KITULO NATIONAL PARK

OVERVIEW

The well-watered fertile volcanic soils of Kitulo is perched between the peaks of Poroto, Livingstone, and Kipengere mountains. Located well above 2,600 meters above the sea level, Kitolo accommodates the largest and prominent Montane Grassland community in Tanzania. It is home to 350 distinct species of vascular plants which includes 45 unique varieties of terrestrial orchid because of which Kitulo National Park is referred to as “The Garden of God” by locals. These erupt into a riotous wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the main rainy season of late November to April.

In addition to serving as an important watershed for the Great Ruaha River, Kitulo NP is the first national park in tropical Africa that was gazetted because of its floral significance which not only includes the multitude of orchids but also the stunning yellow orange red hot poker and variants of aloes, geraniums, giant lobelias, proteas, lilies, aster daisies etc. Close to 30 of those floral species are endemic to southern Tanzania.

Kitulo NP which is home to rare bird species is also a major bird watching destination. Even though big game us sparsely represented, you can still expect to see few hardy mountain reedbuck and eland that roam the open grassland. Located about 100 kilometres from Mbeya town in Southern Tanzania, Kitulo National Park (413 sq km) is a botanist and hiker’s paradise. Wild flowers displays peak during the rainy season between December and April excellent time for botanists, while the sunnier months of September to November are more comfortable for hiking but less rewarding to botanists. Conditions are cold and foggy from June to August.