What is the 'Garden of God'?

It is the local name (Bustani ya Mungu) for the Kitulo Plateau, protected as Kitulo National Park, a high montane grassland famed for its spectacular wildflower and orchid displays and dubbed the 'Serengeti of Flowers' by botanists.

When should I visit Kitulo for the flowers?

The wildflowers bloom during the wet season, roughly late November to April, which is the best time to see the plateau in full colour, though the roads can be muddy and a 4x4 is advisable.

Is the Mbeya region a safari destination?

Not in the classic big-game sense; the Southern Highlands are about hiking, crater lakes, wildflowers, tea estates and Lake Nyasa's beaches, making the region ideal for nature lovers and independent travellers rather than traditional game drives.

How do I get to Mbeya?

You can fly from Dar es Salaam to Songwe Airport (MBI) near Mbeya, or travel overland on the TAZARA Railway or long-distance buses along the Tanzam Highway; the town is also close to the Zambian and Malawian borders.

Destination guide

Mbeya Highlands

Tanzania's cool, green Southern Highlands, home to Kitulo's 'Garden of God', crater lakes and the shores of Lake Nyasa.

Things to do

Activities in Mbeya Highlands

National Park

Mbeya Highlands

Kitulo Plateau hiking

Trek the montane grasslands of the 'Garden of God', carpeted with orchids and wildflowers in the wet season and rich in birdlife.

Tourist Attraction

Mbeya Highlands

Ngozi crater lake hike

Walk up through forest to the rim of Lake Ngozi, the second-largest crater lake in Africa, wreathed in myth and mist.

Mountain Peak

Mbeya Highlands

Mount Rungwe trek

Climb the forested slopes of the dormant volcano near Tukuyu, home to endemic monkeys and superb highland scenery.

Hotel

Mbeya Highlands

Lake Nyasa & Matema Beach

Descend to the palm-fringed shores of Lake Nyasa for swimming, fishing villages and beach relaxation at Matema.

Restaurant

Mbeya Highlands

Tea and coffee estate tours

Visit the highland plantations around Tukuyu and Mbeya to see how the region's tea and coffee are grown and processed.

Tourist Attraction

Mbeya Highlands

Kaporogwe & waterfall walks

Explore waterfalls such as Kaporogwe (Kijungu) Falls and the many cascades tumbling through the volcanic highlands.

Museum

Mbeya Highlands

Mbozi Meteorite visit

See one of the world's largest meteorites, an iron mass resting where it fell near Mbeya.