Kitulo Plateau National Park
Kitulo Plateau National Park was announced a national park after being gazetted with a total areas of 13,500 hectares. This is the first National Park in Tanzania to be gazetted primarily for its botanical importance. Kitulo Plateau is locally known as the 'Bustani ya Mungu'. Another name for Kitulo is the 'Serengeti of Flowers'. The Kitulo Plateau is a unique habitat made up of a matrix of Afromontane and Afroalpine grasslands. Kitulo Plateua has many endemic plants including 45 species of orchids. All of the grassland is above 2600m and is the most important high altitude grassland in Tanzania
Kitulo Plateau is very rich in flora and 350 species of plants have been documented so far including 31 Tanzanian endemics. It is the abundance of flowers in the rainy season that creates 'one of the great floral spectacles of the world'. Kitulo Plateau is also home to important bird species including several endemics. There are breeding colonies of Blue Swallow and raptors like Denham's Bustard, the Lesser Kestrel, and the Pallid Harrier can also be found. The Njombe Cisticola, and Kipengere Seedeater also contribute to the plateau.
The trade in orchids is currently threatening species across the region especially at Kitulo and the visitor money will directly help provide alternative sources of income for the local communities. Good hiking trails exist in Kitulo and it is still possible to go walking across the grasslands to watch birds and wildflowers. There is also some superb hill climbing on the neighboring ranges. A half-day trek from the park through the Livingstone Mountains leads to the superb Matema Beach on Lake Nyasa. The best time to visit Kitulo Plateau is in the main rainy season between December and April. This is the time when most of the plants are flowering creating an unforgettable spectacle.
Accommodation
- There is no accommodation in the park as yet, but very basic accommodation and meals are available at the adjacent Kitulo Farm.
- 3 special campsites are planned within the park, catering to fully equipped campers. 2 moderately priced church-run hostels are situated on Matema Beach.