Hey Patron,
As promised in my last post, I’m sharing some photos from the amazing safari I took in Mkomazi National Park at the beginning of February.
I’d always dreamed of going on a safari, but I wanted to experience it without the crowds—no competing with other tourists for the perfect shot. When I discovered Mkomazi National Park, a remote and lesser-known reserve, I knew it would offer the kind of unique and unforgettable experience I was looking for.
We started our journey in the Umbasara Mountains and made our way down to the plains in a 4×4 off-road vehicle. It was a wild ride—about 150 kilometers of dirt roads, 100 of which were inside the park. Navigating was a bit of an adventure in itself! I drove, while my friend Mela handled navigation. Without a proper map, and with even Google Maps failing to show the roads, we relied on GPS points. We got lost a few times, even crossed into Kenya briefly, but eventually made it.
As we ventured deeper into the park, the landscape shifted dramatically, and we were greeted by a majestic bull elephant as we arrived at a stunning plateau surrounded by mountains.
Mkomazi is known for its Rhino Sanctuary and as a home to the rare and elusive African wild dog. Fewer than 6,000 of these wild dogs remain in the wild. While we didn’t spot any this time, as the sanctuary was on the opposite side of the park, I definitely plan to return to try again.
We stayed at the brand-new Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat, run by Janush and Savannah, who have created a truly magical place overlooking the park’s largest waterhole. Our evening and the next morning were filled with incredible wildlife sightings—majestic elephants, towering giraffes, buffalos, antelopes, zebras—all waiting their turn at the waterhole. We could even catch a glimpse of snow-capped Kilimanjaro, which we had been on just days earlier. Watching the elephants play in the water for hours was an unforgettable highlight.
What I loved most about Mkomazi was its sense of remoteness and untouched beauty. We spent hours driving through the park without seeing another soul, and I felt like I had been transported to another world.
Stay safe, my friend.
Greetings from Tanzania,
Floh
