Rau Forest Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Rau Forest Reserve, located just 3 km southeast of Moshi in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Region, spans approximately 5.8 km² and sits at 730–765 m above sea level. This rare groundwater-fed urban forest supports over 70 native tree species—including the sacred, nearly 200‑year‑old African teak (Milicia excelsa), Oxystigma msoo, and Lovoa swynnertonii—as well as diverse wildlife from black‑and‑white colobus and blue monkeys to Kirk's dik‑dik and myriad butterflies, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Established in the early 1900s under German colonial rule and officially gazetted in the 1950s, the reserve plays a crucial role in local climate regulation—cooling Moshi by 2–4 °C—and supports downstream rice cultivation via its natural springs. Visitors may experience forest walks, birdwatching, cycling, tree‑planting programs and cultural encounters, such as visits to revered ritual trees central to Chagga traditions.