Mkomazi National Park

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🦒 West Usambara Two-horned Chamaeleon Sanctuary

🌍 #124 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #40 in Africa #42 in Savanna & Grassland

East Africa, Tanzania 1572 spp. recorded

Mkomazi National Park is a tropical savanna reserve in northeastern Tanzania, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pare and Usambara mountain ranges. This arid landscape stands apart from greener southern parks through its vast acacia woodlands and open semi-arid plains, creating a rugged frontier habitat for specialized East African wildlife.

-4.183° S 38.185° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

30–40% · Possible

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

Insufficient data

East African Giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

40–50% · Likely

East African Oryx

Oryx beisa

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Usambara Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris usambaricus

60–70% · Likely

West Usambara two-horned chamaeleon

Kinyongia multituberculata

50–60% · Likely

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

50–60% · Likely

Black Sawwing

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

50–60% · Likely

Bar-throated Apalis

Apalis thoracica

40–50% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

40–50% · Likely

Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus

40–50% · Likely

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

30–40% · Possible

White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher

Elminia albonotata

30–40% · Possible

African Tailorbird

Artisornis metopias

30–40% · Possible

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Mountain Greenbul

Arizelocichla nigriceps

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

30–40% · Possible

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

Insufficient data

East African Giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

40–50% · Likely

East African Oryx

Oryx beisa

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

30–40% · Possible

Hartebeest

Alcelaphus buselaphus

30–40% · Possible

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

30–40% · Possible

Common Eland

Taurotragus oryx

30–40% · Possible

Angola Colobus

Colobus angolensis

20–30% · Possible

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

20–30% · Possible

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

Xerus rutilus

20–30% · Possible

Lion

Panthera leo

20–30% · Possible

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

20–30% · Possible

Gerenuk

Litocranius walleri

20–30% · Possible

Lesser Kudu

Tragelaphus imberbis

10–20% · Possible

Serval

Leptailurus serval

10–20% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Usambara Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris usambaricus

60–70% · Likely

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

50–60% · Likely

Black Sawwing

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

50–60% · Likely

Bar-throated Apalis

Apalis thoracica

40–50% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

40–50% · Likely

Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus

40–50% · Likely

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

30–40% · Possible

White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher

Elminia albonotata

30–40% · Possible

African Tailorbird

Artisornis metopias

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Mountain Greenbul

Arizelocichla nigriceps

30–40% · Possible

D'Arnaud's Barbet

Trachyphonus darnaudii

30–40% · Possible

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

West Usambara two-horned chamaeleon

Kinyongia multituberculata

50–60% · Likely

Flap-necked Chameleon

Chamaeleo dilepis

20–30% · Possible

African Striped Skink

Trachylepis striata

20–30% · Possible

Rosette-nosed Chameleon

Rhampholeon spinosus

20–30% · Possible

Speke’s sand lizard

Heliobolus spekii

10–20% · Possible

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

Insufficient data

Sudan Mabuya

Trachylepis brevicollis

Insufficient data

Rock Monitor

Varanus albigularis

Insufficient data

Painted Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus picturatus

Insufficient data

Kenyan Rock Agama

Agama lionotus

Insufficient data

Green pygmy chameleon

Rhampholeon viridis

Insufficient data

Uthmöller's Chameleon

Kinyongia uthmoelleri

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Senegal Kassina

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Gong Rock Frog

Hyperolius glandicolor

Insufficient data

Mainland Reed Frog

Hyperolius substriatus

Insufficient data

Shovel-nosed Frog

Hemisus marmoratus

Insufficient data

Yellow-spotted Tree Frog

Leptopelis flavomaculatus

Insufficient data

Mazumbai Warty Frog

Callulina kisiwamsitu

Insufficient data

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data

Water Lily Reed Frog

Hyperolius pusillus

Insufficient data

African Common Toad

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data

Edible bullfrog

Pyxicephalus edulis

Insufficient data

Delicate Spiny Reed Frog

Afrixalus delicatus

Insufficient data

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Dry Season Wildlife Concentration

JunJulAugSep

As water sources dwindle during the dry months, large mammals concentrate near remaining permanent waterholes and riverbeds, offering exceptional game viewing.

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

30–40% · Possible

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

30–40% · Possible

🐦

Peak Birdwatching Migration and Nesting

OctNovDec

The end-of-year months coincide with peak seasonal activity and plumage displays for numerous resident and migratory bird species.

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

50–60% · Likely

Usambara Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris usambaricus

60–70% · Likely

🐸

Wet Season Amphibian Chorus

MarAprNov

Seasonal rains transform the arid landscapes into lush breeding grounds, triggering massive choruses and activity among specialized amphibians.

Senegal Kassina

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Gong Rock Frog

Hyperolius glandicolor

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

30–40

40–50

30–40

30–40

30–40

40–50

40–50

30–40

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

Black Rhinoceros

30–40

30–40

40–50

10–20

20–30

30–40

30–40

50–60

20–30

10–20

0–10

10–20

Painted Hunting Dog

<5

10–20

20–30

<5

0–10

<5

10–20

10–20

<5

<5

<5

<5

East African Giraffe

30–40

40–50

40–50

10–20

30–40

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

30–40

50–60

East African Oryx

30–40

20–30

0–10

0–10

10–20

30–40

0–10

20–30

30–40

20–30

20–30

0–10

Usambara Double-collared Sunbird

30–40

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

West Usambara two-horned chamaeleon

70–80

60–70

60–70

30–40

70–80

50–60

30–40

70–80

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

African Dusky Flycatcher

20–30

30–40

40–50

40–50

30–40

50–60

40–50

30–40

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

30–40

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

Bar-throated Apalis

30–40

50–60

40–50

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

30–40

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

Fork-tailed Drongo

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

30–40

30–40

40–50

30–40

50–60

60–70

40–50

20–30

30–40

40–50

70–80

40–50

Hartlaub's Turaco

20–30

40–50

20–30

30–40

20–30

20–30

50–60

20–30

30–40

60–70

30–40

40–50

White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher

10–20

30–40

20–30

30–40

20–30

50–60

30–40

30–40

40–50

50–60

30–40

40–50

African Tailorbird

20–30

30–40

30–40

20–30

20–30

40–50

40–50

30–40

30–40

40–50

30–40

50–60

African Bush Elephant

10–20

40–50

10–20

10–20

20–30

40–50

30–40

50–60

40–50

30–40

10–20

40–50

Eastern Mountain Greenbul

10–20

30–40

30–40

40–50

20–30

10–20

40–50

30–40

50–60

40–50

30–40

30–40

Animal Events

🦌 Dry Season Wildlife Concentration

🐦 Peak Birdwatching Migration and Nesting

🐸 Wet Season Amphibian Chorus

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🦒 West Usambara Two-horned Chamaeleon Sanctuary

🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

917

🐒 Mammals

320

🦎 Reptiles

247

🐸 Amphibians

88

1572 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

88 Threatened 5 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

46%

📊

Coverage (347 species at ≥5% of 1572 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

22%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 2 mammal, 1 reptile)

47% Global avg

54%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

231

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

30

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

8

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