Establishment: 2007
Area: 2010 sq km
Location:
Contiguous with the Tsavo west National park in Kenya: the Mkomazi – umba area can be located between latitudes 3047’ to 4033’S and Longitudes 37045 to 4033’S and Longitudes 37045’ to 38045’E. Close to same town along Moshi – Dar es Salaam road.
Principal features:
The pare Mountains, open plains characterized by bushed and wooded grassland; dry upland forest of the western mountainous area; Acacia – commiphora vegetation.
Altitude:
Highest peak is Kinondu rising to 1,600 meters above sea level.
Major attractions:
High diversity of birds and insects; scenic beauty of the Pare mountains; large populations of gerenuk; views of Mount Kilimanjaro and a range of the Usambara Mountains: migrating birds: caves found along the slope of the Pare Mountains.
Common animals:
Elephant, giraffe, Grant’s gazelle, Lesserkudu, coke’s hartebeest, buffalo, gerenuk, zebra, warthog, reedbuck, waterbuck, Impala, eland, oryx, dikdik, silver backed jackal, wild dog and wildcat.
Distance and times:
120 km from Moshi; 155 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport; 200 km from Arusha; 480 km from Nairobi and 500 km from Dar es salaam. Takes 1 – 2 hours at a normal driving speed from the park to Kilimanjaro International Air port.
Best time to visit: June – January
Facilities:
Hotels and lodges in Same: campsites and picnic sites in the park: airfields within the park and at same town