Overview & Summary
Escape the crowded Northern Circuit and discover Mkomazi National Park, one of Tanzania's best kept secrets. Nestled between the Pare and Usambara Mountains, this pristine wilderness offers intimate game viewing with far fewer visitors than other parks. Here you will visit the renowned Black Rhino Sanctuary, home to over 30 endangered eastern black rhinos under constant protection, and the African Wild Dog Breeding Centre, one of East Africa's most successful conservation programs. Your BMC TOURS & SAFARI guide ensures a relaxed journey into this hidden gem where wildlife encounters feel personal and landscapes take your breath away.
Full Itinerary
Pare Mountains Scenic Journey & Savannah Wilderness Game Drive
Your safari begins with a warm welcome from your BMC TOURS & SAFARI guide at your Arusha hotel. You will depart on a scenic drive of approximately 4 to 5 hours through the beautiful Pare Mountains, with opportunities to stop for photos and stretch your legs along the way. Upon arrival at Mkomazi National Park, you will check into your comfortable lodge and enjoy a freshly prepared lunch.
In the late afternoon, you will set off on your first game drive across this vast wilderness. Look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, hartebeests, and oryx against the backdrop of volcanic hills and acacia woodlands. Your guide shares insights about the park's unique ecology and conservation efforts. As the sun sets over the savannah, you will return to your lodge for a delicious dinner and a peaceful night surrounded by nature's sounds.
Overnight at Babus Camp
Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary Visit, Wild Dog Breeding Program & Sunset Safari
After an early breakfast, you will visit the famous Mkomazi Black Rhino Sanctuary, a protected breeding ground established in 1991 through the efforts of conservationists Tony and Lucy Fitzjohn. Here you will have the rare opportunity to see endangered eastern black rhinos up close, learning about the intensive protection and breeding programs that have brought them back from the brink of extinction. After this moving experience, enjoy a picnic lunch in the park.
In the afternoon, visit the African Wild Dog Breeding Centre, one of the most successful wild dog conservation programs in East Africa. These painted wolves, with their incredible hunting success rate of 98%, roam the Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem. You will then enjoy a sunset game drive, searching for lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the park's rich birdlife before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at Babus CampDawn Predator & Rare Antelope Drive & Scenic Pare Mountains Return
Wake before dawn for an early morning game drive when wildlife is most active and the golden light illuminates the landscape. This is a wonderful time for photography and quiet observation as animals emerge from the night. Your BMC guide will navigate the park's rugged terrain, searching for any wildlife you may have missed, including the elusive African wild dogs, gerenuks, lesser kudus, and over 450 bird species that call Mkomazi home.
After several hours of game viewing, you will return to your lodge for a hearty breakfast and time to refresh. You will then begin your scenic drive back to Arusha, with a packed lunch provided for the journey. You will arrive in the late afternoon, with flexible drop-off at your hotel or the airport, marking the end of your unforgettable Mkomazi wilderness safari.
END OF OUR SERVICESInclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Professional English-speaking BMC TOURS & SAFARI guide
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Airport and hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha
- All park entry fees for Mkomazi National Park
- Black Rhino Sanctuary visit & conservation fees
- African Wild Dog Breeding Centre visit
- Game drives as described in the itinerary
- 2 nights' accommodation in comfortable lodge or camp (Babus Camp)
- Meals: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Bottled drinking water throughout your safari
- All government taxes and levies
Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs and laundry
- Accommodation in Arusha before or after the safari
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Optional Activities
