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Kitulwe trailmap |
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| Cardamom plantation along Kitulwe trail |
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| Saintpaulia growing as an epiphyte on a tree trunk on Kitulwe ridge |
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| Screw pines on the windy and cloudy Kitulwe Peak |
Kitulwe Trail
Trail length: About 5 km.
If you plan to walk this trail, contact the owner of the Magrotto Estate, the Amboni Sisal Properties Ltd:
| Dr. Georges C. Hess | |
| e-mail: | fidos (at) tex-chem.com |
| Tel | +254-20-4440890 |
Or:
| Dr. Tobias Gress | |
| e-mail: | tobias.gress (at) ambonisisal.com |
| Tel: | +255-784 200 290 |
| Mobile: | +255-784 503 363 |
This trail gives an opportunity to observe forest biodiversity at a short distance from the Magrotto estate headquarters. The trail starts from the estate HQ (or from the main road ca. 600 m down the slope from the HQ) and climbs up to Kitulwe Peak. On this trail you can see endemic tree species and other forest plants including Saintpaulia, different species of bamboo, birds, butterflies and other insects. If you are lucky, you may also see chameleons, lizards, monkeys and snakes. From Kitulwe Peak one has to walk the same way back.
1. The first stop-over is at the cardamom plantation maintained by the Magrotto Estate. Cardamom is cultivated under the shade of natural forest. From here, the trail climbs up to Kitulwe ridge.
2. On the Kitulwe ridge, Saintpaulias can be found growing on the forest floor, on rocks and on trunks of the screw pines (Pandanus), Ficus and Myrianthus trees. They are flourishing here because of the humid climate provided by the moist winds from the Indian Ocean.
A picnic site could be established on the ridge in a place with a good view to the lowland plains, Muheza town, Tanga, Indian Ocean, and Pangani.
3. Kitulwe Peak
This is the highest point of the Magoroto Hills. Saintpaulias, screw pines (Pandanus), ferns, mosses and other interesting flora are growing at the peak and there is a view to the lowlands in the southeast. The peak is often windy, cool and covered in clouds.
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| View towards Mgambo village from Kitulwe Peak | A small chameleon at Kitulwe Peak |