7 TOP REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK.

7 TOP REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK

The 7 top reasons why you should visit Mkomazi national park, Mkomazi National Park is a spectacular wilderness park with amazing wildlife, bird specie’s Rhino sanctuary among others located in northeastern Tanzania on the Kenyan border between Kilimanjaro Region and Tanga Region. It was established as a game reserve in 1951 and 2006 was upgraded to a national park covering an area of 3234km².

The name ‘Mkomazi’ is actually the union of two previous game reserves, the Umba Game Reserve in the east (in Lushoto District, Tanga Region) and the Mkomazi Game Reserve in the west (in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region). Mkomazi is larger, and has more diversity of relief and habitat, and a longer shared border with Tsavo West National Park.

Game viewing in Mkomazi national park

On a game drive in Mkomazi National Park, you will get a chance to view several animals like elephants, impala, dik-dik, rhinoceros, topi, lesser kudu, and many more. All these can be seen as you take a drive through the trails in the park enjoying the lush vegetation scenery.

Bird watching

Mkomazi National Park is a top destination that homes more than 450 bird species like Hornbills, Weavers, Guinea Fowl, Kori bustard, Von der decken hornbill, Martial eagle, Ostrich and some migratory birds like the European roller from the neighboring parks. Different birds can be seen while on game drives and nature walks within the park area.

Wildlife in Mkomazi

 

Wildlife in the park is thinly populated and quite skittish. Commonly seen animals on a game drive are giraffe, dik-dik, zebra, wildebeest, gazelles, and eland and topi antelope amongst others.

The animals, too, are typical of the arid nyika. Giraffe, Oryx, gerenuk, hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, impala and Grant’s gazelle share the reserve with elephant, buffalo, and numerous predators, including lion, leopard and cheetah. In all, 78 species of mammals have been recorded.

Black rhinos and wild dogs have been re-introduced and held captive for security reasons as they can be a threat to the other animals and humans however they roam and their sound covers the whole park. The odd looking gerenuk and lesser kudu is another special antelope that can be seen in the park area.

Walking safari

Walk through the park enables one to explore the park on foot under guidance of an experienced ranger and get an up-close look at some animals and bird species as you capture eye-catching pictures. This gives an amazing view to the person visiting the park.

Camping

Mkomazi National Park offers unique and amazing camping experience in the wild that make your stay comfortable and memorable. Camping in the wild is another adventurous activity as one gets to experience life outside home and visiting Mkomazi national Park gives it’s all.

Hiking

Hiking at the park can as well mean climbing to raised lands of the area and the best time to hike is in the morning or evening so that you have enough resting time in the evening. Hiking the mountain ranges in Mkomazi National Park is favorable in the dry season when the trails are dry with stunning views of the park as you like.

Mkomazi Rhino sanctuary

Black rhinoceros are permanent natives in Mkomazi national Park, in the whole of Africa these black rhinoceros are found in this park making it a unique destination for visit. While visiting the Rhino sanctuary, an opportunity to easily view these large land mammals and also learn more about them becomes real at the park.

How to get to Mkomazi National Park?

Access to Mkomazi national park can be either by air or road means of transport. One using air transport can fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport that is located halfway between Arusha and Moshi, about 30km from Moshi.

Access by road transport, one can drive to the same 112km south of Moshi.

When to visit Mkomazi national Park.

Visiting Mkomazi National Park for amazing game viewing and birding experiences is during the dry season in the months of June to October. Animals can be seen migrating from Tsavo National Park into Mkomazi Park being these two are close to Eachother.The Park can also be visited during the wet season where by beautiful views of the green vegetation and migratory birds.

Accommodation at MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK.

The park has got accommodation facilities in lodges that rank from luxury, mid-range and budget.

• The luxury lodges include, Mambo lodge that gives magnificent view of the eco system and it’s located in the Usambara Mountain and it takes 2 hours drive.
• Mid-range lodges include the babu’s camp that is southeast of Arusha taking about 2½ hours drive to reach the park. One can use the route from Mkomazi Rhino sanctuary which is about an hour drive.

Have your tour planned with the best tour operators.