Mkomazi National Park

National Park · Tanzania

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Photo © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters

Photo © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters — CC0 1.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Where semi-arid grasslands and acacia woodland meet the rain shadow of Kilimanjaro's northern slopes, Mkomazi National Park preserves one of East Africa's most underrated dry-country ecosystems. The terrain rolls through scattered thornbush savanna and open plains, punctuated by seasonal watercourses that flow only during the brief rains—creating a landscape shaped entirely by water scarcity and the rhythms of drought. Here, in this BSh climate zone of hot, semi-arid conditions, the vegetation adapts to extremes: sparse grasses green briefly after rains, while hardy acacias and other drought-tolerant shrubs dominate year-round. The park's ecological character is defined by this dryness, yet it remains a critical refuge for wildlife adapted to arid conditions. Predators hunt across open ground where prey animals gather at water sources, and smaller mammals and birds survive through precise behavioral and physiological adjustments to heat and limited moisture. The park's fauna reflects the semi-arid savanna habitat—birds of prey, ground-dwelling game birds, small carnivores, ungulates of the dry country, and countless insects and reptiles attuned to this demanding environment.

For wildlife observers and photographers seeking authentic dry-country Africa away from crowded circuits, Mkomazi offers unfiltered access to predator-prey dynamics and to the specialized birds and smaller creatures of arid savanna. The dry season, from June through October, concentrates animals around permanent and semi-permanent water points, creating reliable wildlife viewing and excellent photographic light during early morning and late afternoon. During this window, the clarity of the semi-arid air and the sparse vegetation provide clean sightlines across plains and through open woodland—ideal conditions for tracking birds of prey, monitoring small mammal activity, and observing the larger ungulates that migrate seasonally through the region. The park remains pleasantly remote, with limited tourist infrastructure, meaning visitors who make the journey encounter landscapes and wildlife encounters far removed from the safari-park experience. Access is most rewarding during the dry months, when roads are passable and wildlife is concentrated, making it an essential destination for serious naturalists and photographers committed to experiencing East African ecology in its harshest and most unforgiving form.

Website tanzaniaparks.go.tz/national_parks/mkomazi-national-park

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Eagle-Eye Tours

Tanzania Birding & Wildlife Safari

Eagle-Eye Tours·Tanzania

1–16 Apr 2027

16 days 6 EN Kori Bustard · Secretarybird +23

Sagittarius serpentarius

Polemaetus bellicosus

Struthio camelus

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Vulturine Guineafowl

Acryllium vulturinum

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis leucoscepus

Caprimulgus inornatus

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

White-bellied Bustard

Eupodotis senegalensis

Buff-crested Bustard

Lophotis gindiana

Hartlaub's Bustard

Lissotis hartlaubii

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Clamator jacobinus

Chrysococcyx klaas

Black-faced Sandgrouse

Pterocles decoratus

Speckled Pigeon

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Actophilornis africanus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Tringa glareola

Calidris minuta

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Ciconia ciconia

African Spoonbill

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Grasshopper Buzzard

Butastur rufipennis

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus minor

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Von der Decken's Hornbill

Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus flavirostris

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Coracias naevius

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus uropygialis

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

Black-throated Barbet

Tricholaema melanocephala

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Polihierax semitorquatus

Falco tinnunculus

Red-bellied Parrot

Poicephalus rufiventris

Eastern Black-headed Batis

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Rosy-patched Bushshrike

Rhodophoneus cruentus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Northern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus ruppelli

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Lanius dorsalis

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

Mouse-colored Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus musculus

Pink-breasted Lark

Calendulauda poecilosterna

Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Pycnonotus barbatus

Hirundo rustica

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Cisticola cinereolus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Grey Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes simplex

Zosterops flavilateralis

Rufous Chatterer

Argya rubiginosa

Scaly Chatterer

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Golden-breasted Starling

Lamprotornis regius

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Hildebrandt's Starling

Lamprotornis hildebrandti

Fischer's Starling

Lamprotornis fischeri

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Bare-eyed Thrush

Turdus tephronotus

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes orientalis

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Hunter's Sunbird

Chalcomitra hunteri

Black-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris nectarinioides

Cinnyris tsavoensis

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

White-headed Buffalo Weaver

Dinemellia dinemelli

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Black-necked Weaver

Ploceus nigricollis

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Vitelline Masked Weaver

Ploceus vitellinus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Grey-headed Silverbill

Spermestes griseicapilla

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Steel-blue Whydah

Vidua hypocherina

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Tmetothylacus tenellus

Pangani Longclaw

Macronyx aurantiigula

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

White-bellied Canary

Crithagra dorsostriata

Emberiza poliopleura

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Eastern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera pucherani

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Coturnix coturnix

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

European Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

Sombre Nightjar

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Centropus grillii

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

Pterocles exustus

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Gallinula chloropus

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Western Cattle Egret

Pandion haliaetus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Western Barn Owl

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

White-headed Mousebird

Colius leucocephalus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

White-eared Barbet

Stactolaema leucotis

Moustached Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus leucomystax

Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

White-headed Barbet

Lybius leucocephalus

Brown-breasted Barbet

Pogonornis melanopterus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Green-backed Woodpecker

Campethera maculosa

Eastern Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos spodocephalus

Olive Woodpecker

Dendropicos griseocephalus

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Pringle's Puffback

Dryoscopus pringlii

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Lesser Grey Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Corvus splendens

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Fischer's Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucopareia

Fawn-colored Lark

Calendulauda africanoides

Singing Bush Lark

Mirafra javanica

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Olive-headed Greenbul

Arizelocichla striifacies

Northern Brownbul

Phyllastrephus strepitans

Grey-olive Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cerviniventris

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Cecropis senegalensis

Northern Crombec

Sylvietta brachyura

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Acrocephalus palustris

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Upcher's Warbler

Hippolais languida

Olive-tree Warbler

Hippolais olivetorum

Cinnamon Bracken Warbler

Bradypterus cinnamomeus

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Trilling Cisticola

Cisticola woosnami

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Red-fronted Prinia

Prinia rufifrons

Buff-bellied Warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Curruca nisoria

Banded Parisoma

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

South Pare White-eye

Zosterops winifredae

Shelley's Starling

Lamprotornis shelleyi

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

African Grey Flycatcher

Bradornis microrhynchus

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Rüppell's Robin-Chat

Cossypha semirufa

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

White-throated Robin

Irania gutturalis

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Saxicola rubetra

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Oenanthe pleschanka

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Gorgeous Sunbird

Cinnyris melanogastrus

Cinnyris mariquensis

Chestnut Sparrow

Passer eminibey

Passer rufocinctus

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Grey-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita arnaudi

Black-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita cabanisi

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Eastern Golden Weaver

Ploceus subaureus

Ploceus castaneiceps

Ploceus cucullatus

Golden-backed Weaver

Ploceus jacksoni

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Cardinal Quelea

Quelea cardinalis

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Zanzibar Red Bishop

Euplectes nigroventris

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Southern Red Bishop

Euplectes capensis

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

African Silverbill

Euodice cantans

Red-faced Crimsonwing

Cryptospiza reichenovii

Black-faced Waxbill

Brunhilda erythronotos

Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Ortygospiza atricollis

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus cyanocephalus

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Dusky Indigobird

Straw-tailed Whydah

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Anthus cinnamomeus

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus trivialis

Southern Citril

Crithagra hyposticta

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Southern Grosbeak-Canary

Crithagra buchanani

Streaky Seedeater

Crithagra striolata

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Butorides striata

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

Abyssinian White-eye

Zosterops abyssinicus

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

Giraffa tippelskirchi

Heterohyrax brucei

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Papio cynocephalus

Ochre Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus ochraceus

Unstriped Ground Squirrel

Single-striped Grass Mouse

Lemniscomys rosalia

Heuglin's Striped Grass Mouse

Lemniscomys zebra

Leptailurus serval

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Common Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale parvula

Banded Mongoose

Crocuta crocuta

Genetta genetta

Civettictis civetta

Aepyceros melampus

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Redunca redunca

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Northern Lesser Galago

Galago senegalensis

Caracal caracal

Grant's Gazelle

Raphicerus campestris

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Tragelaphus oryx

African Wildcat

Litocranius walleri

Syncerus caffer

Tragelaphus imberbis

African Wild Dog

Acinonyx jubatus

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