Daytrip Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park Daytrip

Why Mkomazi National Park?

If you want to go off the beaten track and explore ‘real’ Tanzania then this day excursion is perfect for you.

The Park offers a real wilderness away from the crowds of tourists. The park is located 190 kilometers from Arusha and about a 3 hours drive from Moshi (120 km).

Mkomazi National Park is a magnificent, 3.245 square kilometer national park in the northern part of Tanzania, between Moshi and Tanga. The name was derived from Pare tribe’s word for “scoop of water” meaning little water as the area is too dry, especially during the dry season.

The park finds itself in a beautiful setting with both the Pare and Usambara mountains towering above its boundaries. Depending on the weather, Mt. Kilimanjaro can be seen from the park.

The main source of water in Mkomazi comes from the Umba River in the southeast. As the park receives very little rain all year game drives along the river offer excellent wildlife sightings. Mkomazi wildlife includes African wild dogs, black rhinos that live in a private sanctuary, Oryx, gerenuk, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal, elephant, buffalo, hartebeest, giraffe, warthog, and crocodiles.

There are 450 species of birds found in the park including go-away birds, ostriches, eagles, hoopoes, bustards, kingfishes, flamingos, cormorants, plovers, and ducks. The vegetation resembles that of a dry, desert-like landscape. Due to the climate, the vegetation primarily consists of acacia woodlands, and towards the western mountains the vegetation changes to a dry land forest.

ITINERARY

Our day safari from Arusha or Moshi to Mkomazi offers fantastic views of Kilimanjaro and a large population of African game.

The park is an often overlooked Tanzanian gem with a number of species easier to see here than anywhere else in Tanzania.

The highlights of the park include watching rhinos at close range, the game drive might spot wild dogs, and bird watching – around 450 species of birds are also found in the park.

At 7am you will be picked up from your accommodation in Arusha or Moshi with parked lunch boxes and depart by road to Mkomazi National Park located approximately 190 km’s from Arusha/ 120 km’s from Moshi town.

Upon arrival at the park, you will proceed for a game drive looking for Oryx, gerenuk, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal, elephant, buffalo, hartebeest, giraffe, warthog and crocodiles.

Mkomazi National Park shares a border with Tsavo National Park in Kenya, so game comes and goes between the parks. A visit to Nkomazi Rhino Sanctuary can be organized at an extra cost.

This allows you to learn more about the breeding program for the black rhino population, together with ongoing monitoring and anti-poaching patrols.

Enjoy your picnic lunch boxes at a designated picnic site and proceed on an afternoon game-drive. The park is a vital refuge for two highly endangered species, the charismatic black rhino and sociable African wild dog.

Both animals were successfully reintroduced in the 1990s, but black rhino are restricted to a fenced sanctuary, ensuring their safe keeping for future generation’s enjoyment and prosperity.

We depart Mkomazi National Park at aroung 4.30pm and drive back to Moshi/ Arusha.