Oloitiko Tanzania Safaris
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Mkomazi National Park

National park

Dry-country species, a black rhino sanctuary and views to Kilimanjaro, in a park almost nobody visits.

Mkomazi sits against the Kenyan border, contiguous with Tsavo West, in semi-arid country very different from the northern circuit parks. It is dry, thorny and open, and it holds species you will struggle to find elsewhere in Tanzania: gerenuk standing on their hind legs to browse, fringe-eared oryx, lesser kudu and beisa oryx.

The park also runs an important black rhino sanctuary and a captive-breeding programme for African wild dog. Access to the rhino sanctuary is limited and must be arranged in advance.

Very few travellers come here, which is both its weakness and its appeal.

From our guides

Best treated as a stop between Arusha and the coast rather than a destination in itself.

Why come here

  • Dry-country species that are hard to find elsewhere in Tanzania
  • Black rhino sanctuary and wild dog breeding programme
  • Views to both Kilimanjaro and the Pare Mountains
  • Almost no other visitors

The wildlife

Gerenuk, fringe-eared oryx, lesser kudu, eland, giraffe, zebra, elephant and buffalo. Predators are present but thinly spread. Good dry-country birding.

When to visit

June to October, and again in January and February. Very hot through most of the year.

Mkomazi National Park through the year

January

Weather

Hot, dry

Wildlife

Good dry-country species

The migration

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How busy

Quiet

Price season

High season

Our rating

Mkomazi National Park, answered

Build Mkomazi National Park into a route that works.

One park is rarely a trip. Tell us how long you have and what else you want to see, and we will put Mkomazi in the right place in the right week.

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