The Southern Highlands are found in the south west of Makambako in the regions of Mbeya, Rukwa and Iringa. The Southern Highlands is a series of mountain ranges and volcanoes covered in a mosaic of forest, grassland and Miombo Woodland. It includes the two highest peaks in southern Tanzania, Mt Mtorwi at 2,961m and Mt Rungwe 2,960m. Initial biological surveys have revealed high biodiversity and a significant number of rare and restricted-range species. Over 120 animal and plant taxa are found in the area with about 2,000 species of vascular plants. This is roughly representative of a quarter of the total flora of East Africa.
The Southern Highlands unique plateau and dramatic mountains were produced by Rift Valley faulting in the late Cretaceous Period. Subsequent volcanism left abundant lava and ash. Southern Highlands receive all its rainfall from November to April from water evaporated from Lake Nyasa. Temperatures average 22 degrees C (max) and 10 degrees C (min). From May to July frosts are common on higher ground with temperatures sometimes falling to - 7 degrees C on Kitulo Plateau.
Over 40 species of vascular plants are only found in the Southern Highlands and many more restricted to the Highlands and the nearby Nyika Plateau in Malawi. The Kitulo Plateau is an area of significant botanical importance and is the only botanical National Park in Tanzania.
The diversity of birds in the Southern Highlands has been known for some time, and there are 6 Important Bird Areas recognised by Bird Life International with several rare and threatened species present.
Until recently large mammals were commonplace in the Southern Highlands. Advancing human populations have significantly reduced the ranges and numbers of mammal species. Amongst the primates, the isolated Red Dilepis Colobus occurs in Mbisi, and a unique race of Black and White Colobus is found in abundance in forests in and around Mt Rungwe.
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One of the Great Gardens of the World, with over 40 species of wild orchid alone, Kitulo Plateau is a floral paradise. One of Tanzania's newest National Parks, this is the first in tropical Africa to be gazetted primarily for it's floristic significance. Kitulo is also of interest to ornithologists, being registered as an important bird area.