Mkomazi Rhino Day Trip from Moshi
A private day trip from Moshi to Mkomazi National Park, on the Kenyan border next to Tsavo West: a game drive through dry bush and a guided visit to the fenced black rhino sanctuary, where the park's rhinos are protected.
A Different Park, Close to Moshi
Mkomazi was a game reserve damaged by heavy grazing until the late 1980s. Since then it has been restored, and a conservation trust has run fenced sanctuaries for black rhinos and for African wild dogs. It became a national park in 2006 and sees far fewer visitors than the northern parks.
The day starts early from Moshi. In the park you drive through open bush and acacia country looking for giraffes, zebras, elands and other dry-country animals, then visit the rhino sanctuary with its rangers. Visits to the sanctuary depend on its permission on the day, which we arrange; rhinos live in thick bush, so a sighting can never be promised.
Highlights
- A guided visit to the black rhino sanctuary, arranged by us
- A game drive in a quiet park with few other vehicles
- Dry-country animals such as giraffes, zebras and elands
- Views of the Pare and Usambara mountains
- Picnic lunch in the park
What to bring
- Hat, sun cream and sunglasses: Mkomazi is hot and dry
- Binoculars
- A light jacket for the early start
- Your passport
More days out from Moshi: Lake Chala day trip, Materuni Waterfalls & Kikuletwa day trip
Route Map
- By road
- Day of the trip
- Arusha
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
We collect you from your hotel in Moshi early in the morning. The road runs south-east along the Pare Mountains to Same and on to the park gate, a drive of a few hours.
A game drive through the bush and open plains, looking for giraffes, zebras, elands, gerenuks and birds of the dry country, with the Pare Mountains behind.
A guided visit to the fenced black rhino sanctuary with its rangers, subject to the sanctuary's permission on the day, then a picnic lunch in the park.
Meals: Picnic lunch
A short game drive on the way out of the park, then the drive back to Moshi, arriving in the evening.
Price Per Person — Private Day Trip
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $380 |
| 2 People | $240 |
| 3 People | $195 |
| 4 People | $170 |
| 5 People | $160 |
| 6 People | $150 |
Price per person in US dollars, by the number of people in your group. Groups of more than 6: price on request. Pick-up from Arusha on request, at extra cost.
Trip Notes
- Pick-up: your hotel in Moshi
- A long day: early start, back in the evening
- Private trip: your group only
- Rhino sanctuary visit subject to the sanctuary's permission, arranged by us
- Prices may change if park fees change
Includes
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a driver-guide
- Mkomazi National Park entry fee
- Guided rhino sanctuary visit fee
- Picnic lunch and drinking water
Excludes
- Drinks other than drinking water
- Tips for your driver-guide and rangers
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
Will we see rhinos?
We cannot promise it. The rhinos live in a large fenced sanctuary with thick bush, and visits depend on the sanctuary's permission on the day. Your guide and the rangers do their best, but sightings are never guaranteed.
Why Mkomazi instead of a northern park?
It is quiet, with very few other vehicles, and it shows a different, drier landscape. It suits travellers who have already done the northern parks or who are staying in Moshi after a climb.
How long is the drive?
A few hours each way from Moshi, so it is a long day with an early start.
Can we stay overnight?
Yes. See our 2-day Mkomazi safari, with a night in the park.
