The history of the park goes back to 1870, when Fredrick Elton, an Explorer visited the area. In 1960, a large area was taken by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization for Wheat and Sheep Schemes. Since neither wheat nor sheep thrived in the area, in 1972 the area was turned to a dairy farm, which remains active to date.

As a result of concerns from conservation bodies and various stakeholders, part of the farm, Livingstone and Nhumbe Forest Reserves were declared as Kitulo National Park on 16th of September 2005.

The exceptional Resource values are the biological features of the national park that are assessed as being especially important to maintaining the unique ecological character and functions of the park.