The Rubondo plateau is a large flat plateau, very similar to the famous Mkonde plateau, but found on the northern side of the Lukiledi valley. It is largely dry due to its altitude and terrain - there are no rivers on the plateaus, and, close to the abrupt, steep edge, the views are truly stunning.
Because of the lack of water there are few animals in the area and vegetation is Acacia scrub with Euphorbia, Terminalia and Dalbegia species. The area is surprisingly home to a reasonable variety of birds including some impressive raptors, especially visible in the rainy season.
The Makonde tribe have begun to harvest this side of the valley for the Mapingo they need for their traditional carvings and you can occasionally see this sort of traditional activity on this side of the valley. Other activities on the plateau include charcoal burning and firewood collection.
There are no tourist facilities at all in this area and most exploration has to be done on foot owing to the absence of decent roads. This is about as off the beaten track as you can get in Tanzania. Accommodation is tented and you will depend upon what you take with you. Because of the remote nature of this location we recommend at least a 3 day visit. This is a tough area to walk in and we recommend only fit and determined visitors give this a go. If you are up for a challenge then this could be the ideal place for you to visit.
For more information on visiting the Rubondo Plateau, Mkonde Plateau or the Mtwara Region, please contact us.
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