LocationsTanzania's Forest Nature Reserves: From Hidden Treasurers to Eco-Tourism Destinations
September 27, 2025
Kalambo Falls
Dar es Salaam, 27 September 2025 – World Tourism Day
Not far from Tanzania’s bustling cities, deep within the green folds of the Eastern Arc and Usambara Mountains, lie forests that are more than just clusters of trees. They are living museums of biodiversity, cultural heritage, and now — thanks to years of dedicated conservation — rising stars of eco-tourism.
Once vulnerable to illegal mining, charcoal burning, and unchecked encroachment, reserves like Amani, Pugu Kazimzumbwi, Magamba, and Lake Duluti are being transformed into destinations where nature thrives, communities prosper, and visitors discover new wonders. These are among the country’s 25 gazetted Nature Forest Reserves, which represent some of the most biologically rich landscapes on the African continent.
This journey has been made possible through the partnership of the Government of Tanzania, Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), UNDP, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). What began with the Nature Forest Reserves (NFR) Project has now evolved into the Building the Resilience of Forest Biodiversity to the Threats of Climate Change (BUREFOBI) project — a flagship initiative that has not only expanded the number of gazetted reserves but also equipped them with ranger posts, patrol motorcycles, and eco-tourism infrastructure
Amani Nature Reserve – Where Flowers Forgive
Nestled in Muheza District, Tanga Region, Amani is home to one of the world’s rarest flowers, the St. Paulia (African violet), believed by locals to symbolise forgiveness. The reserve is a paradise of waterfalls, butterflies, three-horned chameleons, and over 340 bird species. Here you can walk through the oldest botanical garden in East Africa, visit remnants of colonial-era railway engines, or taste spice teas while watching traditional dances.
Amani was once scarred by illegal gold mining along riverbanks. Today, with new ranger posts and patrol motorcycles funded through UNDP-GEF support, the forest is better protected. Communities now engage in eco-friendly livelihoods like spice farming and beekeeping — a booming forest-based activity in Tanzania generating about US$ 1.7 million annually from honey and beeswax.
Pugu Kazimzumbwi Nature Forest Reserve
Pugu Kazimzumbwi – The Lungs of Dar es Salaam
Just 20 kilometers southwest of Dar es Salaam, Pugu Kazimzumbwi is a rare lowland coastal forest — often described as the “lungs of the city.” It filters the air, regulates water, and offers a green escape for city dwellers.
Here, eco-tourism is on the rise: marathons, wedding ceremonies, hikes, and picnics are now possible thanks to new bandas, picnic sites, and rehabilitated access roads. Visitors explore bat caves, giant bamboo groves, sacred spiritual sites, and viewpoints overlooking Dar es Salaam.
One ranger put it best: “Before, we struggled to control illegal charcoal burners. Now with posts and motorcycles, we can protect this forest — and also welcome visitors who come to breathe its fresh air.”
Magamba Forest – A Place of Sights and Scenes
In the misty Usambara Mountains, Magamba is a land of legends. Trails wind past a German cave, the oldest skyline in East Africa, and a mysterious rock with a human footprint known as Jiwe la Mungu.
Hiking here reveals waterfalls, colorful moths and butterflies, and rare two-horned chameleons. But Magamba is more than scenery — it is a cultural experience. Villages offer homestays, local cuisine, and storytelling. For visitors, Magamba is where history, culture, and nature converge.
Lake Duluti – A Paradise of Reptiles and Birds
On the northern safari circuit in Arusha Region, Lake Duluti feels like a secret paradise. A volcanic crater lake surrounded by lush forest, it is home to 104 bird species, monitor lizards, and even green mambas. On clear days, you can see Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro from its viewpoints.
Visitors can canoe on emerald waters, hike around the forest, or watch fish eagles swoop overhead. Thanks to TFS partnerships with support from UNDP and GEF, eco-friendly tented camps will soon welcome tourists while preserving the lake’s fragile ecosystem. For many, Lake Duluti is a peaceful pause between safaris — but one that lingers in memory long after.
Lake Duluti
Investing in Forest-Based Tourism
Eco-tourism is still a young industry in Tanzania’s forests, but the potential is enormous. From guided canopy walkways and eco-lodges to cultural tours and nature trails, opportunities abound. With support from UNDP and the GEF funding, TFS has created an enabling environment for private sector partnerships, offering concessions for accommodation and recreational facilities under fair agreements.
Already, investments in controlled beekeeping, spice farming and eco-tourism are bringing results — creating jobs, diversifying incomes, and proving that protecting forests can also pay dividends for people and nature.
Looking Ahead
As Tanzania marks World Tourism Day, the message is clear: forests are no longer just reserves hidden in the mountains. They are classrooms, playgrounds, healing spaces, and livelihoods.
Thanks to strong government leadership, community involvement, and the support of UNDP and funding from the GEF, Tanzania’s forest reserves are writing a new story — one where conservation and tourism walk hand in hand, leaving behind not just preserved forests, but also thriving communities and unforgettable visitor experiences.
Or as one local beekeeper in Amani put it with a smile: “The forest gives us honey, shade, and stories. Now it also gives us visitors who value what we’ve always known — that this place is priceless.”
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