Kitulo National Park
DESCRIPTION
The active and growing scenery located in the south-western highlands of Tanzania particularly in Njombe and Mbeya regions covering 413km2 administered by Tanzania National Park Authorities. 17yrs have passed since the establishment of the wilderness which was once an agricultural area. The beauty of the park is above normal that is why it is worthy identified by the local people as the garden of God making it a true home of Flora and Fauna alive to date. The park is nestled between the rugged peaks of Kipengere, Poroto and living-stone mountains.
HISTORY
In the early years of 1870 the park was known as Elton plateau discovered by Fredrick Elton himself. Before its transformation into a park the area was used for agricultural matters. It was a livestock ranch set for breeding Marino Sheep from Australia and European cattle breeds. The cool and moderate weather of the area attracted the British and American settlers, they started practicing small scale tourist projects. Kitulo grew further and in 2005 the late President Benjamin Mkapa gazetted it as a national park.
UNIQUENESS
The park has impressed many people including the Botanists who went further granting it a nickname and called it Serengeti of flowers. More than 45 species of Orchids are present of which 30 among them are only available in this park. Moreover it is the first tropical forest of Africa that was initiated to protect the floral life.
WILDLIFE
Kitulo is famous as being a home to plenty of colorful flowers, rare pirates, Butterflies, birds and animals.
You will see about the present 350 plant species, the rare chimpanzee, blue swallow, red chalk hawk, njembe stalksinger, kipengere seed eater. Moreover there are Zebras, lizards, frogs, kipuuji monkeys, chameleons, spiders, elands and reed-bucks. The scenery also hosts more than 45 species of orchids including the prerygodium ukingense, impatiens resulata and brachystelina kituloensis.
WHY VISIT KITULO?
It is a natural and beautiful area which is a habitat for plants, animals and birds.
HOW TO GET THERE
By road, you can reach the park by passing through Mbeya or Tukuyu road reaching to Kikondo road. Also you can travel from Chimala-Matamba village heading direct to Mwakapembe gate. Without forgetting that there are private cars of buses that can transfer you from any region in Tanzania like Mwanza, Kagera, Arusha, Dar Es Salaam to Mbeya.
By Rail, the railway of TAZARA passes close to the Kitulo hence making it easy for a tourist to reach in villages of Makambako, Chimala, Njombe, Makete towards the park’s Kikondo or Mwakapembe gate.
WHAT TO DO
The park is a beautiful and cool area that favors bird watching, game drive, guided natural walks and mountain climbing where you can climb Mount Rungwe.
WHEN TO GO
The best moments to see colorful flowers and butteflies are the months of December to April during the wet season when Flowers bloom. For mountain climbers the best time is from Sepetmber to November and
ACCOMMODATIONS
There are the park’s headquarters campsites in Matamba and normal accommodations available in Matamba and Chimala. The lodges and hotels extend to Mbeya town where you can have a great choice depending on your wish.
Some of the accommodations include Blue canoe safari camp, Royal Tughimbe hotel, Itunga Lodge & Camp, Mbeya golden City hotel, Landmark hotel, Mikuyu royal hotel, Matema lake shore resort and Diliku mini Motel.