Kitulo Plateau National Park is the first national park in Africa which is gazetted for its floral significance. Kitulo is a botanist’s dream with over 350 species of vascular plants including 45 terrestrial orchids. The locals refer to “Bustani ya Mungu” which means “The garden of God” in Swahili.
Kitulo Plateau National Park is located between the rugged peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto, and the Livingstone Mountains at 2,600 meters above sea-level. This well-watered volcanic soil of the plateau supports one of the greatest floral spectacles of the world including some indigenous species of orchids, aloes, lilies, irises, proteas, giant lobelias and daisies among many others.
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.
The most pleasant time to visit Kitulo Plateau National Park is during the dry season, from May to October.
Kitluo Plateau National Park is known for its floral diversity, which is its main attraction. It is home to 350 species of vascular plants including 45 varieties of orchids.
Even though it does not have large animals you can still find some mountainous animals like zebras, elands roaming in the grasslands of the park. You can spot varied birdlife including some rare endemic species such as Denham Bustard, Blue swallow, lesser kestrel, Njembe cisticola, Kipengere seedeater, Pallid Harrier.
Apart from birds and diverse plant species you can spot lizards, frogs, chameleon, butterflies, spiders and other small insects in the park.
Kitulo Plateau National Park is easily accessible by roadways, railways and airways.
You can reach Kitulo from Mbeya which is 550 Km or you can reach from Kigoma which is 390 km from Kitluo.
You can take a train from Dar Es Salaam to Mpanda via Tabora. From Mpanda, you can take public transportation to Sitalike, which is the starting points of game drives.
You can take direct charter flights to reach Kitulo from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar Es Salaam.