Mkomazi National Park


Day 26 & 27 – 4th and 5th July 2019

Our next treat was the Mkomazi National Park, not particularly known for its animals other than the Geranook (a long-necked buck), but definitely its birds.  Here we hoped to see the Vulturine Guinea Fowl.  There was an abundance of African Orange-bellied Parrots and White-bellied Go-Away-Birds from the moment we entered the park.
White-bellied Go-Away-Bird

 We did some serious 4 x 4’ing on some of the routes, but it was totally enjoyable.   We thought we had escaped the Tsetse flies in Zambia, but alas, here there were areas totally infested - and of course one of those happened to be where I had to get out of the vehicle to see whether the road was passable.  Needless to say, we were being bitten like crazy by those that got into the car when I opened the door.  Just look at the size of these buggers catching a ride on the bonnet of the vehicle!

Tsetse flies on the car, just waiting for us to open a window!

  

True to rumour, we only saw a few of the normal antelope and loads of giraffe, but the specialty among the antelope sighting was the hugest herd of Eland we have ever seen!  The Geranook eluded us, but we later heard that this park has the largest number of these of all the Tanzanian Parks, but that they were to be found in the Eastern side of the park – we should have come into the park from the Eastern Usambara – if only we had known.  We however hope to see the Geranook at one of the other parks we will visit.

Some of the eland drinking
Our next stop will be Arusha.


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