MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK
Formerly a Game Reserve since 1951, Mkomazi was upgraded into a ‘National Park’ status in 2008. It is located 6km from Same town, covering an area of 3,245square km. The name ‘Mkomazi’is a combination of two words from the Pare ethnic language; “Mko and Mazi”. “Mko” means a traditional tiny wooden spoon used by the Pare people for eating and “Mazi” means water. This implies that water in the Park is hardly enough to fill up the wooden spoon.
There are more than 450 bird species including those that are hardly seen elsewhere such as Friedmann’s Lark, the Violet Wood-hoopoe, Somalia Long Billed Crombec and Shelley’s Starling. Also,the park host Eurasian migrant birds such as European Roller. Best sites for birds watching are Zange, Dindira, Mbula, Babus, Norbanda, Ngurunga and Maore. Game drives, short and long walking safari can be arranged here escorted by armed Ranger.Diversity of Fauna and Flora, the only protected area in Tanzania with large and visible population of Gerenuk.
Magnificent view of landscapes including Kilimanjaro, Eastern Arc Mountains (Pare and Usambara), associated Hills and Acacia Commiphora Woodland.
Endangered species of animals particularly Black Rhino who are still in the cage and Wild dogs can be seen in this beautiful and rare visited park. The combination of Wildlife safari and beach holiday at the Indian Ocean it’s possible -closet to Tanga region and Amboni Caves via Umber gate.
Attractions in Mkomazi National Park
1: Rhino Sanctuary
The Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary is working to build a viable breeding population of 50 black rhinos, whose offspring will be used to strengthen the existing populations in Tanzania. The rhinos in the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary make up nearly 30% of the total black rhinoceros population in Tanzania. This makes the Mkomazi rhinos incredibly important, not only for the country, but also for the future of this fragile species. During his stay in Mkomazi, Prince William also attended the Mkomazi educational initiative in Rafiki Wa Faru, where children from 14 local villages learn all about rhinos and other wildlife in the hope that the Mkomazi rhino population will never be wiped out by poachers again.
2: Wildlife living in Mkomazi
Mkomazi national park has a thinly populated and quite skittish wildlife. It is typical for the dry landscape: giraffes, antelopes, small kudu, impala and Grant’s gazelle. They share the park with elephants, buffalo and numerous predators, including lion, leopard and cheetah. And with some luck you can also spot other animals like dik diks, zebras, wildebeests, eland and topi regularly on a game drive. Visitors can see a total of 78 species of recorded mammals living here.
3: Birds in the national park
The park has over 400 registered bird species in total. Among them northern dry-country specials such as Shelley’s starling and three-streaked tchagra. This makes it a fantastic place for bird watchers! Also Hornbills, weaver birds, guinea fowl, martial eagles and the purple eurasian hoopoe are habitants of the park. Mkomazi national park is also the only place in Tanzania where you are likely to see the striking vulturine guineafowl. Quite common, large birds on the grassy plains are ostrich, kori bustard, secretary bird and southern ground hornbill. In addition, migratory species such as European roller are present from November until April..
