Kitulo National Park is a national park found in southern Tanzania’s highlands between the Mbeya region and the Njombe region. Kitulo National Park is 2600 meters above sea level between the Poroto Mountains and Livingstone Mountains near Lake Nyasa. Kitulo National Park is supervised by the Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA), which oversees every activity being conducted inside and around the national park; it was officially gazetted as a National Park in 2005 and become Tanzania’s fourteenth national park, seizing about 412.9 square kilometers. Kitulo National Park is a controlled area of Montane Forest and Montane grassland in the Kitulo Plateaus, and botanists have nicknamed it a “Serengeti of flowers”. At the same time, the locals call it “Bustani ya Mungu” in Swahili, meaning “The Garden of God” because of its uniqueness across the African continent. To expand the continental trade in Orchids tubers, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) proposed the protection of the Kitulo Plateaus, which resulted in the Late third President of Tanzania, His Excellence Benjamin Willliam Mkapa, announcing it to be a National Park in 2002.
What is Livingstone Forest famous for?
The Livingstone Forest is a very greenish montane forest located southwestward overlooking the Kitulo National Park; this old and thickest forest boasts endangered species like Rungwe dwarf galago (Galagoides), Abbott’s duiker, Kipunji (highland mangabey). Also, these species can be found in the nearby Mount Rungwe forests, which are separated from Livingstone Forest by a narrow corridor called “The Bujingijila Gap.”
What flowers to see in Kitulo National Park?
Kitulo National Park is a botanic garden and the only park in Africa that florists can visit to see the variety of species of flowers. Kitulo Plateaus is home to more than 400 species of plants, Afromontane, geophytes, orchids, tubers, geraniums, lilies, Aster, giant lobelias, and Carnations. Lily of the Valley, Peony, Common poppy, Wisteria, Geranium, Common daisy, Hydrangeas, and Lavender, to mention a few. Also, the park is hot with some beautiful animals and insects, like butterflies, frogs, lizards, and many others.
The best time to visit Kitulo National Park
The best time for a Tanzania safari in Kitulo National Park is from November to April during the wet season when the flowers are blooming, the insects are very active, and bees are everywhere in the park; this national park doesn’t break a bank to visit, everything is cheaper here the entrance fee to Kitulo National Park is 36$ for adult and 12$ for children between 5 – 15 years old.
How can I go to Kitulo National Park?
There is various option to go to Kitulo National Park, which is located in the Mbeya region; if you’re coming from Dar es Salaam or Arusha, there are several flights departing to Mbeya airport. You can also use buses like Extra Luxury, Abood, and many others. Sometimes, it isn’t easy to go from Dar es Salaam to the park directly if you use a bus unless a flight is operated. In case you can’t connect to the park on the same day, there are a few good hotels in Mbeya town, like Utengule Coffee Lodge, Hotel Desderia, and Eden Highlands Hotel.
With East Africa Safari Guides safari tour company, we enjoy showcasing the wealth of African natural wonders, from Serengeti National Park to Kitulo National and Zanzibar Island; explore Africa with us.
Small Hikes in Kitulo National Park
Is it possible to engage in a small and yet impressive day hiking to Mount Rungwe, where you have got a chance to see the variety of wildlife such as Columbus, at the base of the mountain you can also see the elands and bushpigs, spiders, lizards, and some of the rare seen birds like blue swallow, steppe harrier, European white stork among many other. Hiking bird watching, our safari guide will take you every step of the way to ensure your comfort and safety.
