Overview
About Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi National Park located northeastern of Tanzania bordering Kenya's Tsavo West National Park, it forms part of the wider Tsavo - Mkomazi ecosystem offering a semi-arid bushland and open savannah between the Pare and Usambara landscapes that supports elephants, giraffes, dry-country antelope and important black-rhino. Its quieter game-drive circuits and rugged scenery offer a distinctly different Safari from Tanzania's better-known northern parks.
On Safari
Wildlife
Mkomazi is home to variety of wildlife including supports elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, eland, hartebeest, lions and leopards alongside specialist dry-country wildlife such as gerenuk, lesser kudu and fringe-eared oryx. The park is particularly important for Eastern black-rhino conservation and has a long history of African wild-dog recovery work.
The park's varied habitats, from savannahs and grasslands to riverine forests, provide excellent opportunities to see birds like the cobalt-chested vulturine guineafowl, Somali ostrich, and various raptors hence birdwatchers will find Mkomazi particularly appealing, as it hosts over 450 bird species.
Things to Do
Activities
Game Drives
Rhino Viewing
Walking Safari
Birdwatching
Photography
Camping
Plan Ahead
Best Time to Visit
Mkomazi can be visited throughout the year, but June to October generally brings drier conditions and easier wildlife viewing as animals make greater use of available water sources.
The greener months from November onward transform the dry landscape and can be rewarding for scenery and birdlife, although rainfall may affect some tracks.
Wildlife movements between Mkomazi and the wider Tsavo ecosystem vary with rainfall and water availability, so individual sightings can never be guaranteed.
For a Safari focused on general game viewing and rhino conservation, the dry months are usually the simplest time to plan.
Plan Your Safari
Ready to Explore Mkomazi National Park?
Tell us what you would like to experience and we will help create a Safari around your interests, time and travel style.
Good to Know
Travel Tips
Plan Rhino Viewing Early
Tell us if black rhinos are a priority so we can confirm the current TANAPA viewing arrangements before your Safari.
Bring Binoculars
Mkomazi's open country and rich birdlife reward careful scanning, especially for smaller dry-country species.
Expect a Different Safari
Wildlife can be more widely dispersed here than in Tanzania's busiest northern parks, so enjoy the landscapes and quieter pace as much as individual sightings.
Watch for Dry-Country Specialists
Ask your Vion guide to help you search for gerenuk, lesser kudu and fringe-eared oryx among the bushland.
Prepare for Dry Conditions
Carry drinking water, sun protection and light layers, particularly during the hotter, drier months.
Keep Mountain Views Flexible
Pare and Usambara scenery surrounds the wider landscape, while distant Kilimanjaro views depend on weather and visibility.
Allow Time from Same
Same is the main western gateway, making it a practical base or route stop when entering through the Zange side of the park.