Overview

Mkomazi National Park is in northern Tanzania in the districts of Same -Kilimanjaro Region and incorporates the former Umba Forest Reserve. The park borders Tsavo West National Park of Kenya and the south Pare, North Pare, and west Usambara mountain ranges of Tanzania Covering an area of 3,234 Sq Km. (2005 sq miles) which is now divided between the Mkomazi (2010 sq.km) and (1224 sq.km) Game reserve East of Kilimanjaro and immediately north of the Pare and Usambara Mountains. The name Mkomazi comes from the Pare language and means the source of water, referring to the Umba River, which arises in the Usambaras and provides permanent source of water to the area.

Location: The National Park is located North Eastern Tanzania bordering Kenya's Tsavo East National Park to its north. Occupying Kilimanjaro and Tanga Regions, Mkomazi is 112 km (69 miles) from Moshi town and 550km (341 miles) from Dar-es-Salaam.

Best time to visit: Late June –early September is best for large mammal and bird watching sanctuary beauty is at its peak March-June.

Birdlife: Over 400 birds's species have been recorded in the Park. At least 8 species not previously recorded in Tanzania. This includes tawny eagle, Ostrich, parrots, pelicans, ducks, kingfishers and secretary bird.

Wildlife: Most of the large mammals Species found in Tsavo are either resident in Mkomazi or else regularly migrate there from Kenya. These include the lions, cheetahs, elephant, giraffes, buffaloes, zebra, Impalas, Leopards. It is the only protected area in Tanzania with a large and visible population of Gerenuks, an antelope with a habit of getting up on its hind legs to browseers, selecting new leaf growth,buds,fresh twing tips and the flowers of a wide variety of trees and bush species.Also African hunting dogs were recently reintroduced into the Game. As well as the black Rhinos have been brought from South Africa.

Access: By road Mkomazi National Park is easily accessible via Same town it is about 6 km from same town on the Arusha-Dar-es-Salaam highway, 112 km from Moshi and 142 km from Kilimanjaro airport. Charter flights are available to the Zange, Same, Kisima and Ibaya airstrips.

To do: Game drives, Walking Safari, mountain hikes in the hills, and bird watching which is Unique as the Park is not over crowded by tourists also the Dindera Dam is another good place to see large mammals, Learn more about conservations and Rhinoceros at Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary.