Northern Circuit
Mkomazi National Park
A remote, rugged reserve on the Kenyan border, home to wild dogs, black rhino and sweeping views of the Usambara and Pare mountains.
Overview
About Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi National Park borders Tsavo in Kenya, and the two parks share a common ecosystem of dry savannah and scrub. It is one of Tanzania's best-kept secrets — quiet, uncrowded and rich in rare species. The park is a stronghold for African wild dog and hosts a sanctuary for black rhino. Elephant, oryx, gerenuk and lesser kudu roam the arid plains, while birdlife numbers over 450 species. Game drives here feel like true exploration, with few other vehicles and dramatic backdrops of the Pare and Usambara mountains.
Mkomazi is dry and remote, so plan game drives in the cooler morning and late afternoon hours. Facilities are basic and self-contained lodge or camp stays are the norm.
Best time to visit
June to October
Getting there
About six hours by road from Arusha, with access via Same town on the Moshi–Dar es Salaam highway, or as an offbeat link between the northern parks and the Usambara Mountains or Tanga coast.
Highlights
- •African wild dog sightings
- •Black rhino sanctuary
- •Few other visitors
- •Oryx and gerenuk on arid plains
- •Views of the Pare and Usambara mountains
Wildlife
What you will see
- African wild dog
- Black rhino
- Elephant
- Oryx
- Gerenuk
- Lesser kudu
- Birdlife (450+ species)
FAQs
Travel information
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