kitulo NP
Kitulo National Park
Nicknamed, Serengeti of Flowers, Kitulo National Park is the first National Park in the tropical Africa to be established primarily for its floristic importance.
Host one of the greatest floral spectacle of the world with 350 species of Vascular plants. Including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchid!
Visitors can walk across the grasslands to watch birds and wildflowers. Hill climbing in mountain ranges is also offered. Hiking from the park across the Livingstone Mountains is another opportunity and will lead to breathtaking Matema beach in lake Nyasa
Indeed, it is rare botanical marvel, home to a newly discovered monkey species as well as which erupt into a riotous wild flowered display of breathtaking scale and the diversity during the main rain season.
Kitulo support the largest and most important montane grassland community in Tanzania.
But Kitulo, a botanist and Hiker’s paradise, also is highly attractive to bird watchers. Tanzania only population of Denham’s Bustard is a resident, alongside blue swallow and such range-restricted species as mountain marsh widow, Njombe Cisticola and Kipengere seedeater.
Tourists can hike in the special developed trail system. These include open walking across the grasslands to watch birds and wild flowers and hill climbing on the neighboring ranges.
A half-day hike from the park across the Livingstone Mountains leads to the scenic Matema beach on Lake Nyasa.
The Highland Mangabey, famously known as Kipunji is the first new monkey species discovered in Africa in 20 years.
Activities & Site information
Nicknamed, Serengeti of Flowers, Kitulo National Park is the first National Park in the tropical Africa to be established primarily for its floristic importance.
When to go
From December to April, wildflowers are at their peak of beauty. When it is sunnier (i.e. from September to November), there are more hiking opportunities but less for botany enthusiasts. In the summer months of June, July, and August, the weather can be foggy and cold.
What to do
While there are currently mediocre hiking trails, a formal trail system will soon be developed. In the meantime, there is open walking across the grasslands to observe the birds and inspect the wildflowers. If you are interested in hill climbing, there is a half-day hike from the Livingstone Mountains into the Matema Beach on Lake Nyasa.
Wildlife
Reedbucks, elands, endemic species of butterflies, chameleons, lizards, and frogs.
