Locals
refer to the Kitulo Plateau as Bustani ya Mungu - The Garden of God – while
botanists have dubbed it the Serengeti of Flowers, host to ‘one of the
great floral spectacles of the world’. And Kitulo is indeed a rare
botanical marvel, home to a full 350 species of vascular plants, including
45 varieties of terrestrial orchid, which erupt into a riotous wildflower
display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the main rainy season of
late November to April.
Perched
at around 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) between the rugged peaks of the
Kipengere, Poroto and Livingstone Mountains, the well-watered volcanic
soils of Kitulo support the largest and most important montane grassland
community in Tanzania.
One
of the most important watersheds for the Great Ruaha River, Kitulo is well
known for its floral significance – not only a multitude of orchids, but
also the stunning yellow-orange red-hot poker and a variety of aloes,
proteas, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies and aster daisies, of which more
than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania.
Big game is sparsely represented, though a few hardy mountain reedbuck and
eland still roam the open grassland.
But
Kitulo – a botanist and hiker’s paradise - is also highly alluring to
birdwatchers. Tanzania’s only population of the rare Denham’s bustard is
resident, alongside a breeding colony of the endangered blue swallow and
such range-restricted species as mountain marsh widow, Njombe cisticola and
Kipengere seedeater. Endemic species of butterfly, chameleon, lizard and
frog further enhance the biological wealth of God’s Garden.
About
the Kitulo Plateau National Park
Size: 412.9 sq km (159 sq miles)
Location: Southern Tanzania.
The temporary park headquarters at Matamba are situated approximately 100km
(60 miles) from Mbeya town.
Getting
there
4x4 only.
From Chimala, 78km east of Mbeya along the surfaced main road to Dar es
Salaam, head south along the rough but spectacular dirt road - called
Hamsini na Saba (57) after the number of hairpin bends along its length -
to the temporary park headquarters at Matamba, from where it’s another
hour’s drive to the plateau.
Basic and erratic public transport is available.
What
to do
Good hiking trails exist and will soon be developed into a formal trail
system.
Open walking across the grasslands to watch birds and wildflowers.
Hill climbing on the neighbouring ranges. A half-day hike from the park
across the Livingstone Mountains leads to the sumptuous Matema Beach on
Lake Nyasa.
When
to go
Wildflower displays peak between
December and April.
The sunnier months of September to November are more comfortable for hiking
but less rewarding to botanists.
Conditions are cold and foggy from June to August.
Accommodation
Mbeya is serviced by everything
from luxury hotels to simple guesthouses, while two simple guesthouses also
exist in Matamba.
There is no accommodation in the park as yet, but very basic accommodation
and meals are available at the adjacent Kitulo Farm.
Three special campsites are planned within the park, catering to fully
equipped campers.
Two moderately priced church-run hostels are situated on Matema Beach.
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