MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK

Overview

Frequently compared to the Serengeti in the north, Mikumi is a sprawling national park that borders the massive Selous Game Reserve.

The broad Mkata floodplain is an ideal place to spot lions as they lazily survey the vast herds of buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and impala that roam the grasslands. Elephants seek the shade of acacia stands while hippopotamus wallow in pools close to the entrance gate.

Perhaps most unique to Mikumi are its African Wild Dog population and its large eland population. The largest member of the antelope family cuts a striking figure as it grazes on the open fields, and the park’s huge array of bird life (over 400 species) make it a birder’s paradise as well.

Info

Size: 542 square kilometres.
Location: North-east of Arusha.
Best Time: Year round. For climbing Mt. Meru, the best time is June-February. For views of Kilimanjaro, the best time is December-February.
TO DO: Game Drive, Canoeing, Walking Safari, Mt. Meru Climbing
Known For: Perfect for a day trip from Arusha, and a great place to mix a traditional game drive with a walking or canoeing component.

Details of Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park abuts the northern border of Africa’s biggest game reserve – the Selous – and is transacted by the surfaced road between Dar es Salaam and Iringa. It is thus the most accessible part of a 75,000 square kilometre (47,000 square mile) tract of wilderness that stretches east almost as far as the Indian Ocean. The open horizons and abundant wildlife of the Mkata Floodplain, the popular centrepiece of Mikumi, draw frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains. More than 400 bird species have been recorded, with such colourful common residents as the lilac-breasted roller, yellow-throated long claw and bateleur eagle joined by a host of European migrants during the rainy season.

Hippos are the star attraction of the pair of pools situated 5km north of the main entrance gate, supported by an ever-changing cast of water birds.