2 days Mkomazi National Park Big 5 Animals.
USD 525.00
Description:
Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi National Park has a truly spectacular wilderness! It provides a common base for migratory herds and has a classic arid area. A visit of the Rhino Sanctuary gives you the chance to see the endangered black rhino!
Mkomazi National Park is a magnificent national park in northern Tanzania. Remote and originally difficult to reach, it was founded in 1951. It never received the needed financial support like the other parks. And its true importance was only recognized in 1989.
Today Mkomazi National Park is easily accessible and is a truly spectacular wilderness! In the northwest, you can see Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. And in the south the Pare and Usambara mountains create a dramatic backdrop. To the north, Kenya’s Tsavo National Park borders the Mkomazi National Park. These two parks form one of the largest and most important protected ecosystems. They provide a common base for herds of elephants, oryx and zebras. Mkomazi is located on the southern tip of the Sahel. It has a classic arid area with gray-green nyika bush, old baobab trees, and isolated rocky hills. In other places the scrub seas give way to savannah forests with umbrella acacias and mbugas – flat grassland valleys.
Wildlife living in Mkomazi
Mkomazi national park has a thinly populated and quite skittish wildlife. It is typical for the dry landscape: giraffes, antelopes, small kudu, impala and Grant’s gazelle. They share the park with elephants, buffalo and numerous predators, including lion, leopard and cheetah. And with some luck you can also spot other animals like dik diks, zebras, wildebeests, eland and topi regularly on a game drive. Visitors can see a total of 78 species of recorded mammals living here.
Birds in the national park
The park has over 400 registered bird species in total. Among them northern dry-country specials such as Shelley’s starling and three-streaked tchagra. This makes it a fantastic place for bird watchers! Also Hornbills, weaver birds, guinea fowl, martial eagles and the purple eurasian hoopoe are habitants of the park. Mkomazi national park is also the only place in Tanzania where you are likely to see the striking vulturine guineafowl. Quite common, large birds on the grassy plains are ostrich, kori bustard, secretary bird and southern ground hornbill. In addition, migratory species such as European roller are present from November until April.
Most common animals in Mkomazi National Park
Elephants
Oryx
Zebras
Giraffes
Lion
Leopard
Cheetah
Antelopes
Kudu
Impala and gazelle
Buffalo
Hornbills
Weaver birds
Guinea fowl
Martial eagles
Purple eurasian hoopoe
Tips for travellers
It isn’t just wildlife sightings that have improved in Mkomazi. Amenities have too. In addition to two recently opened midrange tented camps, including the attractively rustic and well-priced Mkomazi View Camp, the national park now offers accommodation in the form of a complex of 6 semi-detached bandas. These huts lie immediately outside Zange Gate and come complete with fitted nets, AC, TV, hot shower & balcony. There’s also a pleasant public campsite with a clean ablution block and dining boma just inside the gate.
The main road circuit that connects Zange Gate, Dindira Dam and Mbula Rhino Sanctuary is in reasonable shape. This should be manageable in most vehicles in the dry season, but high-clearance and/or 4×4 will definitely be an advantage. Very few people head to the eastern two-thirds of the park, which is totally undeveloped for tourism. However, this is reputedly the best area for dry-country antelope, so it could be an interesting area to explore. Make sure you’re self-sufficient and have a solid 4×4.
Mkomazi isn’t for everyone. Rhinos aside, it doesn’t compare to the likes of Serengeti or Ngorongoro when it comes to wildlife densities and near-guaranteed Big Five sightings. But it is a very beautiful park, with the Pare Mountains rising on the southern horizon and Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak often visible in the distance. The park has much to offer anyone who wants to escape the tourist treadmill. It’s definitely worth considering as a detour by overlanders self-driving between Dar es Salaam and Arusha.
Good to know
All fees attract a charge of 18% VAT. The entrance fee for foreigners is US$30pp + 18% VAT per 24 hours. Guided 4x4s safaris into Mkomazi Black Rhino Tourist Sanctuary at Mbula cost US$30pp + 18% VAT. Overnight fees are US$30pp to camp or US$35pp to stay in a park banda, both + 18% VAT. A more affordable option outside the park is the thoroughly agreeable Elephant Motel, which stands in green gardens on the outskirts of Same.
Inclusions
Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
Daily game drives while on Safari.
A professional driver/ guide.
4x4 Land Cruiser.
All Taxes and VAT.
Meals as per itinerary.
Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day).
Exclusions
International flights.
Concession/ Camping Fees.
All accommodations while on Safari.
Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Tips.
Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
Terms & conditions :
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