Mkomazi National Park

Welcome to Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi lies in the southern tip of the Sahel zone characterized by Acacia-Commiphora species found in the Park. It resembles a dry-land reserve of grey-green nyika bush, ancient baobab trees and rocky hills. A vast savannah of woodlands of acacias seems like huge umbrellas protecting the region can also be seen in maximum places of Tanzania.

The Park is located in the in the northern part of Tanzania within Kilimanjaro and Tanga Regions. In the northern part, the park borders Tsavo west National Park in Kenya

Mkomazi National Park is a hidden gem amongst the parks of Tanzania. Located in Northeastern Tanzania below the slopes of the Pare and Usambara Mountains, Mkomazi extends to Tsavo National Park in Kenya and together these two parks form the Greater Tsavo Ecosystem with an area of 43,ooo square kilometers.

Representing one of Tanzania’s most unique ecosystems – Mkomazi National Park is the southernmost extension of the Somali semi-arid belt and the Sahel Biosphere – the biogeographic region linking the Sahara Desert with Central Africa. For this reason, several species found in Mkomazi are found nowhere else in Tanzania. Although protected as Mkomazi and Umba Game Reserves since 1951 it was only gazetted as a national park in 2008 when Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) took over management of this 3,200 square kilometre wilderness.

MKOMAZI-NATIONAL-PARK

History

The Mkomazi National Park is a magnificent, 3,245 square kilometre national park in northern Tanzania. Remote and initially inaccessible, it was established in 1951, but never attracted the financial support provided for the better known wildlife strongholds such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Parks. Only since 1989, when the Tanzanian Government re-examined the reserve’s status and designated it a National Priority Project, has its true significance and importance been recognized.
From 2021 the Rhino sanctuary can be visited by tourist.
Nowadays it is good accessible. From MamboViewPoint it is only one and a half hour drive to the Kamakota entrance.

The Mkomazi National Park is a spectacular wilderness. Within sight to the northwest is Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest summit. To the south, the Pare and Usambara Mountains form a dramatic backdrop and, to the north, Kenya’s vast Tsavo National Park shares a border with Mkomazi, making common ground for migratory herds of elephant, oryx and zebra during the wet season. Together with Tsavo, it forms one of the largest and most important protected ecosystems on earth.

Mkomazi is the southern tip of the Sahel zone. It is a classic dry-country reserve of grey-green nyika bush, ancient baobab trees and isolated rocky hills. Elsewhere, the seas of bush give way to open savannah woodlands of umbrella acacias and mbugas – shallow valleys of grassland.

The animals, too, are typical of the arid nyika. Giraffe, oryx, gerenuk, hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, impala and Grant’s gazelle share the reserve with elephant, buffalo, and numerous predators, including lion, leopard and cheetah. In all, 78 species of mammals have been recorded.

Highlights

Rhino’s
Tourists are able to watch rhinos at close range. Mkomazi National Park erected electric fence with two area’s where the black rhino are. One is for breeding an one is for tourists where they can watch the Rhino’s during a special trip with cars from the park.
Game drive
Many animals can be found during a game drive. You can go with your own car, by a locally rented safari car with guide or with a tour operator.
A special package is offered which is combining a one day visit to Mkomazi
Walking safari
The park is offering walking safaris, starting from the main gate.
Wild dogs
Mkomazi welcomes you to come and see this carnivore.
Bird watching
Around 450 species of birds are also found in the park

Why should you go to Mkomazi park?

The park is not well known and because of that it has its charm. Its not crowdy and the animals are acting natural.
Many species can be found.
Mkomazi is vital refuge for two highly endangered species, the charismatic Black Rhino and sociable African wild dog
It’s a cheap alternative for the northern national parks
Start or end your trip

Animals and birds in Mkomazi National Park

Other animals that easily migrate from and to Tsavo National Park of Kenya includes; the fringe eared Oryx, the long necked gerenuk, the lesser kudu, giraffe, hartebeest, eland, , zebra, elephant, and buffalos.

Mkomazi has also fast become a birders haven with 450 species of birds having been spotted, among them the cobalt chested vulturine guinea fowl, yellow throated spur fowl , other large ground birds such as ostriches, secretary bird, kori bustards, ground hornbill and some other migratory birds including the Eurasian rollers. Mkomazi can be easily done as a day trip from Moshi and Arusha but also can be included on longer safari itineraries with overnights in this gem.