Kitulo National Park
Kitulo National Park locally known as “Bustani ya Mungu” meaning The Garden of God and a “Serengeti of flowers” for botanists, it is a protected area of montane grassland and montane forest on the Kitulo Plateau in the southern highlands of Tanzania perched at an elevation around 2,600 meters (8,500 ft) between the rugged peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto and The Livingstone Mountains and covers an area of 412.9 square kilometers lying in Mbeya Region and Njombe Region. This park is a small National Park 14th out of the 16 Tanzanian National Parks, a botanist’s wonderland site one of the world’s great botanical floral spectacle home to the rare botanical marvel of the very few unique flower species. Visit Kitulo National Park with Enclose Africa Safaris.
Without a doubt, Kitulo National Park supports the growth of up to 350 vascular plants species, including 45 types of terrestrial orchids, that erupt into a wildflower display on a magnificent scale of the Montane Grasslands including numerous ground orchids, Geophytes, and other Afroalpine plants that flourish to amazing beauty during the major Wet season that occurs between November to April.
Kitulo National Park being the only natural habitat area in Africa perched on the sky at a higher altitude than any known park in the continent is well situated between two parallel ridges of the Kipengere, Livingstone and Poroto Mountains contains properly watered volcanic soils that support the largest and most important montane evergreen grasslands and forests which has richly added to its natural attractions and uniqueness.
Attractions in this Park
The special feature of Kitulo National Park that makes it so much unique from other national parks in Tanzania is it’s unique renowned floral a life that attracts many nature lovers/botanists to the park due to its amazing collection of iconic floral species that have been supported and protected in growth by the diverse montane grasslands and forests.
The parks are well known for their floral significance that ranges from multitudes of stunning orchids, the beautiful yellow-orange, red-hot poker, varieties of aloes, protease, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies, and aster daisies and many more wildflowers of which more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania thus outstanding as the only attractive botanical garden in the whole continent offering floristic adventures next to none among the other Wildlife &nature adventures tourists can experience.
Kitulo National park also, a Hikers and Birders paradise. It is a haven and arguable a taste of heaven highly alluring to Birdwatchers due to its the population of the uncommon Denham’s Bustard in the whole of Tanzania that can only be found in this park together with a breeding colony of the endangered Blue Swallow plus species like the Kipengere seedeater, mountain marsh widow and the Njombe cisticola that are limited to the park’s ranges. Also, Kitulo Plateau is a natural resting area for intercontinental migrating birds during different periods of the as they migrate. The migratory Storks such as the European White Storks and other species of Storks from Scandinavian countries usually find restful months in this National park while migrating across the European and African continents every year.
Apart from the amazing floral species and birds in this park, there are also endemic species of Butterflies, Chameleon, Lizards, and Frogs as well as some endangered primate species namely the vervet Monkey, Colobus Monkey plus Kipunji Monkey, Mountain Mammals that can be spotted on your hike or nature walk in this park include Mountain Reedbucks and Elands. All these wonderful creatures further enhance the biological wealth of God’s Garden.
Tourist Activities in the Park
Discover the amazing wonders in Kitulo National Park by indulging yourself in this number of great activities for your adventure and they may include;
Hiking
Because of the location of this National Park situated over the beautiful Kipengere and Poroto Mountain you can experience the best of Kitulo National Park by undertaking a decent hiking experience through open walks and a variety of hiking trails that meander in the Wildflower fields across the wide montane grasslands and forests that will soak you into enjoying spectacular views of various wildflower species spread in carpet – like fields, birds species, butterflies, some primates, and mammals like reedbucks and elands. After your half-day hike from the park to the top of Livingstone mountain ranges will grant you stunning rewards like clear photography, watching splendid Matema Beach found on Lake Nyasa or mount Rungwe/Ntorwi to trek some primates.
Bird Watching
Kitulo National Park also excels as a bird watching destination making it a rare treat for ornithologists, you can undertake a bird watching safari in this National Park to watch with some endangered species limited to the park’s ranges and many migrated birds.
Guided Nature Walks
The National Park is safe for a guided walking safari free from the scary predators thus a great activity for nature lovers who will soak into details the amazing diversity of this protected area from the unique floral species, bird species, some primates, and a little number of mammals.
Swimming
Kitulo National Park is one of the most important watersheds of the great Ruaha River thus offering swimming in its waters that will bring refreshments after your amazing hike to the mountains.
Best Time to Visit the Park
Kitulo National Park is a botanist and hikers dream, with a floral diversity that can be overwhelming with the most ultimate floral carpet – like displays in the Alpine Grasslands and montane forests thus one should know the best time to visit this National Park in order to enjoy satisfying your eyes while in this haven for beautiful striking Wildflowers.
Kitulo National Park earns the name, Serengeti of Flowers, during the months of November through to April when the rainy season delivers a magnitude of spectacular wildflowers. Make your way to this National Park in this Rainy Season the best time to visit this Park when the spectacle is in the full bloom of peak in these months creating the most dramatic and colorful scenes that will catch your eyes with wonders.
The Rainy season is also the best time to experience many of the birds that call Kitulo home or migrate there during the season. During other months of September to October, it is always sunnier due to the dry season providing better weather. Visitors will find the temperature and overall weather more comfortable but will be disappointed in the display of limited flowers.
How to Get to the Park
Dar Es Salaam is the international access to Tanzania through Julius Nyerere Airport and once you are already in Tanzania the only way to access Kitulo National Park is using a comfortable 4*4 Vehicle by road connecting from Dar es, Salaam on a surfaced main-road towards the south of Mbeya town then to the park headquarters found in Matamba approximately 78 Kilometers, You will drive south on the rough yet impressive dirt road following a number of thin sharp bends down but the views are really rewarding, all the way to the provisional park headquarters, and then from here you will drive on for another hour to the plateau.
Accommodation in the Park
There are no accommodations inside the park, so you will need to plan to stay in nearby Mbeya, which offers a variety of guesthouses and luxury accommodations.
Kitulo National Park being significantly a botanist and hikers dreamland, with a floral diversity that can be overwhelming with the most ultimate floral carpet – like displays in the Alpine grasslands and montane forests, it is best to define the Best Time to visit Kitulo National Park in order to enjoy your adventure safari in this haven for beautiful striking wildflowers when they have sprouted out and are flourishing at their peak.
Kitulo National Park earns the name, Serengeti of Flowers, during the months of December through to April when the rainy season delivers a magnitude of spectacular wildflowers display. For Botanists, make your way to this Kitulo National Park in the Rainy Season which is preferably the Best Time to Visit Kitulo National Park when the spectacle is in the full bloom of peak in these months creating the most dramatic and colorful scenes that will catch your eyes with wonders. During this season, the park detonates in a bounty of color, with orchids of more than 40 species blossoming stunningly in the month of February, as well as irises, aloes, geraniums and a lot more flowers covering its grassy expanses.
In addition, the rainy season is also the Best Time to visit Kitulo National Park to experience the most magical moments for bird watching while getting views of various rare species of birds that call this National Park their home and the migrants that take restful days in the park as they migrate will also watch during the wet season.
During other months of September to November Kitulo National Park is always sunnier due to the dry season and this provides better weather conditions and dry hiking trails making it ideally easy for hikers, from June to August the temperatures are pretty cool and the park tends to be foggy, Visitors interested in hiking will find the temperatures and overall park conditions more comfortable for good hiking in these months, however, the botanists will be disappointed in the display of limited flowers.
Dar es Salaam is the international access to Tanzania through Julius Nyerere Airport acting as the main entry point and once you are already in Tanzania there are different ways on How to Get to Kitulo National Park
Getting there!
By Air
Kitulo National Park is817 kilometers from Dar es Salaam and 78 kilometers east of the town of Mbeya, Tourists usually find an easier way on How to Get to Kitulo National Park by using both Air and road which is recommended, you will fly from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya town taking almost one and a half (1.5) hours and upon reaching in Mbeya the town the park is still 78 Kilometers away from the town and you will use road transport driving for more 2 hours to reach the park headquarters which are located in Matamba. There are charter flights connecting from Dar es Salaam or Arusha to Mbeya.
By Road
Driving from Dar es Salaam to Kitulo National park is quite long and tiresome taking all day for roughly 14 hours, You can either drive by a private car or take a public bus to Mbeya connecting from Chimala, upon reaching in Mbeya, you will continue driving taking south on the rough but yet the impressive dirty road is known as Hamsini na Sab following a number of thin sharp bends but with views are really rewarding, all the way to the provisional park headquarters, and then from here you will drive on for another hour to the plateau. In the dry season, there is also another option of driving 390 kilometers from Kigoma to Kitulo National Park.
By train
Another alternative way on How to Get to Kitulo National Park is by using a train, Tourists can reach the park by rail from Dar via Tabora, which takes approximately 8 hours and then you will use road transport to connect to the park.
Discover the amazing wonders in Kitulo National Park by indulging yourself in these number of great Tourist Activities in Kitulo National Park for your adventure which include;
Hiking
Because of the location of this National Park situated over the beautiful Kipengere and Poroto Mountain you can experience the best of Kitulo National Park by undertaking a decent hiking experience which is one of the major Tourist Activities in Kitulo National Park, hiking through open walks and a variety of hiking trails that meander in the Wildflower fields across the wide montane grasslands and forests will soak you into enjoying spectacular views of various wildflower species spread in the carpet – like fields, catch a spot at different birds species, butterflies, some primates, and mammals like reedbucks and elands. After your half-day hike from the park to the top of Livingstone mountain ranges, you will be granted with stunning rewards like clear photography, watching splendid Matema Beach found on Lake Nyasa or mount Rungwe/Ntorwi to trek some primates.
Bird Watching
Kitulo National Park also excels as a bird watching destination making it a rare treat for ornithologists, you can undertake a bird watching safari another ideal offered adventure of the Tourist Activities in Kitulo National Park, watch different bird species with some endangered species limited to the parks ranges and many migratory birds.
Guided Nature Walks
The National Park is safe for a guided walking safari free from the scary predators thus a great ideal Tourist Activity in Kitulo National Park for nature lovers who will soak into details of the amazing diversity of this protected area from the unique floral species, bird species, some primates, and a little number of mammals.
Swimming
Kitulo National Park is one of the most important watersheds of the great Ruaha River thus offering swimming in its waters that will bring refreshments after your amazing hike to the mountains.
Kitulo National Park is renowned for its botanical beauty and has got its major significance of the unique floral life as the major of the Tourist Attractions in Kitulo National Park, these featuring floral species attract many nature lovers/botanists to the park due to its amazing collection of iconic displays of fascinating flowers that have been supported and protected in growth by the diverse montane grasslands and forests.
The park is truly a rare botanical marvel with the floral significance of over 350 vascular plant species, ranging from multitudes of stunning orchids, which include the 45 endemic orchids, the beautiful yellow-orange, red-hot poker, varieties of aloes, protease, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies and aster daisies and many more wildflowers of which more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania thus outstanding as the only attractive botanical garden in the whole continent offering floristic adventures next to none among the other wildlife and nature adventures tourists can experience.
Kitulo National park also, a Hikers and Birders paradise. It is a haven and arguably a taste of heaven highly alluring to Birdwatchers due to its the population of the uncommon Denham’s Bustard in the whole of Tanzania that can only be found in this park featuring as another of the prime Tourist Attractions in Kitulo National Park. Together with a breeding colony of the endangered Blue Swallow birds plus species like the Kipengere seedeater, mountain marsh widow and the Njombe cisticola that is limited to the park’s ranges, Also Kitulo Plateau in this Kitulo National Park is a natural resting area for intercontinental migrating birds during different periods of the as they migrate. The migratory Storks such as the European White Storks and other species of Storks from Scandinavian countries usually find restful months in this National park while migrating across the European and African continents every year.
Apart from the amazing floral species and birds in this park, Large game is hardly seen in the Kitulo National Park, though a couple of mountain reedbucks plus elands may be seen roaming the open grasslands while on your hike or nature walk in this park, there are also other Tourist Attractions in Kitulo National Park that further enhances its biological wealth which includes the endemic species of butterflies, chameleon, lizards, and frogs as well as some endangered primate species namely the vervet Monkey, Colobus Monkey plus Kipunji Monkey.