Mkomazi National Park
Description: Set below the verdant slopes of the spectacular Usambara and Pare Eastern Arc Mountain ranges and overseen by the iconic snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, Mkomazi is a breathtaking park, exhibiting unique natural treasures and an immense sense of space. A game reserve since 1951, this new National Park takes its name from Pare tribe’s word for “scoop of water,” referring to little water. Mkomazi is a vital refuge for two highly endangered species, the charismatic black rhino and sociable African wild dog, both of which were successfully reintroduced in the 1990s.
Location: Northern circuit, 3.5 hours from Moshi
Things 2 Do: Game Drives, Guided Walks, Night Game Drives, Sundowners, Visits to Conservation Projects
Time: 2 nights is optimal given the transit time to get to/from the park.
Animals: Giraffe, oryx, gerenuk, hartebeest, lesser kudu, eland, impala and grant’s gazelle share the park with elephants, buffalo and numerous predators including lions, leopards and cheetah. With over 450 species of birds recorded at the park, it is a birder’s paradise. And don’t forget the conservation work being done with black rhinos and wild dogs!
Accommodations:
$$$
Babu’s Camp
Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat
“Casey was great to work with. He always had the answers to our questions and got back to us quickly. He gave us lots of suggestions and tips things to think about that were very useful too. The pre-trip call with Casey was very helpful too. It helped ease whatever concerns we had and answered all our last-minute questions so we felt prepared for our trip. Some other things A2T helped with were details to use when filling out the Visa forms. With their info it was straightforward. They gave us guidance on exchanging money, asked what kind of soda we liked, took our dietary restrictions into account for the various camps we stayed at. All things big and small they helped us with.”