Mkomazi National Park Closed Now

The Park finds itself in a beautiful setting with both the Pare and Usambara mountains towering above its boundaries. Depending on the weather, Mount Kilimanjaro can also be seen from the park. To the south the pare and usambara mountains form a dramatic backdrop and to the north, Kenya’s vast Tsavo National Park shares a border with Mkomazi, making common ground for migratory herds of elephant, oryx and zebra during the wet season. Together with Tsavo, it forms one of the largest and most important protected ecosystems on earth.

Mkomazi derives its name from 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 the water in the Park is hardly enough to fill up the wooden spoon. It covers an area of 3,245sq km.

Climate

The climate in Mkomazi is usually dry and warm to hot. The warmest months are October to April and coldest months are May to September. It also experiences two wet seasons, the long rains which are from March to May and short rains are from Novermber to December. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 570 mm in the lowlands to 1,910 mm in the highlands.

Getting there

The Park can be accessed by road and air.

Road:The Park is 120km from Moshi. Same to the nearest entry gate is 6km on a graveled road. The Park is also easily accessible on special arrangement through Njiro, Kivingo and Umba gates

Air: Chartered flights are available to Kisima airstrip in the center of the park near the rhino sanctuary

Park Attractions

The animals of Mkomazi are typical of the arid area. Giraffe, oryx, generuk, hartebeest lesser kudu, eland, impala and grants gazelle share the park with elephants, buffalo and numerous predators including lions, leopards and cheetah.

Black Rhinos

Black Rhinos spend their days and nights grazing and only sleep during the hottest parts of the day. When they aren’t eating, they like a cooling mud soak.

Ride into Mkomazi to come and see these majestic and powerful creatures that conquered the world.

Wild dogs

These long legged canines can only be seen in abundance when you visit Mkomazi. Their four toes per foot unlike other dogs make them unique. They live in packs therefore they are social animals and communicate by touch, actions and vocalizations.

Unique Vegetation

Mkomazi marks the southern tip of the sahel zone which resembles that of a dry desert like landscape. Due to the climate, the vegetation consists of Acacia commiphora woodlands and towards the western mountains the vegetation changes to a dry land forest

Bird species

A healthy population of 450 species are also found in the park and several species can be seen during a game drive. The most commonly seen species include go away birds, ostriches, long crested eagles and bustards. Doves, hornbills, weavers and guinea-fowl are all present in large numbers as well as such shrinking species as the martial eagle and violet wood-hoopoe.

Activities

There are several tourism activities inside and outside the Park

Day Game Drive

This is the main tourism activities in the park where visitors visit different areas of attraction inside the Park using vehicles during the day.

Walking Safaris

In Mkomazi visitors have an opportunity to walk around the Park with an armed trained Park Ranger. Can do short walk around Dindira or Long walk starting from Zange area (Park’s Headquarters) to Babus area

Bird Watching

The park has more than 450 bird species, including the migrants ones, birds of prey and water birds, hence makes this the best area for bird lover visitors to enjoy this activity within Park.

Filming

Mkomazi National Park has a good scenery full of natures beauty, and other attractions found in abundance, this makes it an ideal area for filming.

Nature Walk

Nature walk can be done in Nilo and Amani Nature Reserves near Muheza town. Walking and Hiking in Chome Nature Forest Reserve in Same

Facilities

Available tourism facilities are walking trails, picnic sites and Kisima Airstrip.

Walking Trails

Park designed walking trails at Dindira and Zange for short and long walking safaris, leading visitors to most tourist attractions sites; Dindira walking trail located about 20 kms from Park’s Headquarters is a short walking trail about 3kms long and Zange walking trail is located about 800 metres from Park’s Headquarters, a long walking trail of 5 kms length

Picknicking

There are two picnic sites at Dindira and Vitewini areas; Dindira picnic/ view point is located about 20 kms from Park’s Headquarters and Vitewini picnic/view point is located about 27 kms from Park’s Headquarters.

AirStrip

Kisima AirStrip

Kisima Airstrip located about 65 kms from Park’s Headquarters is used by visitors who come to visit the Park through chartered flights.

Accomodation

There several accommodation facilities inside and outside the Park.