Mikumi National Park

Introducing

Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park is located in southern Tanzania and covers an area of 1,250 square miles ( 3,230sq km). Mikumi borders Nyerere (Selous) National Park on the northwestern side, part of the Nyerere/Selous ecosystem. The park is divided into two parts by A-7 Tanzania. The Mikumi landscape is similar to that of Serengeti, offering a unique ecosystem. The Northwest area is characterized by the alluvial plain of the river basin Mkata and a diverse vegetation consisting of dotted savannah with baobab, acacia, tamarind and palm trees. However, the southern side of Mikumi has less wildlife and is inaccessible. While touring the park, you will see some striking rock formations of the mountains Uluguru & Rubeho.

Mikumi National park is home to a unique species of giraffe compared to its counterparts, with a mix of the Masai giraffe and the reticulated giraffe. Mikumi Park is the best place to see eland, “the world's largest antelope”. Other unique animals are the greater kudu, sable antelope and Lichstenstein’s hartebeest. Mikumi National Park is more accessible for those people seeking a day trip from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. If you enjoy peace and tranquillity, Mikumi is less crowded than other parks in the northern circuit. The park is worth visiting for an exciting and unforgettable safari experience for two or more nights, especially towards the end of the dry season when large herds of wildlife are similar to those of Ruaha and Nyerere.

Experience the Mikumi National Park

Underrated Mikumi National Park is known for its open horizons and abundant wildlife, especially across the Serengeti-like expanses of the Mkata Floodplain. The hippo pool and Millennium area are particularly popular, with good reason. The Dar–Ruaha road bisects Mikumi and it can get busy during the Dry season. To escape the crowds, the park’s south has a wild wilderness feel, and is known for its elephants and lions.

Located between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range, Mikumi National Park has a wide variety of wildlife that is easy to spot and well acclimatised to game viewing. Its proximity to Dar es Salaam and the amount of wildlife that live within its borders makes Mikumi National Park a popular option for weekend visitors from the city, or for business visitors who don’t have long to spend on an extended safari itinerary.

Locate the Mikumi National Park

Discover: Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park is the perfect safari location when you don’t have the time for an extensive safari. The fourth largest national park in Tanzania offers great wildlife and sightings all year round. If your goal is to spot the ‘Big Five’ (leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino), you will certainly succeed here with the first four mentioned, but unfortunately the rhino has not been spotted here since the 1990s! The landscape of Mikumi National Park is often compared to that of the Serengeti and for that reason is called ‘Little Serengeti’. The road that crosses the park divides the park into two areas with partially different environments. The northwest consists of savannah scattered with acacias, baobab trees, tamarinds and a rare palm. In this area, furthest from the road, there are spectacular rock formations of the mountains Rubeho and Uluguru. The southeastern part of the park has fewer wildlife and is not very accessible.

Getting There

By Air: Mikumi National Park is accessed by air from Dar es Salaam Julius Nyerere International Airport to Kikoboga Airstrip, the only airstrip in Mikumi which serves connecting flights to Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park and Zanzibar. Safari Air Link is the only flight that flies to Kikoboga Airstrip in Mikumi National Park. The flight time from Dar es Salaam is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

By Road: Due to its proximity to Dar es Salaam, Mikumi National Park can be accessed for day visits and quick safaris. Nearly all Mikumi safaris start from Dar es Salaam, and guests fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport. The drive time from the airport to the park using Morogoro Road takes approximately 4-5 hours, covering a distance of about 310km. The drive takes the scenic route, where you will glimpse the Udzungwa Mountains.

By Railway: The third option is to travel to Mikumi by train. The journey starts from Dar es Salaam and travels through the park’s interior. Due to the train's slow speed, you will enjoy breathtaking scenery and wildlife along the way.

Best time to visit

The weather patterns in Mikumi National Park are different compared to those of Nothern Tanzania & Kenya, with the rainy season kicking in from November to May. Mikumi is an all-year-round park that one can visit anytime due to various attractions. However, the best times to visit Mikumi National Park for magnificent wildlife viewing are from June to October, a dry season with the greatest overall concentration of wildlife. For avid bird watchers, the best times to visit the park are during the rainy seasons of November to April.

Wildlife Experience

Mikumi National Park has scores of wildlife. The park is famous for its unique giraffe species, a cross between the Masai and the reticulated giraffe. The park has abundant elephants, giraffes, buffalos, zebras and wildebeests. Buffalo & Leopard), the only missing animal is the Rhino. However, it is rare to spot cats such as (leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs. You might occasionally spot lions and cheetahs in the park if you are lucky. There are also primates such as vervet monkeys and yellow baboons. The best area to spot wildlife is around Mkata Plains

Birdlife

Mikumi has magnificent birdlife, and over 400 species of birds are recorded in the park. The park is one of the top destinations in Tanzania for birdwatching activities and is home to the rare Eleonora’s Falcon, found during December and January. Other species of birds include bee-eaters, raptors, hornbills, Egyptian goose, Red-billed Teal, African black duck, helmeted guinea fowl, scaly francolin, little grebe, Namaqua dove, yellow-throated sandgrouse, fiery-necked nightjar, alpine swift, Jacobine cuckoo, black crake, white-bellied bustard, Great Egret, European night-jar, Hadada ibis, Bateuler, lizard buzzard scarce swift, Livingstone’s Turacogrey go away bird among others.

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