Mkomazi National Park is situated between the Kilimanjaro Region and Tanga Region in northeastern Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border. It was formed in 1951 as a game reserve and became a national park in 2006. The park, which is adjacent to Kenya’s Tsavo West National Park, spans more than 3,234 square kilometers (323,400 acres) and is characterized by Acacia-Commiphora vegetation.
Mkomazi National Park is a virgin breathtaking beauty exhibiting unique natural treasures and an immense sense of space—which adds to the fulfillment of high visitors’ enjoyment expectations—a much-needed bridge between the northern circuit and coastal attractions. It is situated beneath the lush slopes of the spectacular Usambara and Pare Eastern Arc Mountain Ranges and is overseen by the iconic snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Location of Mkomazi National Park
The Mkomazi national park is located in Tanzania’s northern region between Kilimanjaro and Tanga region. The park has a western boundary with Kenya’s Tsavo National Park. The Zange entrance gate is located 6 km (3.7 miles) from the town of same, 120 km (75 miles) from Kilimanjaro National Park, and 112 km (69 miles) from Moshi town. It is also located 142 km (88.7 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport and 550 km (341 miles) from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.
Weather and climate in Mkomazi National Park.
In Mkomazi National Park, the weather is often dry and mild to hot. The warmest months are from October to April, whereas May to September is when it gets the coldest. Two seasons are wet. The “short rains” occur from November to December, and the “long rains” are from March to May. During the rainy season, it rains a lot, but it usually doesn’t persist all day.
From June to October is the dry season.
In the months of June, July, August, September, and October, the days are sunny and clear. Around-27°C or 81°F afternoon highs are typical. At night, the temperature drops to roughly 16°C (61°F). Almost no rain falls during this time.
From November to May is the rainy season.
Like in the dry season, temperatures are fairly consistent, but because of the higher humidity, the heat may be uncomfortable. Nighttime lows are typically around 19°C (66°F) and highs are around 30°C (86°F).
November and December experience “short rains.” A period of rain usually occurs between the months of November and December. It is unlikely that these showers will negatively affect your journey because it rarely rains all day. Showers are more likely in the afternoon.
“Long rains” is in March, April, and May although it doesn’t often rain all day, it does more frequently. The wettest and cloudiest months are these ones. There is increased humidity, which could make it seem very warm.
The best time to visit Mkomazi National Park.
The weather in the park is typically what determines when the best time to visit the park is. It would be challenging to see Tanzania wildlife during your Tanzania Safaris Tours during the rainier months (October to May) due to the dense vegetation. Additionally, you’ll have to contend with midday showers. You’ll have a good chance of seeing some species close to available water sources if you go during the dry months.
Why should you visit Mkomazi National Park?
- The park’s attractiveness comes from the fact that it is not well-known. The animals are acting naturally, and it’s not crowded.
- There are almost all flora and fauna species.
- The Mkomazi national park is the best place in Tanzania and all Africa where you can see two endangered species of black rhino and the friendly African wild dog.
- It’s a less expensive option for visiting the Tanzania northern safari parks.
- Views of Mount Kilimanjaro are part of the stunning scenery in Mkomazi national Park.
- It is an important bird region with a number of endemics to the northern dry land.
- Mkomazi National Park offers Exclusive safari experience and never gets busy.
Wildlife in Mkomazi national park.
Mkomazi national park is one of the national park in Tanzania with abundance and larger diversity of different animal’s species that can be best seen especially the dry season months. Elephant, buffalo, and a number of predators, including lion, leopard, and cheetah, live in the reserve with giraffe, oryx, gerenuk, hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, impala, and Grant’s gazelle. There are 78 different species of mammals in total. The park’s wildlife is sparsely distributed and often wary. On a game drive, it’s common to observe giraffes, dik-diks, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, elands, and topis.
For security reasons, wild dogs and black rhinos have both been reintroduced, but both are kept in captivity. There are occasionally more wild dog packs in the vicinity. On occasion, the strange-looking gerenuk might be seen standing on its hind legs and browsing. Another unique antelope that lives in denser vegetation is the lesser kudu.
Birds in Mkomazi national park
The following are the bird spices that are found in Mkomazi National Park:
Little Grebe, Ostrich, Pink-backed Pelican, Long-tailed Cormorant, Greater Cormorant, Black-headed Heron, Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Hammerkop, Open-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Glossy Ibis, Sacred Ibis, African Spoonbill, The white-faced Whistling Duck Egyptian Goose, Red-billed Teal, Hottentot Teal, Secretary Bird, The White-backed Vulture, The African Marsh Harrier, Gymnogene, Brown Snake Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Mountain Buzzard, The long-crested eagle Gabar Goshawk, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Martial Eagle, Fish Eagle, Black Kite, Pygmy Falcon, Lanner Falcon Red-necked Spur fowl, Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Yellow-necked Spur fowl, Crested Francolin, Helmeted Guinea fowl, Black Crake, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Buff-crested Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, African Jacana, Blacksmith Plover, Crowned Plover, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Mourning Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Orange-bellied Parrot, White-bellied Go-away Bird, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Didric Cuckoo, Emerald Cuckoo, Klaas’ Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Eastern Yellow bill, White-browed Coucal, Little Swift, Eurasian Swift, Black Swift, White-rumped Swift, Palm Swift, White-headed Mouse bird, Speckled Mouse bird, Blue-naped Mouse bird, Bar-tailed Trogon, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Eurasian Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Cinnamon Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater, Madagascar Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, The Abyssinian Scimitarbill, the Green Wood Hoopoe, Trumpeter Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Grey Hornbill, Ground Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Black-throated Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, d’Arnaud’s Barbet, Red & Yellow Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Greater HoneyguideFischer’s Sparrow Lark, Pink-breasted Lark, Flappet Lark, House Martin, Striped Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, African Rock Martin, Wire-tailed Swallow, Black Roughwing, Banded Martin, African Sand Martin, Sand Martin, Drongo, The Black-headed Oriole, White-naped Raven, Pied Crow, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Grey Wren Warbler, Rattling Cisticola, Willow Warbler, Tawny-flanked Prinia, African Pipit, Pangani Longclaw, African Pied Wagtail, Black-backed Puffback, Tropical Boubou, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike, Brubru, Three-streaked Tchagra, Black-crowned Tchagra, Long-tailed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, Red-tailed Shrike, The White-rumped Shrike Golden-breasted Starling, Wattled Starling, Red-winged Starling, Fischer’s Starling, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Superb Starling, Yellow-billed OxpeckerEastern The Violet-backed Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Purple-banded Sunbird, Hunter’s Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Masked Weaver, Village WeaverChestnut Weaver, Black-necked WeaverRed-billed Quelea The Grey-headed Sparrow, the Rufous Sparrow, Yellow-spotted Petronia, Green-winged Pytilia, Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, The Parrot-billed Sparrow
Getting to Mkomazi National Park
By road transport, same, which is located on the paved route linking Arusha to Dar es Salaam, is the best method to get to Mkomazi national park. Through the Njiro, Kivingo, and Umba gates, the park is also conveniently accessible with prior appointment. The Eastern Arc Mountains, the Coast, and Kilimanjaro Mountains, which are close by and already popular tourist destinations, are all accessible from the park.
By air transport– the Mkomazi national park can be assessed through domestic flights from different parts of Tanzania such as Arusha and Dar es Salaam to the Kisima airstrip within the park.
Mkomazi National Park Tourist attractions.
The African wild dog and the black rhinoceros are two endangered animal species that live in Mkomazi National Park, which is not home to a large variety of animals. Common elands, hartebeest, lesser kudu, impalas, dik-dik, topi, and fringe-eared oryx are some more creatures that can be seen. From Tsavo National Park, zebras and African elephants may be observed moving north.
More than 450 different bird species, including hornbills, weavers, Guinea fowl, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Ostrich, and some migratory birds like the European Roller, call Mkomazi National Park home.
Tourist activities in Mkomazi National Park.
Hiking, Tanzania bird watching, walking safaris, camping, and game drives are the main tourist activities/ things to do in Mkomazi national park. The Mkomazi rhino sanctuary is a great place to learn more about endangered black rhino conservation.
Nature walk: This can be done while hiking through the Chome Nature Forest Reserve in Same or in the breathtaking Nilo and Amani Nature Reserves close to Muheza town.
In Mkomazi, walking safaris offers tourists the chance to go bird watching and stroll through the lovely park with a trained park ranger in Dindira or on a long walk beginning in the Zange area, the park’s administrative center, and ending in the Babus area.
Picnicking: Visitors can stop-off for a quiet lunch and take in the animals on the plains at one of two picnic places in the Dindira and Vitewini districts.
Accommodation in Mkomazi National Park
There is one semi-permanent tent camp close to the park’s administrative building. There are a few approved basic campsites where one must carry their own food and camping supplies. In the same town, there are many modest inns and guest rooms.
