| ....NORTHERN TANZANIA PARKS | |
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Arusha National Park |
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Tarangire National Park |
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Lake Manyara National Park |
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Ngorongoro Crater |
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Serengeti National Park |
| ....SOTHERN TANZANIA PARKS | |
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Mikumi National Park |
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Udzungwa Mountain National Park |
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Ruaha National Park |
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Selous Game Reserve |
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| ....WESTERN TANZANIA PARKS | |
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Katavi National Park |
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Kitulo National Park |
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Gombe National Park |
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Mahale National Park |
SOUTHERN TANZANIA | Kitulo Plateau National Park
Size: 442 sq km (172 sq miles)
Location
Southern Tanzania. The temporary park headquartersat matamba are situated approximately 100km (6miles) from Mbeya town.
Getting there
4*4 only. From chimala, 78km east of Mbeye alongthe surface main road to Dar es salaam, head southalong the rough but spectacular dirt road-calledHamsini na Saba (57)after the number of hairpinbends along its length-to the temporary parkheadquarters at matamba, from where it’s anotherhour’s drive to the plateau. Basic and erratic public transport is available.
To do
Good hiking trails exist and will soon be developedInto a formal trails system. Open walking across theGrassland to watch birds and wildflowers. HillClimbing on the neighbouring ranges. A half-dayHike from the park across the Livingstone MountainsLeads to the sumptuous matema Beach on lakeNyasa.
Best time
Wildflower displays peak between Decembersand April. The sunnier months of September to November are more comfortable for hiking but lessRewarding to botanist. Condition are cold and foggy from June to August.
Accommodation
Mbeye is serviced by everything from luxuryHotels to simple guesthouse, while two simple guesthouse also exist in matamba. There is no accommodation in the park as yet, but very basic accommodation and meals are available at theadjacent kitulo farm. Three special campsites are planned within the park, catering to fully equipped campers. Two moderately priced church-run hostelsare situated on matema Beach.
Perched at around 2,600 meters (8,500 ft) between the rugged Peaks of the kipengere, potoro and Livingstone mountains, the Well-watered volcanic soils of kitulo support the largest andMost important montane grassland community in Tanzania. One Of the most important watersheds for the Great Ruaha River, kitulo is also the first National park in tropical Africa to be gazetted largely for its floral significance not only multitude of orchids, but also the stunning yellow-orange red-hot poker and a variety of aloes, geraniums, giant lobelies, lilies and aster daisies, of which more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania.
Big game is sparsely represented, thought 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 rate Denham’s bustard is resident, alongside 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.
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