Kitulo National Park
The "Serengeti of Flowers" ÔÇö a highland plateau exploding with wildflowers, orchids, and montane grasslands unlike anywhere else in East Africa.
Kitulo National Park is Tanzania's newest national park and its most unusual. Known locally as "Bustani ya Mungu" ÔÇö The Garden of God ÔÇö and dubbed the "Serengeti of Flowers" by botanists, this high-altitude plateau (2,600 metres) in the Southern Highlands is East Africa's premier botanical destination.
During the rainy season from November to April, Kitulo transforms into one of the great floral spectacles of the African continent. Over 350 species of vascular plants burst into bloom across the montane grasslands, including 45 species of terrestrial orchids ÔÇö the densest concentration in East Africa. Wildflowers carpet the plateau in waves of colour that rival any temperate meadow on Earth.
Kitulo is not a traditional safari destination ÔÇö there are no big game animals here. Instead, it offers something profoundly different: the chance to walk through an untouched highland landscape of extraordinary botanical richness, with panoramic views of the Southern Highlands and the chance to see rare and endemic species found nowhere else.
For botanists, birders, hikers, and anyone weary of the classic safari formula, Kitulo is a revelation ÔÇö proof that Tanzania's natural heritage extends far beyond the big game parks.
Safari Tours in Kitulo National Park
Custom Safari Available
Kitulo National Park can be included in any of our tailor-made safari itineraries. Tell us your dates and interests, and our team will design the perfect trip.
Request a Custom Itinerary →Wildlife & What You'll See
Kitulo's grasslands support few large mammals ÔÇö eland and mountain reedbuck are occasionally seen, along with bushbuck in the forest patches. The park was gazetted to protect its extraordinary botanical heritage rather than its wildlife.
However, birding is superb. Kitulo is the most reliable site in Tanzania for several rare and endemic species, including Denham's bustard, Njombe cisticola, Kipengere seedeater, mountain marsh widow, and blue swallow (a critically endangered intra-African migrant). Over 100 bird species have been recorded in this compact area.
How to Get There
Kitulo is reached from Mbeya (approximately 3 hours) via the small town of Matamba. The last section of road requires a 4x4, especially during the wet season. There are no airstrips within the park. The journey from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya takes approximately 10 hours by road or 1.5 hours by flight.
Park Fees & Regulations
Park entry fees are $35.40 per adult per 24 hours (non-resident). Guided walks are compulsory. Kitulo is one of Tanzania's most affordable national parks, and its remoteness means very few visitors ÔÇö you will likely have the plateau to yourself.