Amani Nature Reserve

Here we want to create a desire in you to go to Tanzania. The country has so much to offer. The nature and landscape is very diverse, as are the different ethnic groups that live here.

The Amani Nature Reserve is a nature reserve with a unique flora and fauna in the Usambara Mountains in north-eastern Tanzania. This is the home of the native Shambaa people.

At the end of the 19th century, during the German colonial period, many Germans settled in this area due to its pleasant mountain climate. A scientific research station was founded and a botanical garden of more than 300 acres was created. At that time, it was the largest of its kind in all of Africa. Over the years, the forest was increasingly exploited. Among other things, sawmills and a railway connection were built. The botanical garden was more and more neglected. When East Africa was occupied by the British after World War I and until Tanzania gained its independence back, the scientific research was moved to Nairobi. The old German buildings were taken over by the Malaria Research Center. The botanical garden was barely maintained and thus, over time, became a forest area again. At the end of the 20th century, Tanzania was able to revalue the area with Finnish support and EU funds. On more than 80 km2 a system of paths was laid out, a camp for overnight stays was built, a small museum was established, patrols were put in place to prevent illegal logging and a small tree nursery provides new tree seedlings. With only about 400 visitors per year, the Amani Nature Research is a real insider tip for nature lovers and a great place to discover rare animal and plant species. Even though the journey there can be very difficult when it rains, it is definitely worth the effort.