MKOMAZI WILDERNESS RETREAT

Nestled at the foot of the Pare and Usambara mountains in northeastern Tanzania, Mkomazi National Park is one of the country's lesser-known treasures. Bordering Kenya's Tsavo West National Park, together they form the vast Greater Tsavo Ecosystem, covering over 43,000 square kilometers.

Mkomazi protects one of Tanzania's most unique and fragile ecosystems. As the southern extremity of the Somali semi-arid zone and the Sahelian biosphere, it is home to many species not found elsewhere in the country. Formerly the Mkomazi and Umba Game Reserves (created in 1951), the area gained official national park status in 2008 under the management of Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), covering 3,200 km² of unspoilt wilderness.

Wildlife and birdwatching

Since becoming a national park, Mkomazi has undergone a remarkable renaissance. Poaching, overgrazing and illegal fires have all been greatly reduced. Animal populations are steadily increasing, and visitors can now see herds of elephant, zebra, eland, buffalo, giraffe, kongoni and dik-dik. The arid zones are also home to unique species such as oryx beisa, gerenuk and lesser kudu. Although large predators are rare, it is possible to spot a serval, a caracal or a wild dog.

Mkomazi is also a birdwatcher's paradise. Over 400 species have been recorded here - including endemics such as the Purple Hoepoe, Friedmann's Lark, Somali Long-billed Cranberry and Yellow-bellied Eremomel - a remarkable diversity despite the dryness of the terrain.

Ecology and climate

The name Mkomazi, which means "little water" in the pare language, reflects the semi-arid nature of the park. Yet its biodiversity is astonishing. Over 1,500 plant species have been identified, more than half of which are endemic. Wildlife observation is ideal during the dry season (June to November), but the park remains accessible all year round thanks to its network of all-weather roads. Situated between 800 and 1,200 meters above sea level, Mkomazi offers pleasantly cool nights, even during the hot months of December to March.

Conservation heritage

By the 1980s, Mkomazi had suffered severe ecological degradation. The once thriving black rhino population had disappeared, and wildlife numbers were plummeting. In response, the Tanzanian government invited the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust and its director Tony Fitzjohn to initiate a long-term rehabilitation project. Their efforts, in collaboration with TANAPA, have resulted in the restoration of large areas of habitat, the reintroduction of black rhinos into a secure sanctuary, and the launch of a successful wild dog breeding program.

The rhino sanctuary

TANAPA now manages two rhino sanctuaries within Mkomazi, where visitors have the rare opportunity to observe the endangered black rhino in a protected environment. This initiative is one of the pillars of the park's conservation success.

Community involvement

The involvement of local communities is essential to the conservation of Mkomazi. The Rafiki wa Faru ("Friend of the Rhino") program, developed with the Save the Rhino organization, aims to promote environmental education and awareness in the surrounding villages. It shows that conservation can generate real benefits for local populations, particularly in terms of employment and opportunities.