Located in Tanzania’s southern region, Mikumi National Park is one of the best safari park in Tanzania for wildlife viewing just like Serengeti but the different is that there is no great wildebeest migration in Mikumi. It’s one of the few parks that is close to Dar es Salaam city, the former capital and largest city in Tanzania making it a perfect day trip destination for visitors staying at Dar es Salaam. It was founded in 1964, and the Tanzania National Parks Authority oversees its management. Its 3,230 square kilometers of land make it Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park.
Before the express highway connecting Dar es Salaam with the South African countries was built, Mikumi safari park was one of the least visited national parks because of its low accessibility. This increased the number of tourists to the park. According to estimates, around 41,666 tourists from all over the world are thought to have visited the park in 2012.
Mikumi National Park was named after the prominent Borassus spp. palm tree species, which is a regular sight there. The tree is remarkable since it was born in the park but has no stems that can be seen from anyplace in the community. The village that is named after the park also shares its name with the park.
The location of Mikumi national park
The Mikumi National Park is situated in southern Tanzania, 240 kilometers from Dar es Salaam, the former capital of and largest city in Tanzania. In the center of Tanzania’s well-known mountains, close to the town of Morogoro is where the park stands. It shares a border with the Selous Game Reserve, the former largest national reserve in Africa. In the northeast, it shares a boundary with the Udzungwa mountainous national park, Uluguru, and Malundwe Mountains. The hill belt that runs from the east to the west cuts through the park. In the west, the park also abuts the Uvidunda Mountains.
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the three-peak Malundwe Mountains, whose ridge runs from north to south. The highest peaks lie in the south, where the highest point is 1290 meters above sea level. The A-7 highway, which splits the park into two sectors, makes it simple to get to the park from both the northern and southern sides of Tanzania. Game drives are conducted in the park’s northern region, which is where it is more popular.
Mikumi National Park’s Flora and Fauna
Mikumi National Park is endowed by nature with an abundance of greenery, and visitors frequently compare it to Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks. The park is split in half by the Tanzania A-7 highway, resulting in two distinct habitats with varied vegetation zoning. The alluvial plains, which are drained by the Mkata River, dominate the northern region. This area is covered in open Savannah grassland with big baobab, Acacia, palm, and tamarind trees scattered throughout. The palm grows along the Mkata river basin in the far north, close to the Uluguru and Rubeho mountains. In addition to adding beautiful scenery to your safari experience at Mikumi National Park, these mountains are also where park visitors go hiking.
Acacia trees and woods predominate in Mikumi National Park’s southern section. Due to their extreme safety, this hosts more rare wildlife species. The southern portion of this park’s only drawback is that it’s difficult to access due to a substandard road system. The park is made up of a variety of plant species that may be found in the vegetation of the African Savannah. Mikumi National Park is one of the parks in Tanzania where visitors can readily witness tree-climbing lions thanks to the park’s scattered acacia trees. In fact, Mikumi National Park offers a better possibility of spotting tree-climbing lions than the well-known Lake Manyara National Park.
Fauna/wildlife of Mikumi national park
It is a miniature Serengeti national park situated in the midst of a spectacular mountainous jumble. Wildlife in the park is now a year-round resident due to its distinctive territorial borders. Even though one of the African big five is absent from the park, the other four—lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes—are present. In addition to other animals, the park is home to giraffes, who are a special subspecies made up of a mix of Masai and Somali giraffe blood. Other animals, including hippos, zebras, gazelles, and others, are also enjoyed by the visitors.
Mikumi National Park is home to approximately 400 different bird species, including the secretary bird, lilac-breasted roller, Boehm’s bee-eater, Dickson’s kestrel, straw-tailed whydah, superb starling, yellow-throated long claw, bateleur eagle, and herons, to name a few. The Mkata floodplain, where all game drives are conducted in the park, is home to the abundant species in the Mikumi national park. Hippopotamuses can be seen in the artificial water pools close to the Mikumi national park gate.
Mikumi National Park’s Accessibility
Mikumi National Park is situated 240 kilometers from Dar es Salaam. Until the Tanzania A-7 highway was built, it was difficult to reach the park. The park is now one of the top tourist sites in the southern region of Tanzania as a result of the highway’s development. The visitor has access to public transportation that departs from Dar es Salaam’s Ubungo bus stand and drops them in Morogoro towns.
The reputable bus companies that run on a daily basis include Mbeya Express, Sumry Buses, and others. For a better time, arrange an all-inclusive Mikumi National Park safari with a respected local tour company that will provide you with a memorable animal encounter. Booking all-inclusive safari trips is more affordable than taking public transportation. During your safari, the operator is in charge of providing you with the best services possible. They provide transparency regarding every dollar spent during your Tanzania safari excursion.
Attractions in Mikumi National Park
The majority of Mikumi National Park’s attractions are situated inside the park, with only the picturesque mountains that line its borders serving as its outside. The park is endowed with a variety of attractions, including:
Wildlife
The park is home to a wide variety of animals, from the large African big game, such as lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, sable antelopes, hyenas, and African wild dogs, to the little dik-dik, gazelles, and Oribi. Visitors can see over 400 different bird species in the park, including the Secretary bird, superb starling, lovebird, herons, Black-bellied bustard, Guinea fowl, Ox peckers, Bateleur eagles, Cattle egret, Open-billed Stork, Yellow-Throated Long-Claw, Zanzibar Red Bishop, Lilac-Breasted Roller, Martial eagle, Francolin, and eagles. The Mkata plains in the north are the ideal place to watch wildlife.
Culture
Unique cultures that are well-organized under the Chilunga Cultural Tourism umbrella surround the park. They educate their tour guides about the various local cultures that surround the park. The cultural tour can be scheduled at their headquarters in Morogoro, which is a short drive from the park’s entrance. As a result, there is less poaching and other unlawful encroachment on the national park. This has encouraged the villagers to defend the area and helped them see the advantages of tourism.
Kinole Waterfalls
The settlement of Kinole is situated in the Uluguru Mountains, and this is one of the park’s main attractions. The hamlet, a fantastic location for sightseeing, hiking, and swimming, gave its name to the falls. Swim below the waterfalls, go bird watching nearby, and many other activities are available to visitors.
Mountains.
The Mikumi National Park is situated in the middle of the large mountains that define its boundaries. Many tourists who enjoy climbing and other strenuous safari experiences come to these mountains. It is also a good place to observe animals, particularly the jumping primates that may be seen in the mountains.
Recently, Mikumi National Park has gained popularity among visitors who come to enjoy the beaches of Zanzibar and other countries across the Indian Ocean. Due to its close proximity, many business travelers choose to finish their shopping at the park for a quick getaway.
