Kitulo National park
Welcome Kitulo National park
Kitulo National Park is one of the most romantic Tanzania National park also known as the “Garden of God”. With mountain meadows and forests, it is one of the top nature reserves in Africa. It was the first national park in tropical Africa, created primarily to safeguard the local flora. True nature lovers travel to Tanzania specifically for this park.
DESTINATION OVERVIEW
The Kitulo plateau’s Kitulo National Park, which is more than 2600 meters above sea level, is so breathtakingly beautiful that it will make your heart skip a beat. This national park, which is surrounded by the rough peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto, and Livingstone mountains, is covered in lush grassland and a colorful flowerbed.
The Tanzania National Parks Authority oversees the administration of Kitulo National Park, which spans an area of 412.9 square kilometers and is located in the Mbeya and Njombe regions. One of the few protected areas on earth that is endowed with genuine natural wonders is this one. With each step you take inside the national park, a new species of flower or plant will be revealed to you.
President Benjamin Mkapa designated Kitulo as a national park in 2005. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) created the local flora. It is the first tropical forest in Africa that was established to protect the flora and fauna, which distinguishes it from other national parks in East Africa.
The area’s inhabitants refer to Kitulo as the “Garden of God,” or Bustani ya Mungu. Botanists commonly refer to the national park as the Serengeti of flowers. The park was created specifically to safeguard the orchids from the illicit trade in orchid tubers.
Although Kitulo National Park doesn’t have a lot of wildlife, the abundance of orchids makes up for it. There are more than 350 plant species in the national park. Lilies, irises, aloes, proteas, giant lobelias, and daisies are also common, as are geophytes, Afroalpine plants, and ground orchids.
A few primates and endangered bird species can be found in Kitulo National Park. You can also see some mountain animals, such as zebras, elands, and Reed bucks. Kipunji monkeys are among the 25 endangered primate species that call it home.
KITULO NATIONAL PARK: CLIMATE
Kitulo National Park has a mostly temperate climate that is influenced by altitude and Lake Nyasa. Between December and April, the minimum ambient temperature ranges from 7°C to 8°C, and the maximum daily temperature ranges from 14.5°C to 18°C. From June to August, the minimum temperature can drop as low as 0.5°C, when frost is likely to occur. The annual rainfall ranges from 1500 to 1700mm, with an average of 1600mm. Between October and May, there is a rainy season.
KITULO NATIONAL PARK: PARK PURPOSE
The biological characteristics of the national park that are considered to be especially crucial to maintaining the special ecological character and functions of the park make up the exceptional Resource values. Among them are distinctive montane grasslands, dense bamboo, rare, endemic, and threatened plants and animals, a significant bird area, picturesque scenery, a water catchment area, and a carbon sink. Outside the park are cultural and natural attractions.
FLORA IN THE NATIONAL PARK
The Kitulo Plateau is one of the world’s largest concentrations of flower species, earning it the nickname “Serengeti of Flowers” among botanists. The montane grasslands are home to 400 plant species in total. The plateau is home to more than 45 different species of afro-alpine plants, including geraniums, aloes, proteas, giant lobelia, lilies, and aster daisies. These mountain meadows bloom from November to April, when it rains heavily. Many species are unique to the Kipengere Mountains and the surrounding highlands. Only in Kitulo National Park can you find Brachystelma kituloensis, Impatiens rosulata, and Pterygodium Ukingense.
KITULO’S ORCHIDS
Orchid flowers are widely traded on a global scale. The danger to Kitulo’s orchids, however, came from a different direction. The practice of harvesting orchid bulbs for food has a long history in the cultures of many ethnic groups. They make a dish called Chikanda or Kinaka that tastes a lot like a meatless sausage. The tubers are dried after harvest. They are then beaten and cooked. Originally a rural delicacy, it began to be consumed more frequently and in larger quantities, and the collection of orchids for commerce increased significantly. The southern highlands’ orchid population was at serious risk from this trade. As a result, the plateau was designated a national park. A large number of visitors also come to the Kitulo Plateau National Park for the variety of wildflowers, birds, and grass-eating mammals that can be found there.
WILDLIFE IN KITULO PLATEAU NATIONAL PARK
There aren’t many large animals in Kitulo, aside from a few mountain reedbucks and eland. The park’s life is compensated for by the plants, birds, and butterflies. The park is home to several endangered species, including the rare chimpanzee, blue swallow, red chalk hawk, njembe stalksinger, kipengere seed eater, steppe harrier, zebra, kipunji monkey, chameleon, lizards, frogs, spiders, and other small insects. Animals most frequently seen in Kitulo Plateau National Park includes:
- Mountain reedbucks
- Eland
- Blue swallow
- Chalk hawk
- Njembe stalksinger
- Kipengere seed eater
- Steppe harrier
- Zebra
- Kipunji monkey
- Chameleon
- Birds and butterflies
PHYSICAL FEATURES AND VEGETATION
Floristically, the plateau supports at least 350 species of vascular plants, which are floristically close to Kitulo National Park. The Kitulo Highlands are incredibly rich in endemic and rare species that are not protected elsewhere in Tanzania and appear to be a major geographical ground for species typical of Eastern and Southern Africa.
NHUMBE VALLEY
The head waterfall for the Nhumbe River, a major tributary of the Great Ruaha River, which is often referred to as the “jewel of the Park,” is formed here where small streams emerge from the grassy hill sides and occasionally cascade down. One of East Africa’s most extensive juniper forests fills the valley’s opening. They truly are the tallest junipers in the world, reaching a height of 50 m.
MWAKIPEMBO WATERFALL
Its height is 8 meters, and it is situated 4 km from the main gate of Mwakipembo along the road to Nhumbe Valley. The area is distinguished by Clematopsis uhehensis, Erica plants, everlasting flowers, and orchid flowers.
NHUMBE WATERFALL
It stands about 100 meters tall. It takes an hour to walk down the waterfall and up to the picnic area from the waterfall, which is located 20 km from the main gate of Mwakipembo. There, you can cool off and take amazing pictures.
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
After Mwakipembo Waterfall, Mlivili Cave is situated along Matamba Ridge, and Usalama Cave is about 8 kilometers from Common Works Junction on the road leading to Mbeya via Isyonje. Indigenous people from Wawanji, Wakinga, and Nyakyusa from Mwakaleli used the caves as a place to hide during those times of intertribal conflict. These areas are now used to hide poachers.
BIRDS
A variety of bird species from South Africa and Europe winter in Kitulo National Park, an important bird area (IBA). Some North African species, particularly Abdim’s stock, winter in Kitulo. Breeding colonies of the Blue swallow and Denham’s bustard are also found on the plateau. Lesser kestrel, Pallid Harrier, Cisticola njombe, Kipengere Seedeater, and Uhehe fiscal are some other endemic bird species. Dhambwe Crater Lake is home to a variety of waterbirds. These include the red-knobbed coot, Common teal, Open-billed stocks, White-faced whistling ducks, and Yellow-billed ducks.
KITULO NATIONAL PARK: WHAT TO SEE
Kitulo, the first national park in tropical Africa to be gazetted primarily for its floral significance, is one of the Great Ruaha River’s most significant watersheds and is also known for its abundance of orchids, as well as a variety of aloes, proteas, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies, and aster daisies, of which more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania. But Kitulo is also a desirable location for bird watching because it is home to rare bird species. Although there are few large animals, the open grassland is still home to a few hardy mountain reedbuck and elk.
Kitulo National Park (413 sq km), which is about 100 kilometers from Mbeya town in Southern Tanzania, is a haven for botanists and hikers. While the sunnier months of September to November are more comfortable for hiking but less rewarding for botanists, the wild flower displays peak during the rainy season between December and April, which is an excellent time for botanists. June through August are chilly and foggy months.
Other activities in Kitulo National park
Hiking: Discover the wildlife with a local African safari company or on foot with a walking safari guide, an affordable and authentic way to see butterflies, chameleons, lizards, elands, and waterbuck.
Mountain climbing: Visitors can go on a day hike to the top of Mouth Rungwe and see primates on the mountain slopes, including the vervet monkey, Kipunji monkey, and Columbus monkey. The mountain also provides fantastic views of Kitulo National Park.
Guided nature walks: It is a magical experience to walk through the Livingstone Mountains’ forested area, arrive at Lake Nyasa’s shores, and spend time at Matema Beach.
SAFARI AT KITULO NATIONAL PARK: WHY VISIT KITULO NATIONAL PARK?
The Kitulo Plateau, tucked between the craggy peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto, and Livingstone Mountains, can all be explored during the Kitulo National Park safari.
With its distinctive landscape, Kitulo is more similar to northern Tanzania’s Ngorongoro and Serengeti nature parks. However, large animals are uncommon in Kitulo, with the exception of a few mountain reedbucks and elands.
More people visit Kitulo Plateau National Park for the breathtaking floral scenery on display, which is a favorite of nature lovers and honeymooning couples.
But the wide variety of plants, animals, and insects makes up for it, and the Kitulo Plateau serves as a year-round natural resting place for migratory birds traveling across continents to Europe. Storks migrating from Cape Town, South Africa, to Northern Europe can only rest in Kitulo NP.
