Mikumi National Park

This park is famously known for the zebras. It’s found in the northern border of Africa’s biggest game reserve the selous and its divided by the surfaced road between Dar es Salaam and Iringa the park is the most accessible of a 75,000 sq km tract of the forest that stretches in the eastern direction as far as the Indian Ocean. The open horizons and the variety of wildlife of Mkata Flood plains and the centrepiece of Mikumi have drawn frequent comparisons to the famous Serengeti plains.

The animal varieties found here include; zebras, wildebeests, impalas, buffalos, that migrate across it- from the tops of the termite mounds, and in the rainy season, from the perches high in the trees. The giraffes forage is also found in the isolated acacia that stands in the Mkata River, the insets of shade favoured by Mikumi’s elephants.

The park is crossed by a good circuit of game viewing roads and the Mkata flood plains is the most reliable place in Tanzania for watching the Eland which is the world’s largest antelope. There is also the greater kudu and the sable antelope that haunt the miombo which is covered by the foothills of the mountains that rise from the park’s borders. There are also over 400 bird species and these have been recorded with the colourful common residents as the lilac breasted roller, bateleur eagle and the yellow throated long claw, these are also joined by a host of European migrants during the rainy season. There are also hippos in the pool that is located 5 km north of the main entrance gate being supported by a changing cast of water birds.

About Mikumi National Park

The park has a size of 3230 sq km and it’s the fourth largest ark in Tanzania, and it’s part of a much larger ecosystem that is centred on the uniquely vast selous game reserve. The park is located 283km west of Dar es Salaam, in the north of Selous and en route to Ruaha Udzungwa as well as Katavi

Getting to the park has a good surfaced road that connects Mikumi to Dar es Salaam via Morogoro and it’s roughly a 4 hour drive. There are also road connections to Udzungwa, Ruaha and Selous. The charter flight from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and selous can also be arranged. There are also local buses that run from Dar es Salaam to park headquarters where the game drives can be arranged.

There are many things that can be done in the park including; game drives, guided walk, you can visit the nearby Udzungwa or travel on to Selous or Ruaha. This national park is accessible all year round.  The accommodation facilities in the park the three luxury tented camps, three campsites, guest houses in Mikumi town on the park border. There is a lodge that is proposed at Mahondo and one permanent tented camp at Lumaaga .

Some of the accommodation facilities include; Vuma Hills tented Camp, Foxes tented camp, Mikumi wildlife camp, rest House located in Kikoboga, the Hostel, Lyambangali as well as campsites.