Mufindi Highlands
High above the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from Turkey through Africa to Mozambique and splits in Tanzania lie the Mufindi Highlands. It is a very varied region with tea plantations, dark, impenetrable forests and rugged bush land, interspersed with lakes, rivers and streams.
This area, located in Iringa District, is situated at an altitude of about 2000 meters. It offers a cool climate which is not often expected in Africa. With this cool climate and the cold waters it is the only place in Tanzania where the rainbow trout reproduce in a natural way. It is a spectacular ripply landscape that abruptly ends at the Great Rift Valley. Although no lions and leopards have been seen for decades, the bird life is very abundant.
The people who live in Mufundi are a persistent people with a special history. More than 90% are descendants of the Wahehe. "We" means people and "hehe" (pronounced hai-hai) is the name of the tribe. Probably the name derived from the frightening songs of the warriors of the tribe.
The Wahehe chief Mkwawa led his warriors against the Germans and denied them control for nearly 10 years in the area.
The Mufindi Highlands are in stark contrast to the warm, dusty lowlands and is ideal to be explored by walking, cycling or horseback riding.
