Kitulo National Park is a botanically protected region of montane grassland and montane woodland is located on the Kitulo Plateau in Tanzania’s southern highlands. The park, which covers 412.9 square kilometres in Mbeya and Njombe areas, is situated between the summits of the Kipengere and Poroto ranges at an elevation of 2,600 metres (8,500 feet). The park, is the first to be established in tropical Africa, is managed by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), specifically to protect its beautiful vegetation. Botanists also refer to Kitulo Plateau as the “Serengeti of Flowers,” although locals call it “Bustani ya Mungu” (literally, “The Garden of God”) instead.
Kitulo is a botanical wonder with 350 different vascular plant species, including 45 different types of terrestrial orchids. During the rainy season, which lasts from late November to April, these terrestrial orchids explode into a riotous wildflower show of astounding size and variety.
European White Storks and other stork species from Scandinavian nations travel across West Africa as part of their annual migration between the continents of Europe and Africa to breed on the Kitulo Plateau. These enormous, majestic birds stay in this park for a few months before completing their extensive journey across the continent.
What to do in Kitulo National Park.Â
Despite being famous for its flowers, Kitulo National Park also has a wide range of other safari tourist attractions that can make your stay there truly remarkable and delightful. These safari activities includes the following,
Bird watching.
Due to its reputation for its botanical diversity, Kitulo National Park attracts a range of bird species, some of which are permanent residents and others of which are migratory. Among the most prevalent are the Pallid Harrier, Lesser kestrel, cisticola, Red knobbed coot, kipengere seed eater, and the Denham’s bustard, which is rare in other parts of the country.
Walking Safaris.
Along with using a car, you can walk through the park and take in its beauty. Visitors are provided with a park ranger, who will show them around and protect them from dangerous animals. Additionally, rangers are more educated about the best locations in the park for breathtaking views of beautiful blooms. Visitors can take guided nature treks through the Livingstone forest area and to the shores of Lake Nyasa, where they can relax and enjoy a picnic lunch at the lovely Matema beach, in addition to viewing flowers.
Game Viewing.Â
Because of its variety of animals, Kitulo National Park is a must-visit safari destination for game viewing. Visitors are drawn to the area by giraffes, cape buffalo, zebra, warthogs, blue monkeys, flamingos, elephants, lions, and black-and-white colobus monkeys, to name a few.
Mountain climbing.
Visitors can take a day walk to the summit of Mouth Rungwe to see primates including vervet monkeys, Kipunji monkeys, Columbus monkeys and monkeys with a long hong bark cry, as well as animals such Reed bucks and elands. Even better views of Kitulo National Park can be had from the peaks of the mountains.
Camping.
Excellent approach to enjoy yourself in nature is to go camping safari. There are numerous camping places spread around the park, each with great amenities like nice tents and bush toilets.
Where to stay at Kitulo National Park.
There are few accommodation options available for visitors to stay in while they are visiting the Park. Camping, a magnificent tented camp facing Lake Chada, and excellent hotels are also available in Mpanda, as well as a rest camp at Sitalike, in Kitulo National Park.
 Tented campsites.
Seasonally open is a luxurious tented retreat that overlooks Lake Chada. Mpanda also has a lot of inexpensive yet tidy hotels.
Camping.
Various campsites are accessible within the park, as well as a rest house at Sitalike.
When to visit Kitulo National Park.
The major objective of tourists determines the best time to visit the park. The best time to travel is between December and April, when wildflowers are at their peak, if you want to see beautiful blossoms. It is wonderful for hikers for game viewing safari from September to November during the sunny season, but less beneficial for botanists. The greatest time to visit the park is, however, during the dry season, when not only are the roads friendlier and easier, but also hiking and wildlife viewing are at their best.
How to get to Kitulo National Park.
 Air, road, and rail are the most common ways to get to Kitulo National Park. Kitulo National Game Park’s headquarters are situated in Mbeya region of Matamba, Tanzania. The journey to the park from Matamba’s headquarters takes roughly an hour. Travellers can choose between using safari vehicles, public transportation, or their own private transportation. From Dar es Salaam to Mpanda through Tobora, one can use a rail to go to the park. From there, one can take public transportation to Sitalike, where one can hire a private driver for game drives.
Domestic flights from Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Fast Jet, and Tropical Air connect Songwe airport in the southern highlands of Tanzania to the city of Mbeya and its environs.