Kitulo National Park
Local people refer to the Kitulo Plateau as
‘Bustani ya Mungu’ – The Garden of God.
This beautiful name is a perfect description.
Soft rolling valleys on a high plateau in the cool
uplands of southern Tanzania burst into a seasonal
exuberance of flowers and colour that is one of
the great floral spectacles of the world. It became
a National Park in 2005, and is 413 sq. km in area.
Lying at around 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) between the
rugged peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto and Livingstone
Mountains, the well-watered volcanic soils of Kitulo
support the largest and the most important montane
grassland and floral community in Tanzania.
Within these
grasslands grow an extraordinary variety of wild flowers
that burst into bloom between December and April.
Wildlife
There are more than 350 species of plants, including 45
varieties of terrestrial orchids, which erupt into a riotous
wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity.
The soft undulating slopes and valleys are literally
carpeted with flowers during this time.
Kitulo is a gentle place where wild flowers, birds and
some antelope and zebra are the main attractions.
In 2005 a new species of monkey was discovered in the
forests on the western side of the Park. It is a type of
mangabey now named Kipunji.
Kitulo is also a bird watchers paradise, because in
addition to common species are found rarer ones such
as Denham’s bustard, the endangered blue swallow,
mountain marsh widow, Njombe cisticola and Kipengere
seedeater.
Endemic species of butterfly, chameleon, lizard and frog
further enhance the biological wealth of God’s Garden.
Added to its natural attractions, Kitulo Plateau is the
natural resting site for intercontinental migrating birds such as the great white stork on their way to Europe. These
big, attractive birds stop in this park for some months and
later continue with their long journey across the continent.
Getting there
Road.
Take the Dar es Salaam to Mbeya road (A104) to Chimala town. Chimala is 78 km from Mbeya and 750 km from Dar.
At Chimala take a graveled road to Matamba (42 km). The road climbs up through 57 hair-pin-corners on a spectacular rough road known as ‘Hamsini na Saba’ or fifty-Seven.
The Park Gate is at Matamba where there is a pubic campsite. From Matamba to the Park itself is about 11 km. Access is also possible via Isyonje on the Mbeya - Tukuyu road. Air.
Regular scheduled flights fly to Mbeya, from where ground transport has to be arranged to Kitulo.
Safari ideas
Kitulo National Park is a place that will appeal to a wide
variety of traveler, from adventurous folk journeying through
Tanzania by road to seasoned wilderness lovers and nature
enthusiasts who will want it added to their safari itinerary
because it is so different to other big game destinations.
It
lies just south of Ruaha National Park, and is close to Mbeya
airport, and so access is easy for those on the southern
circuit of Tanzanian National Parks.