Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi National Park is one of the least recognised of the country’s but ecologically important protected areas, and it is located in the northeastern corner of Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border. Mkomazi, which is almost 3,245 square kilometres, provides a rare combination of dry savannah scenery, endangered wildlife species and conservation success stories.

In contrast to more well-known parks such as Serengeti or Ngorongoro, Mkomazi is not heavily impacted by mass tourism and remains a perfect place to visit when one wants to find some alone time and experience more nature.

Geographic Location and Accessibility

Mkomazi National Park lies between Mount Kilimanjaro and the Taita Hills in Kenya, respectively to the west and the northeast. The park shares a boundary with Tsavo West National Park in Kenya, and the two together constitute a transboundary ecosystem which is important to migratory species such as the elephants and the wild dogs. Same is the nearest town, and the park can be accessed by road by car within approximately 120 km southeast of Moshi and approximately 190 km of Arusha; it is relatively easy to access.

International tourists use the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) as the most suitable entry point and then a drive to the park via Moshi or Arusha. Although the park can be visited throughout the year, the best time to visit the park is during the dry season between June and October to see the animals.

Historical Background

When it was first declared as a game reserve, Mkomazi was originally a game reserve aimed at preserving migratory wildlife and as a buffer zone to Tsavo. There was an upgrade to National Park status in 2006 and management by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). This happened in the 1980s and 1990s as conservationists Tony Fitzjohn and George Adamson, who had worked with lions and wild animals in Kenya, worked on the rehabilitation of the ecosystems at Mkomazi. They founded breeding and protection initiatives of the endangered species, such as the black rhinoceros and the African wild dog.

Unique Ecology and Biodiversity

Mkomazi is a rare meeting point of the dry Sahelian bushlands of the north of Africa and the moist woodlands of the south of Africa. This has provided the park with an amazing diversity of habitats-open grasslands and acacia woodlands, as well as rocky outcrops and seasonal rivers.

The park is a constituent of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests Biodiversity Hotspot and thus ecologically important. It also hosts over 450 bird species such as the conspicuous vulturine Guinea fowl, Kori bustard, martial eagle and the endemic Fischer starling. This variety of species renders Mkomazi a bird nirvana.

Mkomazi is a reserve of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, lesser kudu, Oryx, hartebeest, and numerous species of antelope in terms of mammals. Predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs exist, but they are very shy and can only be easily seen in the early mornings or right afternoons.

The Black Rhino Sanctuary and the African Wild Dog Conservation Program may be the most interesting conservation projects in Mkomazi. These initiatives have reintroduced and conserved two of the most threatened species in Africa, and the black rhino has been confined in a fenced area to keep them safe against poachers.

Conservation Challenges and Successes

Similar to most of the conserved spaces in Africa, Mkomazi experiences various conservation problems such as poaching, encroachment and human-wildlife conflict. Overgrazing has been a menace in the park for several decades as nomadic pastoralists herded their cattle into the park. This caused environmental degradation and a radical depletion of wildlife.

But Mkomazi has been heavily restored to an ecological level through the collaboration of TANAPA, international NGOs and the communities that live in it. Reintroduction of wild dogs and rhinos has attracted the world’s attention to the park, and anti-poaching strategies such as patrols and community awareness campaigns have resulted in a significant decline in criminal activities.

The late Tony Fitzjohn was one of the key figures in these successes since he was one of the most celebrated conservationists in the park. Fitzjohn helped raise funds and develop infrastructure through the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust and involved local people in conservation efforts.

Tourism in Mkomazi

The Mkomazi tourism is underdeveloped as compared to other more popular tourism destinations in Tanzania. This is a challenge as well as an opportunity. On one hand, the infrastructure and marketing have been limited, and this has ensured that the number of visitors remains low. Conversely, this non-presence of crowds provides a special, quiet experience to those who do travel.

A small number of lodges and tented camps within and around the park area, especially in the same area, provide comfy accommodation. The visitors within the park can get game drives, bird watching, and rhino sanctuary (by special arrangement) visits. It is also possible to do guided walks and experiences in the local Pare and Maasai communities.

Due to its distant and fairly quiet location, Mkomazi is especially attractive to photographers, wilderness admirers, and eco-tourists who would like to go to places that are not that popular.

Future Prospects

Mkomazi has a high potential for eco-tourism of wildlife conservation. Properly invested in infrastructure, marketing and sustainable tourism, it might become one of the key attractions in the Tanzanian northern circuit, to supplement visits to Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park and the Amboseli National Park in Kenya.

Mkomazi also has a niche in conservation programs in the world, thanks to the ongoing success of its rhino and wild dog programs. The growth of these programs, the intensification of cross-border cooperation with Kenya, and the ability to make sure that local communities remain the beneficiaries of conservation work will be among the keys towards the long-term sustainability of the park.

Conclusion

Mkomazi National Park is a secret garden in Tanzania, a place of bare beauty, unique wildlife and compelling conservation tales. It might not be as well-known as the Serengeti or Ngorongoro yet, but it has one thing that could be considered more important: a close and personal experience of the wilderness of Africa without the masses of people. To people who will go off the tourist trail, Mkomazi can be an invaluable adventure and an opportunity to invest in one of the most incredible conservation success stories on the continent.