Mkomazi National Park

Region

Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania

Area

3,245 km²

Best Time

Jun?Oct (dry)

Altitude

230 ? 1,600 m

An extension of Kenya's Tsavo ecosystem, Mkomazi is Tanzania's wildest and least visited northern park ? dry savanna beneath the Pare and Usambara mountains, and the country's most important black rhino sanctuary.

Mkomazi shares its ecosystem with Kenya's Tsavo National Parks across the border, and the landscape shows it ? dry, thorny savanna, scattered baobabs and the jagged silhouettes of the Pare and Usambara mountains on the horizon. It was upgraded from a game reserve to a national park in 2008, largely to protect a black rhino sanctuary established here in the 1990s, and it remains one of only a few places in Tanzania where the species survives in the wild.

Because it sees a fraction of the visitors that the Serengeti or Ngorongoro do, Mkomazi rewards travellers who want genuine wilderness and don't mind driving further for it. It's also one of the best places in the country to see gerenuk and fringe-eared oryx, arid-adapted species rare elsewhere on the northern circuit.

Safari Highlights

Black Rhino Sanctuary

A dedicated, fenced sanctuary protects one of Tanzania's few remaining black rhino populations.

Pare & Usambara Backdrop

Two ancient mountain ranges frame the park, among the oldest in Africa geologically.

Arid-Adapted Wildlife

Gerenuk, fringe-eared oryx and lesser kudu ? species built for dry country, rarely seen elsewhere.

Genuine Solitude

Among the least-visited parks in Tanzania ? often whole game drives without another vehicle in sight.

Shared Tsavo Ecosystem

An unfenced border with Kenya's Tsavo lets wildlife move freely between the two countries.

Wild Dog Recovery

A reintroduction programme has re-established African wild dogs here after decades of absence.

Animals you may see

  • Black Rhino
  • Elephant
  • Gerenuk
  • Fringe-eared Oryx
  • Lesser Kudu
  • African Wild Dog
  • Giraffe
  • Zebra
  • Lion
  • Cheetah
  • Hirola

When to visit

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
  • Peak
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Low

June to October is the dry season and the best time to visit, when wildlife concentrates near the park's few permanent water points. The park can be very hot and dusty from December to March, and some roads are difficult in the April?May rains.

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FAQs

Is Mkomazi worth the detour from the main northern circuit?

It suits travellers who have already done the classic parks and want somewhere quieter and wilder, or those combining a safari with time on the coast near Pangani or Tanga, which sit within reach of Mkomazi's eastern side.

Will I see the black rhino?

The sanctuary population is small and protected, and sightings are not guaranteed on a standard game drive ? dedicated rhino tracking can sometimes be arranged in advance through the park authority.

How does Mkomazi compare to Tarangire or Tsavo?

It is drier and emptier than Tarangire, with a similar feel to Kenya's Tsavo West across the border ? expect fewer animals per hour but a much stronger sense of untouched wilderness.

How do I get to Mkomazi?

The main gate at Zange is about three to four hours from Arusha or Moshi by road, off the main highway toward the coast.

Tours in this destination

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