Mikumi National
Park lie alongside the Northern border of Africa’s biggest Game Reserve – the
Selous Game Reserve– forming a unique ecosystem, and is divided by the surfaced
road between Dar es Salaam and Iringa. It is thus the most accessible part of a
75,000 square kilometer tract of wilderness that stretches East almost as far
as the Indian Ocean. Other natural areas bordering the National Park are the
Udzungwa Mountains and Uluguru Mountains. A good surfaced road connects Mikumi
to Dar es Salaam via Morogoro, a roughly 4-hour drive.
The open
horizons and abundant wildlife of the Mkata Floodplain, the popular centerpiece
of Mikumi, draw frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains. Lions
survey their grassy kingdom – and the Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala and Buffalo
herds that migrate across it – from the flattened tops of termite mounds, or
sometimes, during the rains, from perches high in the trees. Giraffes forage in
the isolated acacia stands that fringe the Mkata River, islets of shade favored
also by Mikumi’s Elephants.
Criss-crossed
by a good circuit of game-viewing roads, the Mkata Floodplain is perhaps the
most reliable place in Tanzania for sightings of the powerful Eland, the
world’s largest Antelope. The equally impressive Greater Kudu and Sable
Antelope haunt the Miombo-covered foothills of the mountains that rise from the
park’s borders.
More than 400
bird species have been recorded, with such colorful 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.
WHAT TO DO:
1.
Wildlife safaris
2.
Walking safaris
3.
Bird watching
4.
Camping safaris
5.
GETTING THERE:
6.
Charter flight
7.
Drive from Dar es Salaam
BEST TIME TO
VISIT
Accessible all
year round.
