Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park is a genuinely spectacular wilderness in northeastern Tanzania near Tanga and Kilimanjaro Regions.
The Park has a classic arid area and a common base for migratory herds. Here, you’ll get a chance to visit the Rhino Sanctuary, giving you a rare opportunity to see the endangered black rhino!

Why visit Mkomazi National Park?

  • Here, the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary is a private sanctuary, especially for the endangered black rhinos.
  • The Park sees very little precipitation year-round, making game drives along the river worthwhile.
  • Mkomazi National Park also houses other endangered animals—the African wild dogs, which you can’t see in most northern safari destinations.
  • Mkomazi National Park is an excellent destination for birding safaris with over 450 bird species.

Getting to Mkomazi National Park

By Road

Mkomazi National Park can be reached by road from Arusha. The journey from Arusha takes around 250 km/3 hours to drive.

By Air

You can reach Mkomazi by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), located halfway between Arusha and Moshi. You can also take charter flights from Arusha Airport to Kisima airstrip.

Best Time to visit Mkomazi National Park

Though Mkomazi National Park can be visited year-round, there’s always an excellent time to visit Mkomazi for a superb game-viewing experience.
That time would be from late June to October. These months are the prime time for wildlife viewing in Mkomazi National Park.
This corresponds to the Park’s dry season when the vegetation is much thinner, and animals gather closer.
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Things to do in Mkomazi National Park

With its wide variety of wildlife, stunning scenery, and incredible hiking trails, there are countless things to do in Mkomazi National Park.

Wildlife in Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania renowned for its rich biodiversity and abundance of wildlife.

Birds in Mkomazi National Park

With its rolling hills, gorges, and forests, this spectacular Park provides the perfect habitat for countless species of birds.

Landscape in Mkomazi National Park

If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure, visit Mkomazi National Park, one of the most stunning and exciting natural landscapes in Tanzania.

Where to stay in Mkomazi National Park

From backpackers to Mid-range hotels, take your pick of places to stay in Mkomazi National Park.

Mkomazi Tours: Our Top Tours in Mkomazi National Park

Reviews of Mkomazi National Park

Top questions answered for Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park is unlike anywhere you’ve been before. So, you have questions. We’ve been visiting for decades. So, we have answers.

Nestled between Tanga and Moshi in the northern part of Tanzania, the Park is in a striking setting, with the Usambara and Pare mountains towering above its boundaries.

With abundant water, it draws a selection of wildlife all year round and offers bird watchers a place that will blow their minds.

Animals that can be regularly seen on a game drive in Mkomazi are giraffes, zebra, Grant’s gazelle, dik-dik, wildebeest, eland, and topi.

Predators, such as lions, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, and cheetahs, live in the Park. However, though they exist in Mkomazi, they are rarely seen during game drives and nature walks.

The Rhino Sanctuary in Mkomazi was initially created to help raise awareness and protect these majestic animals.

Visits can be organized and offer breathtaking views of Mkoamazi National Park and the neighboring Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mkomazi Park is located in the northern part of Tanzania, within the Tanga and Kilimanjaro Regions, and is bordered by Kenya’s world-famous Tsavo National Park.

The ideal time to visit Mkomazi is from late June to October, which happens to be the dry season. This has been the prime time for wildlife watching in the Park since the vegetation is much thinner and animals gather closer.

Mkomazi National Park offers exciting safari activities like game drives, walking safaris, sightseeing, bird watching, and hiking. You can also learn more about the rhinos at Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary and conservation.

As one of the lesser-known parks, it is of a substantial size covering more than 3,234 square kilometers and is mainly dominated by Acacia-Commiphora vegetation.

Mkomazi Park houses several excellent hotels, resorts, and lodges that fit a wide range of travelers’ budgets. Some of the best options are Babu’s Camp, MamboViewPoint Eco Lodge, Orlando Lodge, Pangani River Camp, Elephant Motel, and more.

Babus Camp is the only camp located within the Park, while the other accommodation options are situated on the outskirts of the National Park.

Regarding general wildlife viewing, the Park of Mkomazi doesn’t compare to most of the country’s better-known parks. However, the quality of sightings here improves significantly with every passing year.

The Park also appeals particularly to relaxed safari-goers who want to escape from touristy sights and enjoy nature.

The distance between Mkomazi National Park and Arusha is 250 km. That said, it will take around 3 hours to drive from Arusha to Mkomazi National Park.

However, if you fly to Mkomazi from Arusha, the quickest flight from Arusha Airport to Kilimanjaro Airport will be the direct flight, which takes only 15 minutes.

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