Situated at approximately 2,600 metre 8,500 ft above sea level between the rugged peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto and Livingstone mountains, Kitulo's water-rich volcanic soil supports the largest and most important community of montane grasslands in Tanzania.
Kitulo is also the first national park in tropical Africa to be protected for its floral value not only its many orchids, but also the yellow orange hot poker and a variety of aloes, proteas, geraniums, large lobelias, lilies and aster daisies, of which there are over 30 species found in southern Tanzania.
Larger animals are not very numerous, although a few hardy mountain lions still roam the open grasslands. But Kitulo a botanist and walker’s paradise is also a major attraction for birdwatchers. Tanzania’s only remaining population of rare birds is the Denham’s bustard, as well as a breeding colony of the endangered dog and restricted species such as the mountain marsh widow, the Njombe cisticola and the Kipengere seedeater.