3,230 km² of open floodplain often compared to the Serengeti in miniature — the most accessible of the southern parks, a four-hour drive from Dar es Salaam.
Gazetted in 1964 and covering 3,230 square kilometres, Mikumi borders Nyerere National Park and shares much of its wildlife, but is far easier to reach — the surfaced Tanzam highway runs straight through it, and it is only about four hours by road from Dar es Salaam. That makes it the usual choice for a short safari or a first stop on a longer southern trip.
The Mkata Floodplain in the park's north is the prime game-viewing area, with open grassland that recalls the Serengeti and reliable sightings of elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and lion. Over 400 bird species have been recorded, and the park's hippo pools are a popular stop. Sable antelope and, occasionally, wild dog are seen in the wooded south.
Things To Do
The core of every safari — tracking wildlife across the parks in a pop-top or open-sided…
Tanzania has over 1,100 recorded bird species — from the flamingos of the Rift Valley lakes…