Mkomazi
National Park · TANAPA
Dry thornbush under the Pare and Usambara mountains, and a rhino sanctuary.
- Area
- 3,254 km²
- Established
- 2006
- Region
- Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions
- Best time
- June–October
Wildlife
- Black rhino
- African wild dog
- Gerenuk
- Fringe-eared oryx
- Lesser kudu
- Giraffe
Mkomazi is semi-arid country — acacia and commiphora thornbush running north to the Kenyan border, where it adjoins Tsavo West and forms part of a single much larger ecosystem. It was a game reserve for decades and became a national park in 2006.
The species here are the dry-country specialists that the northern circuit's famous parks mostly lack: gerenuk, which browses standing on its hind legs; fringe-eared oryx; lesser kudu; and generous numbers of giraffe. On a clear day Kilimanjaro stands on the western horizon.
Mkomazi also holds a fenced black rhino sanctuary and a captive-breeding programme for African wild dog — both conservation projects rather than attractions, with access arranged and limited. The park sees very few visitors, which is the point of coming.
The rhino sanctuary
A fenced breeding population of black rhino. Access is limited and arranged in advance.
Dry-country species
Gerenuk, oryx and lesser kudu — uncommon elsewhere on the circuit.
Kilimanjaro on the horizon
Visible to the west on a clear morning.
Emptiness
You may pass a whole day without meeting another vehicle.
Roughly four hours from Moshi via Same, or reachable from Tanga on the coast.
Covers the drive out and back, and the guide's travelling time.
Checked against
- Tanzania National Parks — official siteTANAPA
- Mkomazi National ParkWikipedia