Kitulo National Park

The well-watered fertile volcanic soils of Kitulo is perched between the peaks of Poroto, Livingstone, and Kipengere mountains. Located well above 2,600 meters above the sea level, Kitolo accommodates the largest and prominent Montane Grassland community in Tanzania. It is home to 350 distinct species of vascular plants which includes 45 unique varieties of terrestrial orchid because of which Kitulo National Park is referred to as “The Garden of God” called Bustani ya Mungu by locals. These erupt into a riotous wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the main rainy season of late November to April

The Kitulo National Park lies in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania and is made up of alpine grasslands and montane forests. Kitulo lies in the Mbeya region and a small part of it is in the Iringa region. Within this protected Tanzania national park is the Kitulo plateau and the Livingstone Forest which is where most of the beautiful flowers are found.

The Kitulo National Park is the first national park in tropical Africa to be established solely for the protection of flora. From every species to every colour, the flora in the Kitulo National Park is breathtaking and overwhelming a stunning variety of orchids await the traveller. The Kitulo National Park is administered by TANAPA which protects the flora and promotes the growth of protected and rare orchids for international trade and, of course, to make the Kitulo National Park this special safari destination that it is. People from all over the world go to Kitulo to explore the forests and to capture stunning pictures of some rare orchids and other flowers

Kitulo does not host a large number of big animals but some mountainous animals such as reedbucks, zebras and elands can be found roaming across grasslands of the park. However, the sparse wildlife in the park is made up by the mesmerising plants, beautiful birds and colourful butterflies.

Kitulo is a heaven for bird enthusiast with a rich birdlife including the rare Denham’s bustard, which only found in Kitulo in Tanzania. Endangered blue swallows, Kipengere, mountain marsh widow, and other mountainous bird species can be sighted in abundance in the park.