Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi National Park is a hidden gem among Tanzania's northern wildlife reserves. Previously a game reserve, Mkomazi was given national park status in 2008, making it one of the youngest national parks in Tanzania. The diverse ecosystems of Mkomazi with ancient baobab trees and semi-arid savannahs framed by the Pare and Usambara mountains make it a fantastic destination. So far, few travelers know about it and we believe its popularity will increase significantly in the coming years.
In Mkomazi, you can see the Big Five, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, gerenuk antelopes, and zebras, among other animals. Although there are currently fewer animals here than in Tarangire National Park, safari vehicles are also rare. A trip to Mkomazi will appeal to those who want to enjoy Africa's nature away from the crowds. The main attraction of the national park is the Mkomazi Black Rhino Sanctuary, where the chance of seeing these rare inhabitants is higher than in any other park in Tanzania. If you want to see these animals, be sure to include a visit to Mkomazi in your safari program.
Mkomazi National Park
Far away from any crowds, Mkomazi National Park feels wild and untrammeled. With mountains rising in every direction, the scenery is spectacular. Although wildlife is thinly distributed, all of the Big Five are present. A huge drive-in sanctuary offers a chance to get close to the endangered black rhino, which is absent or very rarely seen in most other Tanzanian parks.
In Mkomazi National Park, you can see the Big African Five: elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos. The chances of seeing all five in one day are not as high as in Ngorongoro—the animals are still fewer in number and are not as accustomed to traveler's vehicles as in more popular parks.
For a long time, Mkomazi was a hunting reserve, and numerous predators were almost completely exterminated. Therefore, finding leopards in Mkomazi can be quite challenging, sometimes taking 3-4 days. Other members of the Five can be seen in a couple of days.
Wildlife Experience
Besides the Big Five, here you can see giraffes, hippos, zebras, hyenas, and African wild dogs, among a variety of other African animals. Herbivores are encountered more frequently than predators and are most often found near the Dindira Dam. The number of animals in Mkomazi is not constant. The park borders one of the most famous reserves in Kenya—Tsavo National Park. Together they form one of the most important protected ecosystems on the planet. Animals freely move between the two parks, and sometimes there may be more animals in Mkomazi than usual.
Birdlife Experience
Mkomazi National Park is one of the most interesting destinations in northern Tanzania for bird watchers. Over 400 species of birds reside here. From November to April, migratory birds from Europe increase the diversity of avian species that can be spotted in the national park.
A unique feature of birding in Mkomazi is that the park includes forests, plains, rocky hills, and low mountains. Thanks to these landscapes, you can see numerous birds from different ecosystems.
In Mkomazi, you can observe Von der Decken's Hornbill, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Purple Grenadier, Secretary bird, Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, and hundreds of other interesting species. Since this area remains relatively poorly studied, birders have the opportunity to contribute with their observations. More details can be found in our article on birding in Mkomazi and the Pare Mountains.
Locate the Mkomazi National Park
Getting There
The best way to get to Mkomazi National Park is by road from Moshi or Arusha town. Most people fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated between Arusha and Moshi. The 40km/25mi drive to Moshi takes about 1 hour* and the 50km/31mi drive to Arusha takes about 1½ hours*. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport.
Mkomazi is right next to the small town of Same, which is a comfortable 112km/69mi drive south from Moshi. The drive from Moshi to the park takes between 2 and 2½ hours*. Mkomazi is a bit out of the way compared to most other parks in northern Tanzania, but it could be visited en route to the Usambara Mountains.
Best time to visit
June to October is the prime time for watching wildlife in Mkomazi National Park. This is the Dry season, when vegetation is thinner and animals gather near water. However, elephants and some other herbivores migrate to the park from neighboring Tsavo West National Park in Kenya during the Wet season months of November to May. The general scenery and mountain views are better at this time as well.
