Mikumi National Park

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Mikumi borders Selous Game Reserve to the south, the Uluguru Mountains to the northeast, and Uduzungwa Mountains to the west. 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.
Why visit:
Mikumi National Park is only three to four hours drive from Dar es Salaam, lying astride the main highway to Zambia, and en route to the National Parks of Udzungwa Mountains, Ruaha and Kitulo. The main feature of the park is the Mikumi flood plain, along with the mountain ranges that border the park on two sides. Open grasslands dominate in the flood plain, eventually merging with the miombo woodland covering the lower hills. With almost guaranteed year- round wildlife sightings, Mikumi is an ideal Tanzania Safari Destination for those without much time. The tamarind trees are a favourite spot for elephants and giraffes that spend hours eating the fruits.
Get To Explore:
  • See lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, sable antelope, eland
  • Mkata Floodplain provides vast areas for exceptional game viewing
  • Hippo pools near the gate host large wallowing pods
  • Baobab trees and miombo woodlands create scenic landscapes
  • Over 400 bird species, including migratory birds, abound
  • Mikumi is ideal for birdwatching, especially November to February
Best time to visit:
Wildlife viewing in Mikumi National Park is excellent year-round. But the best time to visit is from late June to October (the Dry season is from June to October) when Mikumi’s vegetation is thinner and animals gather around waterholes; this is especially the case in September and October, when big herds of animals come to drink at the last sources of water. If you’re a birder, November to February is best.
Weather & Climate:
The climate in Mikumi National Park varies from warm to hot and humid, with little change in temperatures through the year. The warmest months are October to March, and the coolest are June to August. Mikumi's Wet season runs from November to May, when rains occur almost daily, usually in the afternoon, but they seldom last long. The Dry season is from June to October.
Wildlife:
The park has many wildlife like buffalos, Lions, Zebra, Giraffes and Elephants .Giraffes are often seen browsing leaves from the isolated acacia trees that fringe the Mkata river. Also the greater Kudu and sable antelope can be found in the miombo woodland-covered foothills of the mountain that rise from the Park boundaries. More than 400 bird species, Mikumi National Park is also a heaven for birding-lovers. The most common ones being marabou storks, bateleur eagles, the black bellied bustards, guinea fowls, ox peckers, colorful lilac breasted rollers and yellow throated long claws. These are some of the many species you are likely to spot. The park also witnesses a passing of migrating birds from Europe during the rainy season such as blacksmith plovers, cattle egrets, various herons, fish eagles and many more.
Bird:
More than 400 bird species have been recorded in Mikumi National Park, making it a fantastic place to go birding. Colorful residents such as yellow-throated longclaw and bateleur are joined by a host of Palearctic migratory birds from November to April. The hippo pool and Mwanambogo Dam are good places to see water-associated birds such as African fish eagle, African spoonbill and hamerkop, while African openbills are often seen fishing along the Mkata River.
Getting There:
Safaris to Mikumi National Park usually start from Dar es Salaam, and your point of entry for the country will generally be Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and handle all further ground operations or domestic flights. Flying to one of Mikumi’s airstrips is possible from Nyerere (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Parks, as well as from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Charter flights might also be possible from some of Tanzania’s Northern circuit parks.