Mkomazi National Park, previously a game reserve in northeastern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border, in the Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions. It was established as a game reserve in 1951, but never received the financial support given to better-known wildlife hotspots like the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Parks. It was converted to a national park in 2006 after the Tanzanian government re-examined the reserve’s status and classified it as a national priority project in 1989. The park covers over 3,500 square kilometers and is dominated by Acacia-Commiphora vegetation. Mkomazi National Park is the result of the merger of two previous game reserves in the west, the Umba Game Reserve and the Mkomazi Game Reserve.
Mkomazi National Park is a breathtakingly having beautiful ecosystem. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, is seen to the northwest when in this park. The Pare and Usambara Mountains create a spectacular background to the south, and Mkomazi shares a border with Kenya’s huge Tsavo National Park to the north, providing common territory for migratory herds of elephant, Oryx, and zebra during the rainy season.
Mkomazi national park entrance fees/costs are USD 30 for non-east citizens aged 16 and above, and USD 10 for children aged 5 to 15. The entrance charge for East African citizens is 5000 Tanzanian shillings for those over the age of 16, and 2000 Tanzanian shillings for those aged 5 to 15.
WILDLIFE LIVING IN MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK.
Giraffes, antelopes, small kudu, impala, and Grant’s gazelle are among the park’s sparsely populated and wary species, which is typical seen mostly during the dry seasons. Elephants, buffalo, and a variety of carnivores, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs, share the park with them also. Other creatures such as dik diks, zebras, wildebeests, eland, and topi can also be seen on a game drive with some luck. A total of 78 species of animals have been reported here, and visitors can view them all. Aside from fauna, the park is home to over 400 bird species, including Shelley’s starlings and three-streaked tchagras, hornbills, weaver birds, guinea fowl, martial eagles, and the purple Eurasian hoopoe. As a result, the Mkomazi national park is a birder’s heaven.
Mkomazi National Park is also the only area in Tanzania where you may witness the beautiful vulturine guineafowl.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK?
The dry season, which runs from June to October, is the best time to see the park’s general fauna. However, the park isn’t known for its wildlife, and the scenery and views of the mountains are best during the rainy season, which runs from November to May. Elephants migrating into the park from Tsavo, Kenya can also be seen at this time.
WHY SHOULD YOU GO TO/VISIT MKOMAZI PARK?
Mkomazi National Park boasts some of the top attractions that will leave visitors delighted following their visit to this Tanzanian park in the northern circuit. Visitors to the Mkomazi national park can see a wide variety of larger and smaller creatures during their game drive inside the park. The park is also renowned as a bird paradise for people who are interested in birds, with over 400 species.
Apart from the wildlife, another incentive to visiting the Mkomazi national park is to observe the unique vegetation that is not damaged by people hence you can witness animals in their native habitats. This is because the park is less visited and so the animals are not crowded. Mkomazi is also an important refuge for two critically endangered species, the charismatic black rhino and the affable African wild dog, as well as a cost-effective alternative to the northern national parks.
HOW TO GET THERE
Because Mkomazi national park is close to Kilimanjaro international airport, the ideal choice for international visitors is to fly into Kilimanjaro international airport and then drive a short distance to Mkomazi national park on the same route. Apart from Kilimanjaro International Airport, travelers can fly to Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta international airport or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, and then take a car trip or charter flight to Kisima Airstrip in the park.
TOURISM ACTIVITIES AT MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK
Mkomazi national park, which is set/located a short distance from the famous national parks of Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara, is an excellent option for people who want to be alone and avoid congested/crowded national parks. the Park, noted for its wildlife and birding paradise, is one of Tanzania’s greatest game drives, walking safaris, and bird-watching tourism activities.
Game drives
This is a tourist activity in the Mkomazi national park that allows people to explore the magnificent Mkomazi Tanzania safari in a four-wheel-drive safari vehicle. During a game drive in the park, you are likely to see Oryx, elands, dik-dik, zebras, gerenuks, kudus, elephants, and other wild species. Morning game drives, late afternoon game drives, and night game drives are available, on which night game drive need the presence of an armed park ranger for the safety of the tourist in night.
Bird watching
With almost 400 bird species, Mkomazi National Park is known as a birding location where you may witness many or large populations of different bird species, including the world’s largest birds like ostriches and Kori burstards. The southern African ground hornbill, vulturine, guineaflows, secretary birds, crested eagles, and pygmy falcons are among the numerous bird species that can also be seen in the Mkomazi national park during birding season. The optimum time to go birding in the Mkomazi national park is from November to April, when migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are there, as well as the best season for nesting and breeding.
Walking safaris
Apart from the game drive, visitors to the park can participate in a walking safari, which allows them to connect more directly with the Mkomazi habitats, wildlife, and wild animals. This park activity is accompanied by an armed park ranger who is there to protect tourists from dangerous animals. There is a short walking safari (about four kilometers) and a long walking safari (approximately five kilometers).
Camping
Apart from game drives and walking safaris, the Park has a number of campsites that provide a unique and amazing camping experience in the wild, making your stay comfortable and memorable. Camping always makes visitors feel as if they are in a different world, and at night, you will be able to hear the different, amazing, and fantastic sounds of wild animals all over the park.
Mkomazi Rhino sanctuary.
Mkomazi is Africa’s only park with a large population of endangered black rhinoceros. While visiting the rhino sanctuary, you may easily witness these large land creatures and learn more about them.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK?
The park offers a variety of lodging options for those who want to spend the night while visiting the park. For tourists that require camping, the park offers both special campsites and private campgrounds. Apart from the campsites, the park also has lodges and other accommodations for guests to make their stay in Mkomazi more comfortable.
