Randilen WMA
RANDILEN WMA is located in Monduli District, Arusha Region, occupying an area of 31,200.68 hectares of forest land, carved from Mswakini, Mswakini Juu and Naitolia villages.
Best site for sundown and plain wildlife.
The Randilen Wildlife Management Area (WMA) established 2012 and registered 2013. It encompasses 312.00 km2 which corresponds to 31,200.68 ha of land.
The WMA is located in Monduli district Arusha Region. It’s formed by eigths villages namely; Lolkisale, Lemoot, Oldonyo, Lengolwa, Mswakini, Nafco, Mswakini Juu and Naitolia
This WMA is accessible by road transport, about 85 kilometres from Arusha City, near Makuyuni junction. Visitors can travel by cars plying between key wildlife parks in Northern Tanzania; notably Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Serengeti National Parks; also Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It takes roughly one hour to drive from Arusha to Randilen in a normal speed.
Randilen WMA shares its borders and wildlife resources with Tarangire and Lake Manyara ecosystem. Animals from Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, including Zebras, Birds, Elephant, Ostriches, Buffalos, Lions, Leopards, Dik Diks, Tortoises, Guinea fowls, Wildebeests and other big mammals migrate to Randilen.
The WMA which is set for photographic safaris as major tourist activity, is also frequented by big herds of Elephants, African Hunting Dogs, Buffaloes, Gerenuks, Giraffes, Eland, Lions, Leopards, Impalas, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Hartebeests, Jackals, Lesser Kudu, Greater Kudus, Pangolins, Thomson Gazelles and Pythons that are commonly seen. The Pancake Tortoises are abundantly seen at the Boundary Hills.
Other than wild animals, Randilen WMA is home to various bird species attracted by vegetation and water sources which contribute to an abundance and variety of bird life like Ostriches, Ground Hornbills, Love Birds, Parrots, Francolins, Guinea Fowls and Egyptian Goose.
The areas have significant elephant and buffalo populations which use this area as a migration area from Tarangire National Park. There is a breeding site for elephants where they give birth to their offspring.
Tree Climbing Lions can be seen in various places within the WMA, while at Lorusunyai Gorge is home to Pythons. Rare wildlife species like Wild Dogs, Lesser Kudu, Sandy wood and Dalbergia melanoxylon tree species are also found in Randilen.
“Korongo la Duma” – A canyon where Elephants produce their calves or giving birth to their offspring, is the other unique attraction in Randilen WMA and where tourists can visit to watch a natural phenomenon of which elephants reproduce.
Tourist accommodation facilities have been established in Randilen WMA. These are Eco Science Lodge, Tarangire Treetops Lodge, Boundary Hill Lodge, Kirurumu Lodge, Elephant Lodge and Nimali Lodge.
