Rau Forest Reserve

Description:

Background of Rau Forest Reserve.

Rau forest reserve falls under the category of National forest, established during Germany colonial rule around 1900s and officially gazetted by British colonial rule in 1950s and is one of the few urban forests in Tanzania with groundwater.

The forest is located 3 kilometers South East of Moshi town in Kilimanjaro, it covers an area of 5.8 km2 and surrounds six villages.

Rau forest reserve has a diversity of bird life, a good number black & white Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, remarkable native trees including endemic Oxystigma msoo, and a special tree, beautiful butterflies, millipedes, frogs and other insects.

Interesting fact about Rau Forest Reserve Moshi.

Rau forest reserve gets its name from Rau river which is the only river pass at the middle of the forest and its flowing from Mount Kilimanjaro rainforest.

Rau forest reserve is one of the best places to visit close to Moshi town; it's also known as the Monkey forest.

It is one of the only three groundwater forests in Tanzania, the others are Lake Manyara, Jozani Forest in Zanzibar

Rau forest reserve it’s one among the few urban forests that are located in a fast growing Municipality like Moshi town.

Its support to control local climate by reducing temperature about 2 to 4 centigrade around Moshi town (act us the lungs of Mioshi Urban.

You can spot easily Black and White Colobus Monkeys more easily than any other place in Tanzania that is named by travelers “Moshi Monkey forest”.

The forest is surrounded by six villages; while four villages highly depend on irrigation agriculture throughout the year.

Rua forest reserve has several natural springs where its water flows underground from the melting Ice of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Rau forest reserve has the oldest African teak known as Milicia excelsa of that kind of species with 200 years old.

Rau forest reserve has a unique tree that is only found there known as Oxystigma msoo which has been listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature in the Redlist threatened species of trees.

Rau forest reserve is among the tropical forests remaining worldwide with 6 to 7%, that was about 15%.

Rau forest reserve is an ideal place to visit and experience the nature forest walks and see how the balance of the ecosystem co-exist.

Local people with permits from the Tanzania Forest Service Agency still visit the special tree around Rau forest reserve to pray, make wishes, and do offerings at the base of the tree to communicate with their ancestors.

Rau forest reserve Conservation Challenges.

High pressure from the surrounding community due to high demand for firewood.
Presence plastic and other litter from the running water passing through the forest.
Encroachment due to high demand of land for agriculture and settlement.
Invasive species dominating indigenous species.

Local myth about the Oldest African Teak | Milicia excelsa tree.

It's called by locals a tree of wonders (Mvule wa Ajabu) because,
It's a sacred tree for ritual practices.
Is the most respected tree around Rau forest reserve by locals.
Locals believe that the tree will live forever.
It has been cutted down and survived.
It has some magic with special power to add up your lifespan.