Mkomazi National Park, situated in the northeastern part of Tanzania along the Kenyan border within the Kilimanjaro Region and Tanga Region, was initially designated as a game reserve in 1951. In 2006, it was elevated to the status of a national park. Encompassing an expansive area exceeding 3,200 square kilometers, the park is characterized by Acacia-Commiphora vegetation and shares a continuous boundary with Kenya's Tsavo West National Park.
The term 'Mkomazi' encompasses the amalgamation of two former game reserves: the Umba Game Reserve in the east, located in Lushoto District, Tanga Region, and the Mkomazi Game Reserve in the west, situated in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region. Occasionally referred to as the Mkomazi/Umba Game Reserves in official documentation, Mkomazi, being the larger of the two, exhibits greater relief and habitat diversity. Moreover, it shares an extended border with Tsavo West National Park. Throughout the remainder of this description, 'Mkomazi' will denote both the Mkomazi and Umba reserves collectively.
