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Eastern Arc Mountains Forests of Tanzania
KILOMBERO NATURE RESERVE
Name of site: Kilombero
Designation: Nature Reserve
Gazette notification: The Nature Reserve was formed by amalgamating three former forest reserves (Matundu,
Iyondo and West Kilombero Scarp), now revoked, within the Udzungwa Mountains
(Government Notice No. 182). Boundaries are delineated on Map No. JB 2525.
Date of notification: 17/08/2007
Land ownership: Forestry and Beekeeping Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
Area (ha): 134,511 ha
Location
Centre point: 36 0 17’45”E and 7 0 55’00”S
Districts: Kilombero and Kilolo
Mountain Block: Udzungwa
Brief description
Geography: The Nature Reserve occupies the middle portion of the Udzungwa Mountains, lying
between Udzungwa Mountains National Park and Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve. It
comprises a highly undulating chain of mountains that descend to the lowlands and meet
the wetlands of Kilombero Valley. Rocks are pre-Cambrian in origin, comprising granitised
basement and metamorphic types with granite, gneiss, schist and quartzite.
Settlements: 18 villages surround the Nature Reserve, having a total population of 53,346 whose main
source of livelihood is subsistence farming. This is supplement by fishing in Kilombero’s
rivers, which generates substantial income for villagers.
Altitudinal range: 1,040 – 2,600 m (Nyumbanitu Peak)
Climate: Annual rainfall is estimated to be 1,500-2,000 mm in the mountainous areas and 1,350
mm in the lowlands. The rainy season is between November and April; the cool season,
with high day temperatures and cool nights, lasts from May to August; and the dry season
occurs between June and November. Mean annual temperature reaches 20 0 c maximum in
December and 15 0 C minimum in July in the mountains; and 27 0 C maximum in December
and 19 0 C minimum in July in the lowlands.
Vegetation: In upland areas, the vegetation comprises moist and dry montane, upper montane forest
with some patches of bamboo and upland grassland. In the drier, lower-lying areas, there
is lowland forest, some of which has been replaced by woodland and grassland.
Characteristic species of each forest type are as follows:
� Montane Forest: Typical trees include Cassipourea gummifla, Maesa lanceolata,
Neoboutonia macrocalyx, Podocarpus sp, Aphloia sp. and Cola sp.
� Upper Montane Forest: Typical trees include Aphloia theiformis, Bersama abyssinica,
Syzygium guineense, Ocotea usambarensis, Hagenia abyssinica and Tecomaria sp.
� Riverine Forest: within woodland/grassland is usually dominated by Syzygium
cordatum with varying amounts of Bridelia micrantha, Faurea sp, Khaya anthotheca,
Milicia excelsa and Rauvolia caffra.
� Woodland: in higher altitudes is dominated by Protea sp, while in lower altitudes it is
dominated by Brachyestegia sp. and Albizia gummifera.
� Lowland Forest: Typical trees include Khaya anthotheca, and Milicia excelsa
A Cassipoure/Cola/Craterispermum community is the dominant forest type at most
altitudes in the former West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve. Additionally a
Hagenia/Tecomaria community dominates high altitudes (>2,000 m) and at mid altitudes
(1,850-2,000 m) a Neoboutonia/Aphloia/Podocarpus community is common (Frontier
Tanzania 2001).
Species diversity: The flora and fauna of the former West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve has been
surveyed by Frontier Tanzania (Frontier Tanzania 2001). A total of 141 species of trees
(above 10 cm dbh), representing 44 families and 106 genera, were identified from
vegetation plots and a further 258 species were recorded opportunistically.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism 52