How to Get to Mikumi National Park
How to Get to Mikumi National Park, Accessing Mikumi National Park: Tourists interested in visiting Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park need not worry, as Mikumi National Park is part of the Southern Circuit National Parks, offering excellent accessibility for daily excursions. Mikumi National Park is more accessible than other national parks due to its proximity to Dar es Salaam, the capital and primary entrance point for all international visitors to Tanzania. Located in southern Tanzania, 283 kilometers from Dar es Salaam, the park is reachable via the well-maintained Tanzam Highway, which links to Lusaka, Zambia. The park is reachable by both road and air.
Accessing Mikumi National Park Via Road
The meticulously engineered Tanzam Highway, across the National Park, facilitates convenient vehicular access to the park. Your tour operator, All Tanzania Safaris, can collect you from your hotel and commence your overland safari to Mikumi via Morogoro immediately upon your arrival at Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar es Salaam, or if you are already in the city. This is the most efficient and cost-effective method to access Mikumi National Park, resulting in a pleasant journey. The park can be accessed by car in three to four hours through exceptionally beautiful rolling hills and landscapes. Dar es Salaam has local buses that transport passengers to the park headquarters, the standard rendezvous point for game drive safaris.
Getting to Mikumi National Park Via Air Transport
For individuals desiring direct flights to the park, several airlines, such as Safari Air Link and Coastal Aviation, provide regularly scheduled charter flights from Dar es Salaam and Arusha, as well as connecting flights from the Selous Game Reserve to Mikumi and other national parks in the southern circuit.
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park, located on the southern circuit, is one of Tanzania’s largest national parks, encompassing an area of 3,230 square kilometers. Individuals on Tanzania safari excursions with constrained time might conveniently visit Dar-Es-Salaam, accessible within three to four hours by car. Mikumi National Park provides a multitude of exceptional tourism activities for Tanzania safaris throughout the year. This has enhanced the park’s reputation as a prominent safari destination in Tanzania, attracting an increasing number of travelers, especially those seeking weekend or short-term safaris. The park’s proximity to Dar es Salaam makes brief Tanzania safaris suitable for individuals with constrained schedules. In Mikumi National Park, favored visitor activities encompass;
Safari excursions
Game drives constitute a favored tourist activity in Mikumi National Park. Game drives provide visitors to Mikumi National Park, a savannah grassland national park, the chance to observe animals in their natural environment. Experience the expansive Mkata Floodplain during a game drive safari in this extensive national park. This location is optimal for observing a pride of lions tracking their prey, primarily comprising substantial herds of buffalo, zebras, wild dogs, wildebeest, and impalas that inhabit the grassy plains. Observe hippos swimming in groups in the artificial ponds near the entrance, elephants seeking refuge under acacia trees for shade, and herds of giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and several other species gathering around these water sources.
Hiking
Mikumi National Park is situated north of the Uluguru Mountains, a significant mountain range among the Eastern Arc Mountains. The principal Mountain Ridge of the range attains a maximum elevation of 2,630 meters, offering a stunning panorama and showcasing a diverse array of flora and fauna, including rare species of plants, animals, mammals, and amphibians exclusive to this region. Experience the genuine essence of natural habitat and wilderness by meandering along the pathways that traverse lush, thick forests. Adventure, stunning landscapes, verdant vegetation, and a plethora of popular potted plants—including endemic varieties such as African violets, impatiens, and begonias—are all at your disposal.
Bird Watching
Birdwatching is one of the most popular activities in Mikumi National Park’s safari excursions in Tanzania. One of the premier birding safari destinations, offering the opportunity to observe over 500 unique bird species, including migratory, savannah, aquatic, and endemic species. The diverse ecosystems of open grasslands, wetland regions, and artificial hippo pools in Mikumi National Park are optimal for observing aquatic avian species, such as the African Fish Eagle, African Spoonbill, Bateleur Eagle, and Open Billed Stork. Additionally, one may encounter the indigenous Zanzibar Red Bishop, Yellow Throated Long Claw, Lilac Breasted Roller, and African Fish Eagle.
Avifauna Observation at Mikumi National Park Ecological Trek
The park features multiple trails that allow for intimate exploration of the savannah plains, particularly suited for outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts. The Lodge Trail, Vuma Trail, and Kikogoba Trail are among these trails. While traversing these paths, one can witness various avian species, wildlife, and park attributes.
Mikumi National Park features two campsites: one public and one private. Explore the public camping in Nkata Plains and the private campsite in Vuma Hills to experience the profound sensation of slumbering deep within the forest. During your wildlife expedition, both provide distinctive Tanzania safari camping experiences to admire nature and its splendor.
Picnic
Optimal picnics are included in the tourism activities offered at Mikumi National Park, an Arid Wilderness Arena, whether one desires to partake during a family safari tour, holiday safaris, group safari, or as a pair on an adventure. You will be compensated for these picnic safari excursions with breathtaking vistas, distinctive landscapes, and locations that guarantee extraordinary adventures and transformative interactions.