Mikumi National Park
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, cheetah,
and lion are approachable and can be enjoyed at close
quarters.
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!
Getting there
Air.
The Mikumi National Park airstrip is at Kikoboga and scheduled flights operate daily from all the main centers in Tanzania, but often routing via Dar es Salaam.
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.
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.
Activities
Game drives
Night game driving
Guided walks
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.