Kitulo National Park: A must-visit destination that will dazzle you

Njombe. Dubbed the Serengeti of flowers, Kitulo National Park can be accessed through the Njombe and Mbeya regions.

Kitulo is a unique landscape tourism attraction, the plateau consists of mountains of flowery species as far as the eyes can see.

The locals refer to it as the garden of god and justifiably these plateaux are an amazement to look at.

It is believed to be the first national park in tropical Africa that was instituted primarily to protect it’s plant-life.

This came amid the growing international trade in orchid tubers and the massive deforestation brought by increased logging activities in the forests.

The conservation of the flora in southern Tanzania was critical for it’s one of the largest concentrations of flower species on earth, consisting of more than hundreds of different flower types.

An ideal place for hikes Kitulo National Park offers a serene environment for nature lovers and botany enthusiasts.

A walk to Kipengele Mountain would expose you to the magnificent view of the many species this plateau harbours.

Kitulo is renowned for its rich diversity of orchids, from the wedge-shaped orchids known as Disa cuneifolia to the wing-like Pterygodium spp.

The orchids bloom during the rainy season giving the mountains a breathtaking spectacle.

Visitors can come to marvel at the flora life in this exceptional national park and come face to face with various animals, birds, insects, and species that reside in the park, noticeably the park is home to endangered and endemic Kitulo Bushshrike and the White-winged Warbler.

The bright-colored Kitulo Bushshrike has adapted to the park’s high grasslands and thick mountainous forests where it nests.

A bird-watcher’s paradise, Kitulo is home to Denham’s Bustard, sometimes referred to as Stanley’s Bustard.

In Tanzania, the large winged bird can only be found in Kitulo, this omnivorous bird is one of many reasons, you should visit this plateau.

For the hikers, this montane region is ideal, a short hike in the specially developed hiking trail that includes stairs in the park to the Livingstone mountain will lead you brown-sanded Matema beach located on the shores of Lake Nyasa.

The flora has come to symbolise love and over time couples have come to the national park for their wedding pictures or honeymoon, laying on the fields of flowers as they recite their vows and snapping photos has become a favourite activity among the Park’s visitors.

The plateau is next to villages belonging to the Safwa people with rich customs and traditions that an outsider can observe and learn, the welcoming communities around Kitulo National Park play a vital role in the ecosystem and the conservation effort.

Waking up at 6 am will give you enough time to get to the mountain for the magnificent views the sun rises against the backdrop of the mountains, a one-in-a-million shot photographers coming to the National Park aim for.

Tourists shouldn’t have to worry about their meals, there is a restaurant in the mountain that offers hot cooked meals straight from the stove, Tanzanian cuisine in a variety of rice, Ugali, greens, or whichever means one would prefer, that comes with a hot cup of coffee or tea, in this cold mountainous surroundings.

This is a nice break from the day’s hike, a place where a tourist can catch a breath as they continue to explore the plateau.

While you are at Kitulo National Park, you stand a good chance to set your eyes on Kipunji, a primate species that was discovered in 2005 residing in the national park, around Mount Rungwe and the Livingstone montane forest.

Kipunji is in the list of the 25 most endangered primates on earth. Kipunji is protected in the National Park, leaping around the forests with its unique calls that set it apart from its close relatives.

Wildlife enthusiasts can distinguish it’s the ‘hork bark’ of this primate that became the only primate species discovered after 1984.

Entrance to Kitulo is estimated to cost less than 30 US dollars, a meagre pay to witness the wonders of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

The National Park has well-kept accommodations on top of the mountain if a tourist needs a quiet moment or a night stay.

The cosy pristine little houses consist of a living room, restroom, and a bedroom overlooking the mountains, the lodging is equipped with all modern amenities that will come in handy as the tourist spends a mind-rejuvenating to the next morning.

One of the most amazing features at Kitulo National Park is the breath-taking waterfalls with Nhumbe waterfall being famous for its picturesque and probably the largest waterfall within Kitulo.

The view is exhilarating with the beauty as the water streams down the cliff and birds chirp around the forest.

In this day and age of social media, this is the perfect spot to have your picture taken.

At this height you can see most of the surrounding areas, you can take your time and marvel at the garden of God.