AMBONI CAVES/DEEP AND DARK ABODE OF AFRICAN SPIRIT,TANGA,TANZANIA

Call it beautiful .Call it mysterious. Call it is wonder Amboni Cave is which has the most natural site which has remained virgin and out of ordinary over the past centuries.

Located at 7 km north of the municipality of Tanga ,Amboni Caves are the most extensive limestone caves in East Africa. Superstition has held local people to believe that Almighty God resides in the caves from where he heals the suffering people. As we walk through the caves, at some points, candles and offering can be seen in the name of God .An intriguing tales of myth and tradition has been harboured to an extent that the local people consider the caves to be a place of worship.

Amboni Caves is believed to have been developed during Jurassic age .It has a unique geographical features and is of great scientific interest. Each step on the designed one- km route is an experience .Large and small projectile of calcium carbonate have been formed from the dripping calcareous water .Some believe that the caves exit at a location on the Indian Ocean Coast near Mombassa/Kenya and also believe they turn towards Mount Kilimanjaro.

At one point one can see scripture on virgin Marry .Naturally carved rocks in the shape of a ship, arm chair, ancient animal paintings and footprints on ceilings of caves to marvel at .Mistrey surrounds Amboni Caves and no one can tell the real story up to now.

One must not forget to visit the sulphur springs in the vicinity of the caves .You do not have to find location as that peculiar smell will drag you near the flowing springs.
Sulphur water is known for its medicinal value for skin diseases. Unfortunately, the bathrooms built for treatment turn in to ruins. Nevertheless, it is a site to see.


At present only 200 to 300 tourists are estimated to be visiting the caves and Sulphur springs annually. The number can increase if adequate development plan is put on hand .It is indeed a thrill to visit this wonder of Nature which is in our country.
It’s a place one should visit when in Tanga.

Uluguru

The Uluguru Mountains are found within Morogoro Rural District (majority), Mvomero District and Morogoro Municipality – all within Morogoro Region. The main Uluguru Mountains is a ridge running approximately north-south and rising to 2,630 m altitude at their highest point. The greater Ulugurus area also includes a number of isolated massifs surrounding the main block – Kitulangh’alo, Dindili, Mkumgwe, Mindu and Nguru ya Ndege. On the main Uluguru range, 50 villages touch the forest boundary and over 151,000 people are found within the mountain area, often at increasing densities at higher altitudes up to the forest boundary. The Uluguru range contains 7 Forest Reserves supporting Eastern Arc forest habitats within Morogoro Rural District (Uluguru North,

Uluguru South, Kasanga, Mkangala, Mlaliwila, Ngambaula, Tongeni river). Eastern Arc forest is also found in 5 outlier mountain block reserves (Mkungwe, Nguru ya Ndege, Dindili, Kitulang'halo, Mindu). In total these cover 35,7000 ha. Two Village Forest Reserves are also proposed. Within Mvomero District an additional 5 Forest Reserves are found on the main Uluguru ridge (Bunduki IV, Bunduki VI, Bunduki VI, Bunduki I-III, Shikurufumi), which cover around 280 ha.

The vegetation of the Uluguru main ridge and the outlying blocks is extremely variable. It ranges from drier lowland coastal forest habitats, to transitional rainforests, to sub-montane, montane and upper montane forest types. It also includes an area of afromontane grasslands on the Lukwangule plateau. All these habitats are rich in endemic species and are all of high conservation priority.

Biodiversity

In terms of endemic species the Uluguru mountains possess at least 14 strictly endemic vertebrate species with at least 3 additional species that have not yet been described. A further 16 Eastern Arc endemic species have also been identified in this mountain. There are also at least 26 Eastern Arc endemic trees. The forests of the main ridge are quite well known biologically, although each new survey continues to find additional species. The outlying blocks are poorly known, with some having almost no biological investigation