Wildlife enthusiasts on Tanzania holidays look set to benefit from the creation of a new national park in the north of the country.

The sanctuary will centre around Mkomazi, a former game reserve which will be joined with the Umba Forest Reserve to create Tanzania's 15th national park.

Officials say that the sanctuary will play a key role in protecting the wildlife that makes its home in this part of the world – providing migratory routes for elephants, oryx and zebras.

Tanzania National Parks director general Gerald Bigurube said: "In a national park there is no consumptive use of resources and this allows for the multiplicity of species, increasing the wildlife in the parks."

Mkomazi new national park status has three main purposes, the first of which is to ensure that the land remains suitable for wildlife - including the rare black rhino.

Second is the improvement of infrastructure, not only to help travellers to access the region but to support villagers who live nearby – with plans for 500 miles of road to be upgraded.

The final aim of the park is to encourage cultural tourism in the region, which officials say will benefit the people of Tanzania as well as its wildlife.

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