Mikumi National Park

About Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park lies about 283 km west of Dar es Salaam on the surfaced A7 highway to Iringa, which crosses the park and makes it the most accessible wildlife area from the coast. Established in 1964, it covers 3,230 km² and borders the former Selous Game Reserve, now Nyerere National Park, to the south, so that the two form a single ecosystem.

The heart of the park is the Mkata floodplain, an open grassland with scattered acacia, baobab and palm that is often compared to the Serengeti. Elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, eland and lion are seen on the plain, and the hippo pools near the main gate are a reliable stop. More than 400 bird species have been recorded. The Uluguru and Udzungwa ranges frame the horizons, and Malundwe Mountain at 1,290 m is the park's highest point.

Mikumi suits short trips from Dar es Salaam and combines with Udzungwa Mountains National Park for forest hiking and waterfalls.

Highlights

• Mkata floodplain game viewing
• Hippo pools near the main gate
• Weekend reach of Dar es Salaam by road
• Elephant, lion and giraffe on open plains
• Over 400 bird species
• Pairs with Udzungwa Mountains hikes