Why are elephants climbing to an altitude of 2,000 meters? A corridor has been taken under protection for them in Tanzania
In Tanzania, hundreds of elephants climb the slopes of the Udzungwa Mountains to an altitude of nearly two thousand meters in search of food and minerals. To preserve their migration route, a 14-kilometer natural corridor was placed under legal protection. As part of the project, 368 landowners allocated a portion of their land in exchange for compensation.
Why are elephants ascending to an altitude of 2,000 meters? A corridor protected for them in Tanzania
African savanna elephants are the largest land mammals. It is hard to imagine them on steep, forest-covered mountain slopes. Nevertheless, according to a report by A-Z Animals, up to a thousand elephants regularly climb the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania.
The reason for this is the seasonal variation of food and water in different areas. Bamboo growing at an altitude of nearly two thousand meters becomes a reliable source of food for elephants during dry periods. Meanwhile, natural salt licks in the mountains provide the animals with essential minerals.
For decades, elephants have passed through the Kilombero Valley during their migration. However, agricultural lands have existed in this area for nearly 50 years, making it necessary to reach an agreement with local residents to preserve the animals' transit route.
In April 2025, the Tanzanian government approved the Nyerere – Udzungwa corridor as the country's first legally protected wildlife corridor. It is approximately 14 kilometers long and 200 meters wide.
The corridor connects Nyerere National Park and the Magombero Forest Reserve with the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. This allows animals to move freely between protected areas.
Project work began in November 2023. Experts from the Southern Tanzania Elephant Program, together with partners, installed 59 camera traps along the corridor.
During the first 15 months, the cameras recorded at least 1,440 mammal crossings. Of these, 529 involved elephants. Buffaloes, servals, and honey badgers also used the corridor.
Each of the 368 landowners participating in the project allocated 1,000–2,000 square meters of land for the corridor. They were paid a total compensation of nearly 2.2 billion Tanzanian shillings — approximately 880 thousand US dollars.
Officials also announced that new jobs would be created for local residents, alongside opportunities to participate in income-generating projects related to the maintenance of the corridor.
However, conservationists emphasize the need to protect animal migration routes in other areas as well. According to George Lohay of the Grumeti Fund, who was not involved in the project, similar corridors in other parts of Tanzania are also in need of legal protection.