MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK

Mkomazi National Park is located in northeastern Tanzania on the Kenyan border. The Park covers an area of 3,245sq km. The park finds itself in a beautiful setting with both the Pare and Usambara mountains towering above its boundaries. Mkomazi National Park is under the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro and depending on the weather, Mount Kilimanjaro can also be seen from the park. 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 National Park and makes common ground for migratory herds of elephant, oryx and zebra mostly during the wet season. Together with Tsavo, Mkomazi National park forms one of the largest and most important protected ecosystems on earth.

Mkomazi National Park can be accessed by road and air. Through a road way, Mkomazi National Park is 120km from Moshi Kilimanjaro and it is about 164Kms from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The distance from Same to the nearest entry gate is 6km on a graveled road. The Park is also easily accessible on special arrangement through Njiro, Kivingo and Umba gates. By Air, Chartered flights are available to Kisima airstrip in the center of the park near the rhino sanctuary.

The Best time of your safaris at Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park is usually dry and warm to hot. The warmest months are October to April and coldest months are May to September. It also experiences two wet seasons, the long rains which start early March to end May and short rains are from November to December.

The uniqueness of Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park is very attractive as it habitat animals which are typical of the arid area. These animals include Giraffe, oryx, generuk, hartebeest lesser kudu, eland, impala and grants gazelle which shares the park with elephants, buffalo and numerous predators including lions, leopards and cheetah.  Black Rhinos spend their days and nights grazing and only sleep during the hottest parts of the day. When they aren’t eating, they like a cooling mud soak. Wild dogs with four toes per foot unlike other dogs make them unique. They live in packs therefore they are social animals and communicate by touch, actions and vocalizations.

Mkomazi National Park marks the southern tip of the Sahel zone which resembles that of a dry desert like landscape. Due to the climate, the vegetation consists of Acacia commiphora woodlands and towards the western mountains the vegetation changes to a dry land forest

Mkomazi National Park has got a population of more than 450 species of which several species can be seen during a game drive. The most commonly seen species includes go away birds, ostriches, long crested eagles and bustards. Doves, hornbills, weavers and guinea-fowl are all present in large numbers as well as such shrinking species as the martial eagle and violet wood-hoopoe. Ride into Mkomazi to come and see these majestic and powerful creatures that conquered the world.

Mkomazi National Park offers several accommodation facilities inside and outside the Park. Accommodation services are to Lodges as well as camp sites of different nature and categories ranging from Budget Camping to Luxury Safari Lodge. The service is provided based on clients’ choice.

Activities in the park

The following are activities inside and outside the Park

Day Game Drive

This is the main tourism activity in the Mkomazi National Park where visitors visit different areas of attraction inside the Park using vehicles during the day.

Walking Safaris

In Mkomazi National Park, visitors have an opportunity to walk around the Park with an armed trained Park Ranger. As option, visitors can do short walk around Dindira or Long walk starting from Zange area (Park’s Headquarters) to Babus area

Bird Watching

Mkomazi National Park has more than 450 bird species, including the migrants ones, birds of prey and water birds, hence makes this the best area for bird lover visitors to enjoy this activity within Park.

Filming

Mkomazi National Park has good scenery full of nature’s beauty, and other attractions found in abundance, this makes it an ideal area for filming and documentary development.

 Nature Walk

Nature walks can be done in Nilo and Amani Nature Reserves near Muheza town. Walking and Hiking in Chome Nature Forest Reserve in Same

 Facilities

Available tourism facilities are walking trails, picnic sites and Kisima Airstrip.

Walking Trails

Park designed walking trails at Dindira and Zange for short and long walking safaris, leading visitors to most tourist attractions sites; Dindira walking trail located about 20 kms from Park’s Headquarters is a short walking trail about 3kms long and Zange walking trail is located about 800 metres from Park’s Headquarters, a long walking trail of 5 kms length.

 Picnicking

There are two picnic sites at Dindira and Vitewini areas; Dindira picnic/ view point is located about 20 kms from Park’s Headquarters and Vitewini picnic/view point is located about 27 kms from Park’s Headquarters.

Kisima AirStrip

Kisima Airstrip is located about 65 kms from Park’s Headquarters and used by visitors who come to visit the Park through chartered flights.

KARIBU TANZANIA –  KARIBU MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK