Kitulo National Park is located in the southern highlands of Tanzania on the Kitulo Plateau. This protected area is of montane grassland and montane forest at an elevation of 2,600m between the Kipengere and Poroto mountains. The park covers an area of 412.9 sq km, lying in Mbeya and Njombe Region. The park was established primarily to protect its flora. Locals refer to the Kitulo Plateau as “The Garden of God”, while botanists have referred to it as the “Serengeti of Flowers”
Kitulo National Park - Self-drive Tanzania
Livingstone Forest
The Livingstone Forest, a montane and evergreen forest, descends to the southwestward-facing slope of Kitulo National Park. It is the largest block of forest in the park and the largest in the Kipengere Range. The Forest is home to three limited-range species of mammals – the endangered Kipunji, (a rare primate species – discovered in 2005 and is among the 25 most endangered primates) Rungwe dwarf galago, and Abbott’s duiker, also living in nearby Mount Rungwe Forest.
Kitulo Plateau
This plateau lies between two parallel ridges. The grasslands here are home to 350 species of plants. These include ground orchids, geophyte among others. In the wet season of November to April, the montane grasslands are carpeted with displays of flowers. Brachystelma kituloensis, Impatiens rosulata and Pterygodium ukingense are limited to the Kitulo Plateau
