Mkomazi National Park was commissioned as a Game Reserve in 1951 following the degazettment of the much larger Ruvu Game Reserve, and was established as a National Park in 2007. Mkomazi comes from Pare vernacular: one of the biggest tribes in the Kilimanjaro Region in Northern Tanzania, meaning ‘The source of water’. Indeed as the name befits, the only permanent and reliable source of water in Mkomazi National Park is the Umba River which also forms the boundary to the South-East of the protected area. The area is contiguous with the Tsavo West National Park in Kenya forming part of the Tsavo ecosystem. To be precise, the Mkomazi-Umba area can be located between latitudes 30 47’ to 40 33’ S and longitudes 37 45’ to 38 45’ E close to Same town along Moshi-Dar es Salaam road, and has a size of 3,245 sq. km (1,240 sq miles).
The Mkomazi and Umba Game Reserve have spectacular attractions, some of which are not found in other parks. More than 450 species of birds, including the Tawny Eagles, Go away birds, Ostriches, Parrots, Pelicans, Kingfishers, Plovers and more other species.
It is the only protected area in Tanzania with large and visible population of Gerenuk. Endangered species particularly Black Rhino and Wild dogs are also found. Large population of big and small mammals including Wild Cats, Silver Backed Jackals, Giraffes, Grant’s gazelle, Hyenas, Hartebeest, Warthogs, Buffalo, Elephants and Zebra is also present.
Scenic beauty of Landscape including view of Mount Kilimanjaro, Eastern Arc Mountains (Pare and Usambara) and associated hills.
