Explore Flowers in Tanzania
Explore Flowers in Tanzania : Tanzania is one of the perfect wildlife destinations in Africa. It’s home to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and many others. The wildlife is amazing, yet the culture is captivating. But you must appreciate the beautiful flowers, whether potted or wild ones. If you want to know about some wildflowers or potted ones on your next adventure, this article is for you.
Hibiscus schizopetalus
This elegant flower is native to tropical East Africa. It’s common in countries like Mozambique, Kenya, and Tanzania. The flowers are usually red or pink in color. And they blossom when there’s enough sunlight (at least 6 hours a day).
More often, hibiscus grows as a shrub and produces flowers from September to March. Mostly, you’ll find these in the gardens. But you can also find them in the bush as wildflowers.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a pretty, pink flower. You’ll find it in garden walls of accommodations, etc. Bracts appear pink while the actual flower is white. It’s small, so you need a closer look to see it.
Bougainvillea were native to South America before their introduction to the African continent in the 20th century. These unique flowers usually blossom from summer to autumn. It’s amazing with its pink coloration and usually prevails in areas with plenty of sunlight.
Calophyllum inophyllum
The other names for the evergreen plant are tamanu, oil nut, beach calophyllum, mastwood, and beautyleaf. This unique plant is native to subtropical regions. Its flowers blossom from October to December and from April to June. Its characteristic white flowers make it appealing to watch.
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Jacaranda is native to South America. It was introduced to Africa in the 1880s. It’s common in regions like Tanzania. When not in bloom, a jacaranda looks like a normal African tree. But when it produces its violet-colored flowers, it turns into a beautiful creature worth watching.
In South Africa, they consider it an invasive species. And, it is illegal to plant them. But in Tanzania, you’ll find it in the wild or in gardens of different accommodations.
Adenium obesum
Adenium usually produces flowers similar to those of impatiens. But these plants are commonly found in greenhouses. Adenium flowers from July to August. And you can recognize them with their pink petals with white in the center.
They’re sometimes called “desert roses” because they grow in the Arabian Peninsula. They prevail in very dry and hot places, and even under harsh sunlight.
Commelina lukei
This is another plant common in Tanzania and Zanzibar. It always grows in subshrubs growing in wetlands. It’s called dayflower. This is because its flowers are short-lived. In Tanzania, you can encounter these plants in grasslands and forests. However, recognizing it can be a little bit confusing. It’s difficult to tell the difference between it and other members of the Commelina flower. But you can tell the difference from its pale blue flower with bright yellow tips.
Impatiens walleriana
The origin of this flower is in Tanzania. It’s also found in Mozambique. It’s visible with its bright colors. Impatiens usually produce flowers in different colors, including white, bright red, orange, and pink. These plants usually flower from the end of spring to mid-autumn. Expect to see impatiens in places with a sufficient amount of light (sunny places).
Syzygium aromanticum
This plant is very common in Tanzania. It is also called cloves or mikarafuu in Swahili. Cloves have slender stalks, thin, green leaves, and red flowers. You can see these trees in the Zanzibar Archipelago and other parts.
Flowers of Kitulo
Tanzania is a unique destination for viewing wildflowers. And this is the Kitulo National Park. In this park, you’ll see over 35 species of orchids. Here are some of the special orchids you can see.
Giant lobelias
This flowering plant usually survives in severe environments like in higher altitudes. Kitulo Plateau is perched at 2,600 meters above sea level. You’ll see its large, rosette-forming leaves and tall, flowering spikes.
Red-hot poker
This is a perennial orchid with a striking torch-like flower. Its flowers are usually orange, red, or yellow. They are very common in Kitulo. You can also find them in the garden in nearly all accommodations.
There are plenty of orchids in Kitulo. You may see lilies, proteas, aster daisies, geraniums, and aloes. Still, you have over 350 species of vascular plants to watch.
Everyone loves flowers, right? And of course, pictures look gorgeous when shot with a background of flowers. Tanzania has plenty of them. From wildflowers to garden flowers, you have a lot of flowers to look for.
If you’re planning to travel to Africa, then be a fan of plant species. Besides beautiful animals in the protected areas, Tanzania boasts unique plant species. And most of the plants produce flowers.
If flora, fauna, and landscape appeal, we suggest you book a trip with Focus East Africa Tours. Reach out to safari experts if you still have more questions.
