Mkomazi National Park is a protected area in Tanzania. It is located in Same District of Kilimanjaro Region and Lushoto District, with a small part in Mkinga District of Tanga Region. The park was first created as a game reserve in 1951 and became a national park in 2006. It covers more than 3,234 square kilometers and has vegetation mainly made up of Acacia and Commiphora trees. The park is next to Kenya's Tsavo West National Park. The area known as Mkomazi is actually made up of two older game reserves: the Umba Game Reserve in the east (in Lushoto District, Tanga Region) and the Mkomazi Game Reserve in the west (in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region). In some government papers, they are called the Mkomazi-Umba Game Reserves. The Mkomazi reserve is bigger and has more different types of land and plants. It also shares a longer border with Tsavo West National Park. In the rest of this entry, the word "Mkomazi" will refer to both the Mkomazi and Umba reserves together.

History of contest

Mkomazi National Park, like many other protected areas, has a history of conflict between government conservation planners and local people who rely on the land for resources. Unlike some areas in East Africa, Mkomazi allowed limited use of resources when it was first created. When the park was established, members of the Parakuyo ethnic group, who had lived in the area for many years, were allowed to stay in the eastern part of the reserve with their cattle, goats, and sheep. The colonial government at the time believed they would not harm the environment. However, when the park was created, other groups, such as the Maasai, were forced to leave.

Over time, more herders moved into Mkomazi. Some of these new arrivals faced resistance from the Parakuyo, while others were welcomed. As both groups raised livestock, the number of cattle in the park grew quickly. By the early 1960s, about 20,000 animals were counted in the eastern part of the reserve. By the 1970s, pastoralists began grazing in the western part, and by the 1980s, around 80,000 cattle were in the park overall. Many of these new herders were Maasai, who share cultural and linguistic ties with the Parakuyo. Other groups, such as the Sambaa and Pare, also raised cattle in the area.

The large number of cattle caused environmental concerns, leading to pressure to remove them. In the late 1980s, the government decided to end all grazing in Mkomazi and evicted all herders. By 1988, the evictions were complete. The Parakuyo and Maasai who were removed challenged the legality of their removal in Tanzanian courts but lost their case. After the evictions, two charities, the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust and its American partner, began efforts to restore the park. They created protected areas for African wild dogs and black rhinoceroses, improved infrastructure, and supported local communities through outreach programs.

Despite these efforts, some pastoralists still enter the park illegally, especially during the rainy season. Today, debates about Mkomazi focus on its conservation success and its impact on people. Some conservationists view Mkomazi as a success story. They highlight the park’s restored wildlife populations, improved roads and facilities, and anti-poaching efforts. A new safari company plans to bring tourists to the area, which may increase funding for conservation. Supporters believe the park shows how conservation can recover land damaged by human activity.

Critics, however, argue that the story is not complete. They point out that thousands of herders were removed without adequate compensation and that many local people do not benefit from outreach programs. They question the environmental reasons for the evictions, which were often made without data. Critics see Mkomazi as an example of conservation policies that separate people from their land, creating a false image of untouched wilderness.

Although these two perspectives differ, they exist separately and rarely overlap. Conservationists promote Mkomazi as a success, raising funds and recognition globally. Critics discuss the park’s issues in academic and human rights circles, using it as a case study of conservation challenges. Some suggest allowing limited grazing in the park, but this is no longer possible since Mkomazi was upgraded to a national park, which bans all local use. Mkomazi will likely remain a place where two very different stories about its history and future continue to be told.

Fauna

• African wild dog
• Black rhinoceros
• Lion
• Common eland
• Hartebeest
• Grant's Zebra
• African Elephant
• Spotted hyena

A study by the UK's Royal Geographical Society found many different types of animals and recorded how these animals interact with each other.