–forming Helichrysum tillandsifolium and the striking pink

orchid Disa welwitschii (inset). Other orchid species seen included

Schizochilus sulphureus and Satyrium johnstonii. Shrubby species

dominated the exposed rocky areas including Erica mannii, Erica

silvatica, Phylica emiirnensis and Protea humifusa. Butterfly species

sighted included Neocoenyra petersi, which is endemic to the plateau. Up on the hillside we got a

wonderful view stretching out along the Matamba ridge and down into the Numbe valley and

the plateau beyond. The wind picked up and cloud started to come in as we made our way

back down. Paul located an attractive Gladiolus unguiculatus under some Pinus trees before

lunch and along the track leading to the entrance building we found a deep maroon coloured

orchid Eulophia odontoglossa (syn. Shupangae) and a chameleon Chameleo goetzei (inset).

Waterfall

We drove half way down Numbe valley and then walked a short distance

down to an attractive waterfall which was surrounded by flowers including;

tall yellow orchid Satyrium sphaeranthum, attractive white Satyrium longicauda

and the small and delicate green orchid Satyrium johnstonii. Also seen were

beautiful examples of parrot-beaked gladioli Gladiolus dalenii (inset) and the

scabious Cephalaria pungens. Continuing on we came across a marshy area full

of the giant Lobelia mildbraedii and large pink specimens of Satyrium neglectum

var. brevicalcar. After a flower-filled day we headed back to Matamba, with a

quick stop to look at the ‘end of the earth’ view for the last time.


13

Day 13 - Kitulo NP – Kimani – Utengule

We left the plateau and descended towards Kimani,

passing through the south-western edge of the

Kipengere-Mpanga Game reserve. The road clinging to

the valley edge we slowly descended back into

Miombo woodland with extensive views over the back

of the Lugala escarpment of the Kipengere range.

Kimani waterfall

For lunch we headed towards Kimani Waterfall found

further within the Reserve. Down a lonely valley

several streams had to be forded, as we made our way

along another exciting road through Miombo

woodland, which made for satisfying butterfly spotting

including numerous Pearl Charaxes Charaxes varanes

ssp.vologeses. Commonly heard bird calls included that

of the Ring-necked Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove

and Grey-headed Bush-shrike. The road ended at the

edge of the valley where we looked down on a

magnificent stepped waterfall, enveloped in lush vegetation. After taking in the view over

lunch we took a short walk to the base of the waterfall where we came across a Nile Monitor,

well-known to take shelter under rock ledges surrounding the falls, signs of Cape Clawless

Otter, and butterflies including Bush Scarlet Axiocerces amanga, African Line Blue

Pseudonacaduba sichela as well as numerous Charaxes such as Charaxes achaemenes and Charaxes

guderiana. Further birds observed included Eastern Paradise-whydah, Common Swift and Rock

Martin.

We continued on to Kisolanza and arrived in good time for afternoon Tea and cake and

relaxation. Then, another sumptuous meal in the restaurant.

Day 14 – Kisolanza – Mikumi National Park

After another delicious breakfast and some early morning birding we headed off to Mikumi

National Park with a stop at Boabab valley enroute. We arrived in time for a late lunch at

Stanley Kopje’s luxury tented camp which is set up on a granite kopje overlooking the plains of

Mikumi. Most took an afternoon safari with many bird species recorded including Marabou

Stork, Saddlebill, Crowned Lapwing, White-faced Whistling Duck and several species of

Cisticola. The usual game of giraffe, impala, warthog etc were also encountered.

Day 15 – Mikumi National Park - Dar

Most were up early (some really early!) for our last game drive

before heading back to Dar-es-salaam. Sightings were more

impressive than the day before including a pair of black-backed


14

Jackal, three lioness relaxing on a river bed, Coke’s Hartebeast and a herd of wildebeest and of

course lots of birds including Ground Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Pallid Harrier,

Hadada Ibis and European and Lilac-breasted Rollers and Superb Starlings. After lunch we

made our way back to Dar.

We had been lucky with the weather for the

whole trip but now the heavens opened and it

didn’t stop raining until we reached the outskirts

of Dar. We took a short cut through the back

streets to the Meditterianeo Hotel, avoiding the

busy centre of town and providing good views

over Msasani bay. Back at the hotel we said

goodbye to our wonderful drivers Bahati,

Murshid and Twiga (inset) and enjoyed a final

meal looking out over the Indian Ocean.

Day 16 – Depart for London Heathrow

After breakfast at the airport we departed the warmth of Dar-es-Salaam at 9am arriving in

London Heathrow Terminal 5 on time before 5pm.

Tanzania Systematic Lists 2011

Compiled by Paul Cardy

The Itinerary

February 4th Arrival in Dar es Salaam. Bongoyo Island.

February 5th To Mikumi. To Hondo Hondo, Udzungwa.

February 6th Udzungwa, Sanje Waterfall or HQ area.

February 7th Udzungwa.

February 8th To Baobab Valley. Isimila Stone Age Site. Kisolanza.

February 9th Kisolanza. To Utengule.

February 10th Utengule and Songwe, or Mporoto.

February 11th

Mt. Rungwe.

February 12th Utengule. Towards Kitulo.

February 13th Kitulo Plateau.

.

February 14th

Kitulo Plateau.

February 15th To Kimani Waterfall. To Kisolanza.

February 16th To Mikumi.

February 17th Mikumi. To Dar es Salaam.

February 18th Departure.


15

Systematic List Number 1 Mammals

The nomenclature and taxonomic order are taken from ‘The Kingdon Field Guide to African

Mammals’ by Jonathan Kingdon (1997). An indication of abundance is given by the number of

days out 15 seen during the tour e.g. 5/15 means that the species was seen on 5 days out of 15. Iringa Red Colobus Piliocolobus gordonorum Udzungwa, to which endemic. 2/15

Angola Pied Colobus Colobus angolensis Udzungwa and Mt.Rungwe. 3/15

Yellow Baboon Papio cynocephalus Scattered records, e.g. Mikumi and Baobab

Valley. 5/15

Sanje Mangabey Cercocebus sanjei A troop of c.20 at Udzungwa, where endemic,

seen very well. 1/15

Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus aethiops Mikumi etc. 3/15

Blue Monkey Cercopithecus mitis Udzungwa, Mporoto, and Mt.Rungwe. 4/15

Galago species Galagoides sp. On two nights at Hondo Hondo.

Small-eared Galago Otolemur garnetti 1 in the lodge grounds at night, Mikumi (PGC).

1/15

Singing Fruit Bat Epomops dobsoni Hondo Hondo. 1/15

Fruit Bat sp. Hondo Hondo.

Bat spp. Various insectivorous bats noted.

Tanganyika Mountain Squirrel Paraxerus lucifer Incredibly 2 at Udzungwa were the only

squirrels seen. 2/15

Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas 3 at Mikumi. 1/15

African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis A dead individual seen and sign at Kimani.

Egyptian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon Remarkably 1 on day 5 was the only mongoose

seen. 1/15

Lion Panthera leo 3 females at Mikumi. 1/15

Aardvark Orycteropus afer Sign at Mikumi.

Rock Hyrax Procavia johnstoni 1 at Sanje and 1 at Isimila. 2/15

Southern Tree Hyrax Dendrohyrax arboreus Heard at night at Kisolanza.

African Elephant Loxodonta africana Several in Mikumi, and much sign elsewhere.

2/15

Burchell’s Zebra Equus burchelli Several in Mikumi. 3/15

Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus Several in Mikumi. 3/15

Giraffe Giraffa camelopardis Several in Mikumi. 3/15

African Buffalo Syncerus caffer Numerous at Mikumi. 3/15

Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus 1 at Mikumi. 1/15

Bush Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia 1 at Mikumi. Also known as Grey Duiker or

Grimm’s Duiker. 1/15

Harvey’s Duiker Cephalophus harveyi 1 in forest near the Udzungwa HQ, on two days

(!), was a good record. 2/15

Impala Aepyceros melampus Numerous at Mikumi. 3/15

Coke’s Hartebeest (Kongoni) Alcelaphus busephalus ssp.cokei. 1 at Mikumi. 1/15 Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus Mikumi. 1/15


16

Systematic List Number 2 Birds

An indication of abundance is given by the number of days out 15 seen during the tour e.g.

5/15 means that the species was seen on 5 days out of 15.

Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus Various wetland records. 5/15

Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 at Kisolanza reservoir. 1/15

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Only in Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala Widespread in small numbers. 7/15

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Singles on 2 days. 2/15

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Widespread and locally common. 5/15

Striated Heron Butorides striatus 1 in Baobab Valley. 1/15

Great Egret Egretta albus Scattered records. 5/15

Little Egret Egretta garzetta Scattered records. 3/15

Dimorphic Egret Egretta dimorpha Several, mostly dark phase birds, on mud

flats at Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia Kilombero Valley. 1/15

Hammerkop Scopus umbretta Widespread in small numbers. 5/15

Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 3 in Dar es Salaam. 1/15

African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus Several records. 4/15

Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii c.40 on first Mikumi visit. 1/15

Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus Mikumi. 1/15

White Stork Ciconia ciconia 3 near Mbeya. 1/15

Marabou Stork Leptotilus crumeniferus 3+ on second Mikumi visit. 1/15

Saddlebill Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 1 at Mikumi on both visits. 2/15

Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Numerous on coastal mud flats. 1/15

Hadada Bostrychia hagedash A few at Mikumi. 2/15

White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata Kilombero valley and Mikumi. 2/15

Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotus 4 at Mikumi. 1/15

Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata 4 on Kisolanza reservoir. 1/15

European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus One on 2 days at Udzungwa. 2/15

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Small numbers on 4 days. 4/15

Black Kite Milvus migrans Surprisingly scattered records only. 4/15

African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer Singletons in Dar es Salaam and Baobab

Valley. 2/15

Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis On only 2 days. 2/15

African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus A few at Mikumi. 2/15

Rueppell’s Griffon Vulture Gyps rueppellii Mikumi. 1/15

Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus Mikumi. 1/15

Black-breasted Snake-eagle Circaetus pectoralis 1 at Mikumi. 1/15

Brown Snake-eagle Circaetus cinereus Singletons on 2 days. 2/15

Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus Several at Mikumi. 3/15

Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 1 at Kisolanza. 1/15

African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus Kisolanza and Mikumi. 3/15

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Noted on 3 days. 3/15

African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus 1 at Kisolanza. 1/15

Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus 1 at Kisolanza. 1/15

African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro 1 at Udzungwa. 1/15

Shikra Accipiter badius On 2 days. 2/15

Eurasian Buzzard Buteo buteo Scattered records. 1/15

Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus 1+ on Kitulo. 1/15


17

Augur Buzzard Buteo augur A few on Kitulo. 2/15

African Hawk-eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster 2 at Mikumi. 2/15

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus A pale phase bird over Utengule. 1/15

Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus 1 at Kisolanza. 1/15

Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis Scattered records. 4/15

Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Noted on 1 day. 1/15

Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus Mikumi. 1/15

Lanner Falco biarmicus Kisolanza and Kitulo. 2/15

Red-winged Francolin Francolinus levaillantii 3 at Kitulo. 1/15

Hildebrandt’s Francolin Francolinus hildebrandti A male near Hondo Hondo. 1/15

Red-necked Francolin Francolinus afer Kitulo and Mikumi. 3/15

Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Heard often at Kitulo.

Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Mikumi. 1/15

Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani A few at Udzungwa. 2/15

Black-bellied Bustard Eupodotis melanogastor 3 at Mikumi. 1/15

Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis 1 on Kisolanza reservoir. 1/15

African Jacana Actophilornis africanus 1 in Kilombero valley. 1/15

Crab Plover Dromas ardeola 40+ on Dar es Salaam mud flats. 1/15

Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus Heard at Mikumi.

Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus Several at Mikumi. 2/15

Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris Mikumi. 1/15

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 1 on Dar es Salaam mud flats. 1/15

Common Redshank Tringa totanus Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1 at Mikumi. 1/15

Greenshank Tringa nebularia Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Only on the first two days. 2/15

Sanderling Calidris alba Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Little Stint Calidris minuta Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Common on Dar es Salaam mud flats. 1/15

Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini Several at Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus 3+ at Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Lesser Crested Tern Sterna benghalensis Many at Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Common Tern Sterna hirundo Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Dusky Turtle-dove Streptopelia lugens 1+ on Kitulo. 1/15

Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Scattered records. 4/15

Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola Widespread and reasonably common.

7/15

Emerald-spotted Wood-dove Turtur chalcospilos Scattered, often heard. 5/15

Blue-spotted Wood-dove Turtur afer Unzungwa. 1/15

Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria Scattered records. 4/15

Meyer’s Parrot Poicephalus meyeri c.4 in Baobab Valley. 1/15

Livingstone’s Turaco Tauraco livingstonii Mporoto and Rungwe etc. 4/15

Bare-faced Go-away Bird Corythaixoides personatus 1 near Mbeya. 1/15


18

Black-and-white Cuckoo Oxylophus jacobinus Baobab Valley, Kitulo, and Mikumi. 3/15

Levaillant’s Cuckoo Oxylophus levaillantii 1 at Utengule. 1/15

Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius Heard often.

African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis 1 in Baobab Valley. 1/15

Klaas’ Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas Heard at widespread sites, and seen at

Hondo Hondo. 5/15

Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius On day 5 and at Mikumi. 2/15

Burchell’s Coucal Centropus burchelli Kilombero valley. 1/15

White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus Widespread in small numbers. 7/15

Southern White-faced Owl Ptilopsis granti 1 at Utengule. 1/15

African Wood Owl Ciccaba woodfordi 1 at start of Sanje walk. 1/15.

Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis Heard at Hondo Hondo.

Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma Heard at Mikumi.

African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus Scattered records. 4/15

Common Swift Apus apus Kimani. 1/15

Little Swift Apus affinis Locally common. 5/15

White-rumped Swift Apus caffer Mikumi. 1/15

Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus Widespread and reasonably common.

10/15

Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus Baobab Valley. 1/15

Grey-headed Kingfisher Halycon leucocephala Mikumi. 1/15

Woodland Kingfisher Halycon senegalensis Only a few seen. 3/15

Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides 1 on Bongoyo Island. 1/15

Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris Scattered records. 4/15

Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti Near Mikumi and Utengule. 2/15

Giant Kingfisher Ceryle maxima 1 at Udzungwa. 1/15

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Coast and Kilombero valley. 2/15

Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus Only on three days near the beginning of

the tour, e.g. Hondo Hondo. 3/15

White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis Sanje. 1/15

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Widespread and reasonably common.

7/15

Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus Several en route to Mikumi from the

coast. 1/15

European Roller Coracias garrulus Mikumi. 2/15

Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudata Scattered records. 4/15

Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus Baobab Valley, Mikumi etc. 3/15

Von der Decken’s Hornbill Tockus deckeni Mikumi. 1/15

Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus Several at Udzungwa. 3/15

African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus Mikumi etc. 3/15

Trumpeter Hornbill Ceratogymna bucinator Several at Mikumi. 4/15

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Ceratogymna brevis Udzungwa and Rungwe. 3/15

Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri 1 at Mikumi. 1/15

Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea Heard at Udzungwa.

Moustached Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax 1 at Kisolanza. 1/15

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus Kisolanza and Rungwe. 2/15

Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus 2 in Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lachrymosa 1 at Kisolanza, 1 at Songwe. 2/15

Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus Utengule. 2/15

Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor 2 in Baobab Valley. 1/15


19

Eastern Honeybird Prodotiscus zambesiae 2 at Utengule. 1/15. aka Green-backed

Honeyguide.

Green-backed Woodpecker Campethera cailliautii 2 at Sanje. 1/15

Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens 1 at Kisolanza. 1/15

Fischer’s Sparrow-lark Eremopterix leucopareia A male near Utengule. 1/15

Plain Martin Riparia paludicola 1 over Kitulo. 1/15

Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula Utengule and Kimani. 4/15

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Common and widespread. 12/15

Angola Swallow Hirundo angolensis Kisolanza and Utengule area. 3/15

Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithi A few records. 2/15

Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea 2 near Kitulo. 1/15

Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica Widespread and reasonably common.

8/15

Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis Kisolanza and Utengule areas. 5/15

White-headed Sawwing Psalidoprocne albiceps Isimila Stone Age site. 1/15

Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne holomelas Mt.Rungwe. 1/15

African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp Widespread and reasonably common.

9/15

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 1 in Baobab Valley. Subspecies? 1/15

Fulleborn’s Longclaw Macronyx fuellebornii 15 + on Kitulo. 2/15

Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys A few at Utengule. 3/15

Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis 1 on Kitulo. 1/15

Grey Cuckoo-shrike Coracina caesia Sanje. 1/15

Black Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga flava A female at Utengule. 1/15

Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus Widespread and common in all areas.

14/15

Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus 1 in Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris 1 at Songwe. 1/15

Cabani’s Greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi Udzungwa. 1/15

Grey-olive Greenbul Phyllastrephus cerviniventris 1 at lunch site on day 9. 1/15

Eastern Nicator Nicator gularis Sanje. 1/15

Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans Kisolanza and Mikumi. 2/15

Trilling Cisticola Cisticola woosnami A few records. 3/15

Black-lored Cisticola Cisticola nigriloris Up to 7 together on Kitulo Plateau. 2/15

Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana A few records. 3/15

Churring Cisticola Cisticola njombe Several on Kitulo Plateau. 2/15

Siffling Cisticola Cisticola brachypterus 1 at Mikumi. 1/15

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Kitulo and Kisolanza. 2/15

Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii Kitulo Plateau. 1/15

Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava Hondo Hondo etc. 3/15

Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida 2 in Dar es Salaam and 1 at Utengule. 2/15

Brown-headed Apalis Apalis alticola Isimila and Kisolanza. 2/15

Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura 3 at Utengule. 1/15

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus 1 on Kitulo Plateau. 1/15

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Heard at Hondo Hondo.

Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocepahlus gracilirostris 1 at Utengule. 1/15

Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida Bongoyo Island and on day 5. 2/15

Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis 1 at Kisolanza. 1/15

Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii 2+ in Baobab Valley. 1/15

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Baobab Valley and Utengule. 2/15

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Baobab Valley and Utengule. 2/15


20

Banded Parisoma Parisoma boehmi A family party at Mikumi on the first visit.

1/15

Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus Songwe etc. 2/15

African Grey Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus 2 in Baobab Valley. 1/15

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri A pair with young at Kisolanza. 1/15

Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina Utengule. 1/15

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Widespread and reasonably common.

9/15

African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta Utengule. 1/15

Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata A male at Utengule. 1/15

Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia Heard occasionally.

White-browed Robin-chat Cossypha heuglini Utengule etc. 3/15

Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis 1 at Sanje. 1/15

Red-backed Scrub-robin Cercotrichas leucophrys Scattered records, e.g. Kisolanza. 3/15

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 1 at Kitulo. 1/15

African Stonechat Saxicola torquata Scattered records. 4/15

Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris 2 at Utengule. 1/15

Cliff Chat Myrmecocichla cinnamomeiventris 1 at Isimila Stone Age site. 1/15

Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata A pair on Bongoyo Island. 1/15

Chinspot Batis Batis molitor A female at Utengule. 1/15

Livingstone’s Flycatcher Erythrocercus livingstonei 4+ at Sanje. 1/15

African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis Widespread and reasonably common.

8/15

Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii Mikumi. 1/15

Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris Widespread and reasonably common.

9/15

Eastern Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea Sanje. 1/15

Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis Scattered records. 4/15

Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis A female at Utengule. 1/15

Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa Common on Kitulo Plateau. 2/15

Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus A male in Baobab Valley. 1/15

Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus Kisolanza and Utengule. 2/15

Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis Kisolanza and Utengule areas. 3/15

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Immatures at Hondo Hondo and

Utengule. 2/15

Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi Common at Mikumi. 2/15

Common Fiscal Lanius collaris Utengule area. 1/15

Northern Puff-back Dryoscopus gambensis Widespread in small numbers. 8/15

Marsh Tchagra Tchagra minutus Kilombero valley. 1/15

Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus Widespread in small numbers. 6/15

Fulleborn’s Black Boubou Laniarius fuelleborni Heard at Mporoto.

Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike Malaconotus sulfureopectus On 2 days at Utengule. 2/15

Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii Several at Udzungwa. 2/15

Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis Scattered records. 4/15

House Crow Corvus splendens Introduced and numerous along the coast

but also seen near Mikumi town. 7/15

Pied Crow Corvus alba Widespread and locally numerous. 13/15

White-naped Raven Corvus albicollis Scattered records, e.g. Baobab Valley and

Kitulo. 3/15

Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus Udzungwa. 1/15

Southern Blue-eared Glossy Starling Lamprotornis elisabeth 1 at Utengule. 2/15


21

Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus Mikumi. 2/15

Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster A male in Dar es Salaam, a pair at

Utengule. 2/15

Ashy Starling Spreo unicolor Several in Baobab Valley, also near

Mbeya. 3/15

Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 2 at Songwe. 1/15

Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus Mikumi. 1/15

Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus Mikumi, on buffalo. 1/15

White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali Mikumi. 3/15

Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht 1 at Utengule. 1/15

Bertram’s Weaver Ploceus bertrandi A pair at Utengule. 1/15

Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius Scattered records. 4/15

Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis Udzungwa. 3/15

African Golden Weaver Ploceus subaureus Scattered records. 3/15

Vitelline Masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus Hondo Hondo. 1/15

Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus Dar es Salaam etc. 3/15

Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni Baobab Valley and Kitulo road. 2/15

Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor Udzungwa. 2/15

Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps Utengule area. 3/15

Cardinal Quelea Quelea cardinalis Kimani road. 1/15

Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus Hondo Hondo. 2/15

Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix Hondo Hondo. 3/15

Zanzibar Red Bishop Euplectes nigroventris Numerous at Hondo Hondo and in

Kilombero valley. 4/15

Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis Scattered records. 4/15

Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris Hondo Hondo and Kilombero valley. 3/15

White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus Kisolanza area etc. 4/15

Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens Nesting at Utengule. 2/15

Montane Marsh Widowbird Euplectes psammocromius Several seen well on Kitulo Plateau. 2/15

Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons A male near Hondo Hondo. 1/15

Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba A few at Utengule. 2/15

Peter’s Twinspot Hypargos niveoguttatus 1 at Utengule. 1/15

Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala Widespread. 7/15

Jameson’s Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia Utengule. 2/15

Southern Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus angolensis Mikumi. 1/15

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus Kisolanza. 1/15

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus Several in Dar es Salaam. 1/15

Yellow-bellied Waxbill Estrilda quartinia Utengule. 1/15

Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola Kitulo Plateau. 1/15

Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Scattered records. 3/15

Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata Widespread. 11/15

Black-and-white Mannikin Lonchura bicolor Utengule. 2/15

Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Widespread in small numbers. 7/15

Eastern Paradise-whydah Vidua paradisaea Kimani. 1/15

Broad-tailed Paradise-whydah Vidua obtusa Baobab Valley. 1/15

Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting Emberiza tahapisi 1 at Songwe. 1/15

Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex Kitulo Plateau. 1/15

Southern Citril Serinus hypostictus Scattered records, e.g. Kitulo. 4/15

Reichenow’s Seedeater Serinus reichenowi Kilombero valley. 1/15

Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus Widespread and reasonably common.

9/15


22

Reichard’s Seedeater Serinus reichardi Scattered records, e.g. Kisolanza. 3/15

Yellow-browed Seedeater Serinus whytii Singletons on Mt.Rungwe and Kitulo

Plateau. 2/15

House Sparrow Passer domesticus Dar es Salaam, and Mikumi. 4/15

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus Widespread. 7/15


23

Systematic List Number 3 Amphibians and Reptiles

Bell’s Hinged Tortoise Kinixys belliana This was probably the species seen at

Udzungwa

Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia Common around habitation.

Tree Gecko Hemidactylus platycephalus Sanje.

Yellow-headed Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus luteopicturatus At the hotel in Dar es Salaam

Ukinga Mountain Skink Mabuya brauni 1 on Kitulo Plateau.

Striped Skink Mabuya striata Mikumi.

Coral Rag Skink Cryptoblepharus boutonii Bongoyo Island.

Skink spp. Other species seen, e.g. Kisolanza.

Great Plated Lizard Gerrhosaurus major 1 at Songwe.

Red-headed Rock Agama Agama agama Kisolanza and Utengule.

Goetze’s Chameleon Chamaeleo goetzei Nominate subspecies endemic. 1 on

Kitulo.

Tubercle-nosed Chameleon Chamaeleo tempeli A restricted range Tanzania endemic. 1

at Kisolanza.

Flap-necked Chameleon Chamaeleo dilepis 1 seen crossing the road near Kimani

junction.

Nile Monitor Varanus niloticus Bongoyo Island and Mikumi.

Snake sp. Seen briefly near the Udzungwa HQ.


24

Systematic List Number 4 Butterflies

Taxonomy generally follows ‘Butterflies of Tanzania’ by Jan Kielland, 1990. Rather easier to

work with, and illustrating more species, is ‘The Butterflies of Kenya’ by Torben B.Larsen. Also

invaluable were the Afrotropical volume of Seitz ‘Macrolepidoptera of the World’, ‘Carcasson’s

African Butterflies’ and various monographs on genera such as Charaxes, Euphaedra, and

Bebearia, used to determine distribution, nomenclature and identification.

PAPILIONOIDEA

Papilionidae

Papilioninae Papilio dardanus ssp.tibullus Mocker Swallowtail

Udzungwa.

Papilio phorcas ssp.nyikanus Apple Green Swallowtail

Mikumi.

Papilio pelodurus Eastern Black and Yellow Swallowtail

1 at Sanje.

Papilio hornimani ssp. Horniman’s Swallowtail

mwanihanae Prince Bernhard Falls.

Papilio desmondi ssp. Desmond’s Green-banded Swallowtail

usambarensis Sanje and Rungwe.

Papilio nireus ssp.lyaeus Narrow-banded Green Swallowtail

Several at Mikumi.

Papilio ophidocephalus Emperor Swallowtail

En route to Kisolanza, and at Rungwe.

Papilio demodocus Citrus Swallowtail

Widespread and common.

Papilio echerioides White-banded Swallowtail

A female at Rungwe camp.

Graphium taboranus Tabora Swallowtail

Noted on Day 5.

Graphium leonidas Veined Swordtail

Scattered records. Mikumi and Sanje.

Graphium policenes Common Striped Swordtail

Many at Mikumi.

Graphium polistratus Dancing Swordtail

Sanje.

Graphium antheus Large Striped Swordtail

Common at Sanje.

Pieridae

Coliadinae Catopsilia florella African Emigrant


Colias electo ssp.pseudohecate African Clouded Yellow

A few at Kitulo.


25

Eurema senegalensis Forest Grass Yellow

Several in forests, e.g. Sanje.

Eurema hecabe ssp.solifera Common Grass Yellow


Eurema brigitta Small Grass Yellow

Mikumi.

Eurema upembana a grass yellow

Kitulo.

Pierinae Pinacopteryx eriphia Zebra White

Scattered records.

Nepheronia thalassina Cambridge Vagrant

Udzungwa etc.

Eronia cleodora Vine Leaf Vagrant

Mikumi.

Colotis amata ssp.calais Small Salmon Arab

Bongoyo Island and Baobab Valley.

Colotis aurigineus African Golden Arab

Baobab Valley.

Colotis ione Purple Tip

Baobab Valley.

Colotis auxo ssp.incretus Yellow Orange Tip

Lower Kitulo Road.

Colotis antevippe Large Orange Tip

Mikumi.

Colotis evenina an orange-tip

Baobab Valley etc.

Colotis euippe ssp.omphale Round-winged Orange-tip

Bongoyo Island.

Colotis evagore ssp.antigone Tiny Orange Tip

Many at Mikumi, also in Baobab Valley.

Belenois aurota Caper White

Widespread and abundant.

Belenois creona African Caper White

Widerspread and very common.

Belenois gidica Pointed Caper White

Locally common.

Belenois calypso ssp.shaba Calypso Caper White

Several at Kimani.

Dixeia pigea Antheap White

Kimani.

Appias phaola ssp.isokani Dirty Albatross

This species in Baobab Valley?

Mylothris agathina Eastern Dotted Border

Scattered records.

Mylothris rueppellii Ruppell’s Dotted Border

Utengule


26

Lycaenidae

Lipteninae Pentila pauli ssp.nyassana Paul’s Pentila

Sanje.

Pentilsa rogersi ssp.parapetreia Roger’s Pentila

Sanje.

Theclinae Axiocerces amanga Bush Scarlet

Kimani.

Axiocerces tjoane Eastern Scarlet

Mikumi.

Hemiolaus caeculus Azure Hairstreak

A colony at Songwe Bat Caves.

Hypolycaena philippus Common Hairstreak

Hondo Hondo.

Hypolycaena pachalica Coast Hairstreak

Numerous in Baobab Valley.

Hypolycaena buxtoni Buxton’s Hairstreak

Sanje.

Deudorix dinochares Apricot Playboy

Recorded.

Lycaeniinae Lycaena abbotti African Small Copper

1 at Kitulo.

Polyommatinae Anthene liodes Light Ciliate Blue

Sanje.

Anthene amarah Leaden Ciliate Blue

Mikumi etc.

Anthene lunulata Red-spot Ciliate Blue

Isimila.

Anthene larydas Common Ciliate Blue

Udzungwa.

Pseudonacaduba sichela African Line Blue

Several at Kimani.

Lampides boeticus Long-tailed Blue

1 at Kimani.

Cacyreus palemon Water Geranium Blue

Associated with geraniums at Kitulo.

Harpendyreus marungensis Central Mountain Blue

Several at Kitulo.

Leptotes spp. Widespread. Genitalia dissection necessary for positive ID. The

following species occur.

Leptotes pirithous Common Zebra Blue

Leptotes babaulti Babault’s Zebra Blue

Leptotes jeanneli Jeannel’s Zebra Blue

Leptotes marginalis Black-bordered Zebra Blue


27

Leptotes brevidentatus Tite’s Zebra Blue

Leptotes pulchra Beautiful Zebra Blue

Tuxentius calice a pierrot

Kimani Falls.

Eicochrysops messapus ssp. a cupid

mahallakoena Kitulo.

Cupidopsis cissus Meadow Blue

Kimani.

Euchrysops malathana Smoky Bean Cupid

Scattered records.

Lepidochrysops peculiaris Peculiar Giant Cupid

This superb species at Mikumi.

Oboronia bueronica a ginger white

A colony at Sanje Waterfall.

Azanus natalensis Natal Babul Blue

Hondo Hondo etc.

Zizeeria knysna African Grass Blue

Scattered records.

Zizina antanossa Dark Grass Blue

Mikumi etc.

Zizula hylax Tiny Grass Blue

Scattered records.

Nymphalidae

Danainae Danaus chrysippus Common Tiger


Tirumala petiverana African Blue Tiger

1 at Mikumi.

Amauris niavius ssp. Friar

dominicanus Sanje.

Satyrinae Melanitis leda ssp.africana Common Evening Brown

Hondo Hondo.

Bicyclus kiellandi Kielland’s Bush Brown

Hondo Hondo camp. Endemic.

Bicyclus angulosus ssp.selousi Angular Bush Brown

Sanje.

Bicyclus safitza Common Savannah Bush Brown

Widespread in savannah and disturbed areas of the forest zone.

Henotesia ubenica a patroller

Mt.Rungwe.

Ypthima sp. a ringlet

Kisolanza. Dissection necessary for positive identification.

Neocoenyra gregorii This species at Kisolanza?

Neocoenyra petersi Rather common on Kitulo, where endemic.


28

Charaxinae Charaxes varanes ssp.vologeses Pearl Charaxes

Kimani track and Mikumi.

Charaxes acuminatus Mountain Pearl Charaxes

Rungwe.

Charaxes saturnus Foxy Charaxes

Baobab Valley, Kimani, and Mikumi.

Charaxes brutus White-barred Charaxes

Hondo Hondo.

Charaxes achaemenes Bush Charaxes

Kimani.

Charaxes guderiana a black charaxes

A male and female at Kimani.

Euxanthe wakefieldi Forest Queen

Hondo Hondo.

Nymphalinae Precis antilope Darker Commodore

Sanje and Kimani.

Precis archesia Garden Inspector

1 at Kimani.

Hypolimnas misippus Diadem

Hondo Hondo etc.

Protogoniomorpha temora Blue Mother-of-Pearl

Sanje and elsewhere at Udzungwa.

Protogoniomorpha parhassus Forest Mother-of-Pearl

Sanje and elsewhere at Udzungwa.

Protogoniomorpha anacardii Clouded Mother-of-Pearl

Mikumi.

Junonia orithya Blue Pansy

ssp.madagascariensis Kimani.

Junonia oenone Dark Blue Pansy

Scattered records.

Junonia hierta Yellow Pansy

Widespread in small numbers.

Junonia natalica Natal Pansy

Kimani.

Junonia sophia Little Commodore

Utengule.

Junonia terea ssp.elgiva Soldier Pansy

Udzungwa.

Catacroptera cloanthe Pirate

1 at Kimani.

Byblia anvatara ssp.crameri African Joker

Sanje etc.

Byblia ilithyia The Joker

Mikumi etc.

Neptidopsis ophione ssp.velleda Scalloped Sailor

Sanje.

Eurytela dryope ssp.angulata Golden Piper

Sanje.


29

Eurytela hiarbas ssp.lita Pied Piper

Songwe.

Sevenia amulia ssp.rosa Lilac Tree Nymph

Limenitinae Cymothoe coranus Blonde Glider

A female at Sanje.

Pseudacraea dolomena ssp. a false acraea

usagara Sanje.

Pseudacraea boisduvalii ssp. Boisduval’s False Acraea

trimeni Sanje.

Pseudacraea lucretia False Diadem

Sanje.

Neptis saclava Small Spotted Sailor

Sanje.

Neptis carcassoni Carcasson’s Streaked Sailer

Sanje.

Catuna sikorana a pathfinder

A few at Sanje.

Hamanumida daedalus Guineafowl

Hondo Hondo etc.

Aterica galene ssp.theophanes Forest Glade Nymph

A few at Sanje.

Bebearia orientis a spectre

Sanje.

Euphaedra crawshayi a forester

Sanje. Two white bars on forewing.

Euphaedra neophron Gold-banded Forester

Locally common.

Heliconiinae Acraea pharsalus Pharsalus Acraea

Scattered records.

Acraea serena Small Orange Acraea

Hondo Hondo. Previously known as A.eponina.

Acraea egina ssp.areca Elegant Acraea

Mikumi.

Acraea natalica Natal Acraea

Widespread.

Acraea rabbiae Clear Wing Acraea

Bongoyo Island.

Acraea quirina Common Glassy Acraea

1 at Sanje.

Acraea neobule Wandering Donkey

Hondo Hondo and Mikumi.

Lachnoptera iole ssp.ayresi Eastern Blotched Leopard

A male at Kimani.

Phalanta phalantha Common Leopard Fritillary

Widespread.

Phalanta eurytis African Leopard Fritillary


30

Scattered records.

Issoria smaragdifera ssp.reducta a fritillary

1 on Kitulo.

HESPERIOIDEA

Hesperiidae Coeliadinae Coeliades forestan Striped Policeman

Udzungwa etc.

Pyrginae Tagiades flesus Clouded Flat

Scattered records.

Leucochitonia amneris Several mud puddling in Baobab Valley. An impressive endemic

species.

Spialia dromus Dromus Grizzled Skipper

Hondo Hondo.

Hesperiinae Metisella orientalis a sylph

Kisolanza Dam.

Ampittia capenas African Bush Hopper

Hondo Hondo.

Gorgyra subflavidus Sanje.

Teniorhinus harona Kimani.

Andronymus neander Common Dart

Hondo Hondo, where numerous, and Mikumi.

Platylesches picanini a hopper

Utengule.


31

Systematic List Number 5 Plants

Regrettably this list is much more patchy than is usual for a Greentours plant list. Several books

were used in the field, and later in compiling the list, but the absence of a usable field guide, or

comprehensive monographs, made identification of many species impossible.

Gymnosperms

Pinaceae Pinus patula

Angiosperms

Monocotyledons

Amaryllidaceae Crinum papillosum This species at Isimila?

Scadoxus spp. Fire-ball Lily. In fruit.

Anthericaceae Chlorophytum affine Kitulo Plateau

Chlorophytum spp. Several others were unidentified

Asparagaceae Asparagus spp.

Asphodelaceae Aloe nuttii Kitulo Plateau

Aloe spp. Others not identified

Bulbine abyssinica Kitulo Plateau, yellow flowered, with densely bearded filaments

Bulbine sp. Isimila Stone Age site

Kniphofia goetzei a red hot poker. In marshes, Kitulo Plateau.

Kniphofia grantii a red hot poker. In shorter grassland on Kitulo Plateau.

Kniphofia sp. Another species present on Kitulo Plateau.

Colchicaceae Gloriosa superba Flame Lily. Widespread and reasonably common in various

forms.

Gloriosa minor Isimila Stone Age site.

Commelinaceae Commelina africana Flowers yellow. Kitulo Plateau.

Commelina kituloensis Kitulo, larger yellow flowers.

Commelina latifolia Mporoto and Mt.Rungwe

Cyanotis speciosa Common on Kitulo Plateau

Cyperaceae Ascolepis capensis Kitulo Plateau

Cyperus spp. Many species were unidentified


32

Hyacinthaceae Albuca are Ornithogalum like and sometimes included in that genus. They differ in erect inner tepals, with

at least the inner filaments pinched below.

Albuca abyssinica Several on Kitulo Plateau

Hypoxidaceae Hypoxis angustifolia Kitulo Plateau

Iridaceae Crocosmia aurea Montbretia. Mporoto and Mt.Rungwe.

Dierama pendulum Kitulo Plateau

Gladiolus has leaves usually with a definite midrib, inflorescence a spike of usually zygomorphic flowers.

Gladiolus dalenii Kitulo Plateau and 1 in Songwe grassland. Also roadsides

elsewhere.

Gladiolus unguiculatus 4 on Kitulo Plateau

Moraea have either iris-like flowers with unequal tepals, or with all tepals more or less equal.

Moraea schimperi A few in flower on Kitulo Plateau. Purple flowers.

Moraea tanzanica Locally common on Kitulo Plateau. Yellow flowers.

Romulea are often acaulescent, with actinomorphic flowers.

Romulea campanuloides Kitulo Plateau, 1

Orchidaceae Still trying to obtain a copy of Orchids of Malawi. The Kenya and South African Orchid books were of

some use, photos please of as yet unidentified species!

Calanthe sylvatica Mporoto and Mt.Rungwe.

Cynorkis anacamptoides Kitulo Plateau

Cynorkis sp. White flowers, Kitulo Plateau

Disa stolzii Kitulo Plateau

Disa ukingensis Several on Kitulo Plateau

Disa sp. Large purple flowers, Kitulo road.

Eulophia clavicornis ssp.nutans Kitulo Plateau

Eulophia ovalis 1, Kitulo Plateau

Eulophia shupargae Kitulo Plateau, 1, deep purple flowers.

Eulophia sp.1 Kitulo Plateau

Eulophia sp.2 Kitulo Plateau

Habenaria cornuta This seems to be the species with long filiform petal lobes in

marshy grassland on Kitulo Plateau.

Habenaria occlusa Kitulo Plateau

Habenaria xanthochlora Kitulo Plateau

Habenaria sp.1 Small white flowers with brown markings, Sanje Waterfall.

Habenaria sp.2 Small species near Protea, Kitulo Plateau.

Habenaria spp. Others seen too.

Holothrix nyasae Plant hairy. Kitulo Plateau.

Polystachya meliodora Two of this impressive saprophyte was a very good find at

Sanje, Udzungwa.

Satyrium acutirostrum Kitulo Plateau

Satyrium johnstonii Kitulo Plateau

Satyrium longicauda Kitulo Plateau

Satyrium neglectum ssp.brevicalcar Kitulo Plateau

Satyrium sphaeranthum Kitulo Plateau


33

Satyrium sp.1 Small white flowers, c.40 cm tall, Kitulo road woodland.

Satyrium sp.2 Flowers pale pink. Kitulo Plateau.

Satyrium sp.3 Red flowers, labellum trifurcate. Kitulo Plateau.

Schizochilus sulphureus Kitulo Plateau

Poaceae Sinarundinaria alpina African Alpine Bamboo. Kitulo and Mporoto.

Xyridaceae Xyris obscura Kitulo Plateau

Zingiberaceae Siphonochilus ?rosea Udzungwa and Mikumi. Possibly more trhan one species seen.

Dicotyledons

Acanthaceae Justicia betonica Kisolanza

Justicia spp. Several others seen

Thunbergia alata Black-eyed Susan

Thunbergia gregorii Striking orange flowers, road to Kitulo Plateau.

Thunbergia sp. Blue flowers, Songwe.

Amaranthaceae Centemopsis gracilenta/kirkii

Anacardiaceae Sclerocarya birrea Sanje

Annonaceae Annona senegalensis Sanje

Apiaceae Alepidia peduncularis Common on Kitulo Plateau

Alepidia synnertonii This species also on Kitulo Plateau?

Pimpinella caffra ssp.conopodioides Several on Kitulo Plateau

Apocynaceae (includes Asclepiadaceae)

Calotropis gigantea Dar es Salaam etc.

Ceropegia sp. Road to Kitulo

Funtumia africana

Nerium oleander Naturalised

Plumeria sp. Frangipani

Tabernaemontana elegans

Tabernaemontana pachysiphon Tree with scented rotate flowers, Sanje

Thevetia peruviana Naturalised

Xysmalobium undulatum Kitulo road


34

Asteraceae Aspilia mossambicensis Isimila, this species?

Aster tansaniensis Kitulo Plateau

Berkheya echinacea ssp.polyacantha Kitulo Plateau

Cirsium buchwaldii Marshes on Kitulo Plateau

Echinops sp., Very large flower heads. Kitulo Plateau.

Emilia javanica Widespread and reasonably common

Emilia tenera Kitulo Plateau

Erythrocephalum longifolium Mikumi

Gerbera viridiflora Kitulo Plateau?

Gymnodiscus capillaris Small yellow flowered annual. Cape Point.

Haplocarpha thunbergii Kitulo Plateau

Helichrysum forskahlii Kitulo Plateau

Helichrysum herbaceum Kitulo Plateau

Helichrysum nitens Kitulo Plateau

Helichrysum tillandsifolium Kitulo Plateau

Inula stolzii Kitulo Plateau

Senecio purpureus Kitulo Plateau

Tridax procumbens Widespread and locally common

Vernonia sp. Kitulo

Balsaminaceae Impatiens assurgens Mt.Rungwe

Impatiens austrotanzanica Mporoto and Mt.Rungwe

Impatiens confusa Mt.Rungwe

Impatiens gomphophylla Kitulo Plateau

Impatiens polyantha Kitulo Plateau

Impatiens rosulata Numerous on Kitulo Plateau

Impatiens walleri Udzungwa

Begoniaceae Begonia meyeri-johannis Mporoto and Mt.Rungwe

Begonia sutherlandii Mporoto, orange flowers

Begonia sp. Small spotted leaves, Sanje waterfall

Bignoniaceae Kigelia africana Sausage Tree

Bombacaceae Adansonia digitata Baobab

Bombax rhodognathon

Boraginaceae Cynoglossum amplifolium Kitulo Plateau

Cynoglossum sp. Kitulo Plateau

Heliotropium sp.

Campanulaceae Cyphia are erect or twining herbs with white to purple flowers, equally five lobed or two lipped, and split

down the side.


35

Cyphia sp. Kitulo Plateau, by the small waterfall. Twining, blue flowers.

Lobelia angolensis Numerous on Kitulo Plateau, white flowers

Lobelia mildbraedii Kitulo Plateau, some fine examples

Wahlenbergia abyssinica Kitulo Plateau

Wahlenbergia capillacea ssp.tenuior Kitulo Plateau

Capparidaceae Cleome hirta Baobab Valley

Caryophyllaceae Cerastium sp. Small white flowers by small waterfall, Kitulo

Silene burchallii Kitulo Plateau

Stellaria sp. Small white flowers, Kitulo

Chrysobalanaceae Parinari excelsa Pale leaved trees on Udzungwa slopes

Combretaceae Combretum molle Sanje

Convolvulaceae Ipomoea spp. Several seen

Crassulaceae Crassula alba Kitulo Plateau, mostly red flowered

Crassula vaginata Kitulo Plateau

Dichapetalaceae Dichapetalum stuhlmannii Sanje

Dipsacaceae Cephalaria goetzei Kitulo Plateau

Cephalaria pungens Common on Kitulo Plateau

Droseraceae Drosera madagascariensis Kitulo Plateau

Ericaceae Erica kingaensis Kitulo Plateau

Erica silvatica Kitulo Plateau

Erica whyteana Kitulo lunch site 1

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia candelabrum

Euphorbia quadrangularis

Euphorbia tirucali

Euphorbia spp. Songwe, etc

Macaranga capensis Mt.Rungwe


36

Fabaceae

Acacia drepanolobium Whistling Acacia

Acacia polyacantha Sanje

Afzelia quanzensis Pod Mahogany

Albizia gummifera

Cassia abbreviata ssp.beareana

Cassia mimosoides Kitulo road

Clitoria ternatea Kimani road

Crotalaria spp. Several unidentified

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Dichrostachys cinerea Isimila

Erythrina lysistemon

Indigofera spp.

Lotus spp.

Parkia filicoidea

Psoralea foliosa Kitulo Plateau

Pterocarpus indicus

Senna didymobotra Naturalised

Trifolium wentzelianum ssp.stolzii Kitulo Plateau

Tylosoma fassoglensis Previously known as Bauhinia fassoglensis. Roadsides lower

down.

Gentianaceae

Sebaea longicaulis Kitulo Plateau

Geraniaceae

Geranium incanum Numerous on Kitulo Plateau

Gesneriaceae

Saintpaulia sp. One in flower by Sanje waterfall

Streptocarpus sp. Mporoto

Gunneraceae

Gunnera perpensa Kitulo Plateau

Hypericaceae

Hypericum sp.

Lamiaceae

Plectranthus schizophyllus Kitulo, blue flowers

Linaceae Linum volkensii Kitulo Plateau

Malvaceae Hibiscus vitifolius Scattered

Melastomataceae Dissotis canescens

Others species present too


37

Moraceae Antiaris toxicaria Udzungwa

Ficus spp. Widespread

Milicia excelsa Udzungwa

Myrtaceae Callistemon rigidus Naturalised

Nyctaginaceae Bougainvillea sp. Naturalised

Onagraceae Epilobium salignum Kitulo Plateau

Oxalidaceae Biophytum ?sensitivum This species lower Kitulo road?

Oxalis corniculata Weed!

Oxalis obliquifolia Kitulo Plateau, pink flowers

Pedaliaceae Sesamum angolense Widespread

Sesamum angustifolium Lower Kitulo road

Piperaceae Piper capense Udzungwa

Polygalaceae Polygala sp. Kimani track

Polygonaceae Polygonum sp. Small, Kitulo Plateau.

Proteaceae Protea are shrubs or small trees, with flowers in terminal heads, surrounded by large colourful bracts.

Protea humifusa Kisolanza

Protea heckmanniana Kitulo

Ranunculaceae Clematopsis uhehensis Kitulo Plateau

Delphinium leroyi Kitulo Plateau

Ranunculus multifidis Kitulo Plateau

Thalictrum sp. Mt.Rungwe

Rhamnaceae Phylica emirnensis Kitulo Plateau

Rosaceae Rubus porotoensis Mt.Rungwe


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Rubiaceae Pentas purpurea Kitulo Plateau

Pentas bussei Scattered records

Pentas decora Several on Kitulo Plateau

Galium bussei Kitulo Plateau, resembles Lady’s Bedstraw, Galium verum

Galium sp.

Scrophulariaceae Buchnera cryptocephala Kitulo Plateau

Cycnium sp. Day 7

Gerardiina angolensis Kitulo Plateau

Hebenstretia have sessile flowers in dense spikes, white usually with orange fleck at the base of petals.

Hebenstretia angolensis Kitulo Plateau

Sopuba manii Common on Kitulo, pink flowers

Veronica sp. Road to Kitulo

Solanaceae Solanum spp. Many seen

Sterculiaceae Sterculia appendiculata

Sterculia quinquefolia Tree. Sanje.

Strychnaceae Strychnos madagascariensis Kisolanza

Tiliaceae Corchoros olitorius Widespread. Yellow flowered shrub.

Turneraceae Tricliceras sp. Mikumi, yellow flowers

Valerianaceae Valeriana capensis Kitulo Plateau

Verbenaceae Lantana camara Naturalised

Lippia ukambensis

Tectona grandis Teak. Planted.

Vitex doniana Sanje

Vitex mossambicensis

Violaceae Viola abyssinica Kitulo Plateau


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Woody Plants, Shrubs & Climbers

The following list is from Rhoddy Wood and may contain some overlap to the above list,

however I’ve kept it separate as it concentrates on the woody plants and climbers and has useful

identification hints.

Common

Name

Flower

colour Field Features Location Form Origin

Thunbergia Blue Trumpet with yellow throat Dar Shrub Exotic

Blue, yel

centre

Trumpet yellw inside, curved

throat white Bat caves Shrub Indigenous

White

Pink buds, tubes 2 excerted

stamens curled fo 8 shape Kimani Falls Shrub Indigenous

Marula

Dark heavy crown , dappled

bark Mikumbi + Tree Indigenous

Custard

Apple

Heart shaped fruit with

rounded spikes Udzungwa Tree C. America

Ashok,

Indian mast

tree

Narrowly erect, short

drooping branches, wavy

narrow leaves Dar Tree Sri Lanka

Poison

Arrow Tree

Fruit red-

black Scraggy bush, fissured bark Udzungwa Tree Indigenous

Oleander

Pink or

white Dar Shrub Med

Frangipani

White,pink

or yellow

Fragrant, flat top, succulent

stems Dar Shrub Pacific

Wild

magnolia White Leaves large, dark, glossy Udzungwa Tree Indigenous

Yellow

willow Yellow

Trumpet flowers, narrow

leaves Dar Shrub

Trop

America

Dead Sea

Fruit

White/Purpl

e

Fruits large, light & prickly

with small seeds inside Dar Shrub Indigenous

Jacaranda Violet Mostly flowers on bare wood Dar Tree

Trop

America

Sausage tree Red Flowers overnight for bats Utengele Tree Indigenous

Golden bean

tree Yellow

Trumpet flowers, lower 3

petals with red stripes

Rd W of

Makambako

+ Tree Indigenous

Zimbabwe

creeper Pink

Utengele

garden

Creepe

r Zimbabwe?

African Tulip

Tree Orange red

Frilly petals edged in yellow

in clusters Iringa Tree Indigenous

Yellow elder Yellow Bunches tubular flowers Dar Tree Mexico

Baobab Swollen trunk

Baobab

Valley + Tree Indigenous

Geiger Tree Orange Large flat heads on small tree Dar Tree Exotic

Oval orange/red fruit,

pinnate leaves Mikumbi Shrub Indigenous

Pod

mahogany

Large black seeds, red/yellow

arils Udzungwa Tree Indigenous

Sprawling Yellow Trailing or climbing Mikumbi + Shrub Indigenous


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Bauhinia

Coffee neet's

foot White, red stamens

Rd W of

Makambako

+ Shrub Indigenous

Orchid Tree,

Camel's foot Pink Leaves two rounded lobes Dar Tree Exotic

Blue leaved

brachystegia New leaves flush red

Rd to Kitulo

+ Tree Indigenous

White/yello

w Long protruding red stamens

Rd to Kitulo

+ Tree Indigenous

Flamboyant,

Flame Tree Red Flat topped, bipinnate leaves Dar Tree Madagascar

Pink

As D.regia but pink, 1 petal

marked, 4plain no

claw,scrubby

Baobab

Valley Shrub

Monkey

Bread Tree Whiteish

Bilobed leaves, backs of flwrs

velvety brown hairs

Utengele

garden Tree Indigenous

Wild Teak Yellow

Seed case circular wing,

bristles centre Udzungwa Tree Indigenous

Candle bush Yellow

Opens from bottom, buds

blackish Mbeya Shrub Indigenous

Blackwood Yellow

Flower heads irregularly

distributed Roadsides Tree SE Asia

Yellow

Candles cover tree neatly and

evenly Mbeya Tree

Trop

America

Paw paw White

Single stem, fruit & leaves

clustered at top Dar Tree

Trop

America

Casurina,

whistling

pine Evergreen, cone-like fruit Dar Tree Indigenous

Forest bush

willow Cream

Yg leaves v. white

variegated, pendent, dark Rd to Kitulo Tree Indigenous

White seed cases Ismilia Shrub Indigenous

Pinky/brown seed cases

Rd to Kitulo

opp campsite Shrub Indigenous

Sea almond

Horizontal branches, old

leaves red, fruit velvety Dar Tree

Madagascar

India

Broad leaved

croton Cream Long upward growing spikes Kizolanza Tree Indigenous

spikes green toothed cups,

brown centres Udzungwa + Shrub Indigenous

Candelabra

euphorbia

Steeply risng succulent

branches Dar + Tree Indigenous

Finger

euphorbia

Dense masses of thin

succulent branches

Dar,

Udzungwa Shrub Indigenous

Castor oil

plant Purplish

Large palmate, deeply cut

leaves Dar, Shrub Indigenous

Micky Mouse

Plant

Purple,

yellow

In spikes, calyx & corolla

flattened transversely

Rd to Kitulo

opp campsite Shrub Indigenous

Mistletoe Yellow Orange tip, splitting Kizolanza

Parasit

e Indigenous


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Mistletoe Red Black tip, splitting

Kizolanza

Lake

Parasit

e Indigenous

White

Base&tipof bud black rest

green not parasitic unless on

root Rd to Kitulo Shrub Indigenous

Red/yellow

4 Red petals fimbriated from

base + 1 hooded & fim at top

Rd Kimani

Falls, lower

Climbe

r Indigenous

Rose of China Many Prominent central column Dar Shrub China

Yellow, puple centre Udzungwa Shrub Indigenous

Wild cotton

tree Yel fading red

Bat caves &

Rd to Kimani Shrub Indigenous

Neem White

Large sprays of tiny trumpet

flowers, leaves pinnate Dar Tree Asia

Persian Bead

Tree Purple Persistent strings brown fruits

Campsite rd

to Kitulo Tree Asia

Whistling

acacia White Spine bases swollen Ismilia Shrub Indigenous

Black Wattle Yellow

flowers in balls all over tree,

leaflets 4cm Roadsides Tree Australia

White

spikes Tall, pale trees

Utengele

garden + Tree Indigenous

White

Spikes at different

angles,greener & less flat

topped than A. polyacantha

Baobab

Valley Tree Indigenous

White flower balls, flat topped

Baobab

Valley Tree Indigenous

Long podded

albizia Cream

Brown fruit mixes with cream

flowers Makambako Tree Indigenous

Sickle Bush

Pink/yello

w

Top 1/2 fl spike pink, bottom

yellow Ismilia Shrub Indigenous

Large asymetric leaves, many

seedlings

Udzungwa

Lodge Tree Indigenous

Breadfruit

Palmately lobed leaves to 60

cm, rich green Dar Tree

Indo-

Malaysia

Straight trunk twists to flat

crown Udzungwa Tree Indigenous

Banana Dar Herb Exotic

Java Plum

Fruit

purple On road from Lodge Udzungwa Tree Asia

Bourganvillea Many Brightly coloured bracts Dar

Climbe

r Pacific

Wing leaved

wooden pear

Small leaves, horizontal

branches Island & Dar Tree Indigenous

Borassus

palm Fan palm Dar Tree Indigenous

Screw Pine

Narrow leaves round twisty

stems, stilt roots Dar Tree Indigenous

White

Buds dark, leaves bipinnate,

dark hairyall over Utengele Tree

Coral Vine Pink Invasive scrambler to 40', long Dar Climbe Mexico


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racemes, tendrils r


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White/

pink Kizolanza Shrub S Africa

White/pin

k Similar leaves to Kizangola sp Kitulo Shrub Indigenous

Hagenia

Pink or

white

Lvs bright large pinnate

floppy ,red grooved rachis Kitulo Tree Indigenous

Large leaved

Gardenia White Fruit woody, large egg shaped Kizolanza Shrub Indigenous

Ixora

Red or

yellow

Slender tube with 4 spreading

lobes in big heads Dar Shrub Exotic

White

Slender tube with 5 spreading

lobes in big heads

Red Corymbs of long tubed fls Ismilia Shrub Indigenous

Mexican

apple Many green fruits Kizolanza Tree Mexico

Amargo Bark Red Tubular flowers, red rachis Baobab Valley Shrub S America

Traveller's

palm Whole plant one large fan Dar Tree Madagascar

Grewia Yellow

Much branched, floriferous,

petals twisted

Baobab Valley

+ Shrub Indigenous

White

Petals not twisted, joined at

tips in bud, fruit black

Kizolanza,

lake Shrub Indigenous

Plum

Fingerleaf Purple

Rusty hairs, leaves palmately

compound Kizolanza Shrub Indigenous

Wildlife tours Tanzania Trip Report 2011

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