Mkomazi National Park (MKONAPA) in northern Tanzania has more than tripled its annual visitor numbers since launching a black rhino tourism programme in 2021, attracting about 10,000 tourists by September 2026, up from 3,000 before the initiative began. The increase highlights the growing commercial appeal of wildlife conservation and specialist safari experiences.

Black rhinos draw visitors

Assistant Commissioner for Conservation Eva Mallya, chief park warden at Mkomazi, said the black rhino conservation and breeding zone had become a major draw for tourists. The programme was introduced in 2021 to support efforts to protect the endangered species while creating opportunities for visitors to see the animals in a controlled environment.

“Come to Mkomazi National Park, you are 99 per cent guaranteed to see a Rhino,” is the slogan the park uses to promote the experience, Mallya said. The campaign targets travellers seeking close-up rhino sightings and photography, positioning conservation as a central part of the park’s tourism offering.

Beyond the rhino experience

Mkomazi also offers a broad range of wildlife, including African wild dogs, gerenuks, elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and giraffes. The park’s birdlife adds another attraction, with more than 450 species reported, drawing birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alongside visitors primarily interested in large mammals.

Tourists can explore the park through day and night game drives, walking safaris, wildlife photography and camping, Mallya said. These activities give visitors different ways to experience the landscape while broadening the park’s appeal beyond its black rhino programme.

A rare wildlife attraction

Geoffrey Kyando, senior warden in charge of tourism operations, said the gerenuk was another distinctive species that helped set Mkomazi apart. Also known as the giraffe gazelle, the antelope has an unusually long neck that allows it to reach vegetation in dry environments.

The species feeds mainly on shrubs and leaves and can obtain much of the moisture it needs from plants, rarely drinking water directly, Kyando said. Mkomazi is among the places in Tanzania where visitors can seek out gerenuks, which are adapted to the country’s drier northern regions.

Conservation supports tourism

Covering about 3,245 square kilometres in northern Tanzania, Mkomazi spans parts of the Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions and borders Kenya’s Tsavo ecosystem. The connected landscape supports wildlife movements, including those of elephants and other large mammals, particularly during the wet season.

Established as a game reserve in 1951, Mkomazi became a national park in 2006. Its rising visitor numbers show how wildlife protection can support tourism, giving travellers access to distinctive species while creating an economic incentive to preserve the habitats they depend on.