Journal Article
The East Usambara Mountains consist of a
network of 18 mountain blocks covering an area
of 263km 2 that are covered by tropical
rainforests, harboring many endemic plants and
animals such as the Usambara eagle-owl (Bubo
vosseleri), the Usambara akalat (Sheppardia
montana) and the African violet (Saintpaulia
ionantha). East Usambara is a water catchment
area for many rivers and the source of
freshwater to more than 200,000 people in the
nearby town of Tanga.