Southern Parks

Mikumi was made a National Park in 1964 and is 3,230 sq. km (1,250 sq. miles) in size. This enormous area links the Julius Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) with the forested abundance of the eastern arc mountains, and so is an important part of a huge ecosystem of rivers, flood plains, forests and woodlands. 

 

The northern plains that surround the Mkata River are readily accessible and is the best place to go for wildlife. A good network of tracks means that a wide variety of wildlife including buffalo, cape hunting dog and lion are approachable and can be enjoyed at close quarters.

 

Tourist attractions

 

Wildlife: Mikumi abounds with big game, including buffalo, elephant, the big cats, hippo, crocodile, giraffe, zebra, eland as well as smaller species. Some of the more unusual species such as sable antelope, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest and greater kudu inhabit the wooded areas surrounding the Mkata plains and are more of a challenge to find. But they’re there!

 

Birds: The area harbours multitude of bird species (400spp), from the striking turkey-sized group hornbill to the tiny sunbirds. Bateleur eagles are often seen soaring in the intense blue skies, and the lilac-breasted rollers add brilliance to their background.

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Vegetation: The park has a variety of vegetation types ranging from seasonally flooded grassland to woodland and riverine forest. The Afromontane Forest found on the summit of Malundwe Mountains is renowned for its unique flora and fauna.

 

Tourist activities

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• Game drives

• Night game driving

• Guided walks

 

When to go

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Mikumi’s dry season lasts between May and November, but despite wet spells during the remaining months, the countryside is green and beautiful and a well established network of roads and tracks ensures enjoyable visits all year round.

 

Getting there

Air. The Mikumi National Park airstrip is at Kikoboga and scheduled flights operate daily from all the main centres in Tanzania, but often routing via Dar es Salaam. 

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Road. An approximate 4 hour drive, (283 km) on a good surfaced road connects Mikumi to Dar es Salaam via Morogoro. This road also connects to Udzungwa, Iringa and Ruaha.

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Its proximity to Dar es Salaam makes Mikumi a popular option for weekend visitors from the city, or for business visitors who don’t have to spend a long time on an extended safari itinerary.

 

Safari ideas

 

On a safari from Dar es Salaam, Mikumi is en route to Udzungwa National Park and in the dry season a gravel road links up with Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous) from where one can fly back to Dar es Salaam. From Mikumi one can also carry on through to Iringa and Ruaha National Park, either by air or road.