Kitulo
National Park · TANAPA
A high grassland plateau that flowers — the first park in tropical Africa gazetted largely for its plants.
- Area
- 413 km²
- Established
- 2002
- Region
- Njombe and Mbeya regions
- Best time
- December–April, during the flowering
Wildlife
- Orchids (45 species)
- Denham's bustard
- Blue swallow
- Mountain reedbuck
- Eland
Locals call it Bustani ya Mungu — the Garden of God. Botanists have called it the Serengeti of Flowers. Kitulo is a montane grassland plateau sitting at around 2,600 metres between the Kipengere, Poroto and Livingstone mountains, and it was gazetted in 2002 as the first national park in tropical Africa created principally to protect its flora.
Between roughly December and April the plateau produces one of the great floral displays anywhere: some 350 species of vascular plant recorded, including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchid, alongside aloes, irises, red-hot pokers and geraniums. Outside that window it is open, quiet, cold grassland with long views.
It is not a park for large mammals. It is a park for botanists, birders — the endangered Denham's bustard and Njombe cisticola are here — and walkers, and it asks for warm clothing in a way that surprises people who packed for Tanzania.
The flowering, December–April
Around 350 plant species, including 45 orchids.
Walking the plateau
Open, high, cold country with no dangerous game — you walk freely.
Kipengere and Livingstone ranges
The mountains framing the plateau on either side.
Endemic birds
Denham's bustard, blue swallow and the Njombe cisticola.
About 100 km from Mbeya, in the southern highlands. A long way from anywhere else on this list.
Two travelling days for the vehicle and guide, plus fuel over distance.
Checked against
- Tanzania National Parks — official siteTANAPA
- Kitulo National ParkWikipedia