Kitulo National Park, National park in southern highlands, Tanzania
Kitulo National Park is a protected area on a highland plateau in southern Tanzania, covering approximately 412 square kilometers of montane grasslands and forests. The terrain sits at about 2,600 meters elevation between the Mbeya and Njombe regions.
Tanzania established this place as its fourteenth national park in 2005 to protect the highland region from international orchid poaching, hunting, and logging. The creation was a key step to shield this special landscape from exploitation.
Local communities call this place Bustani ya Mungu, meaning Garden of God, because wildflowers blanket the slopes during the rainy season. This name reflects how deeply people connect with the natural beauty of these highlands.
The area is reachable by car in about 90 minutes from Mbeya or five-and-a-half hours from Iringa. The best time to explore is between November and April, when conditions for walks and viewing are most favorable.
Three plant species are found nowhere else on Earth: Brachystelma kituloensis, Impatiens rosulata, and Pterygodium ukingense. These rare species make this place a center for conservation and research.
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