Mikumi National Park:

Lions relax up trees, while hippos bathe to the north, in Tanzania’s 4th largest national park, Mikumi. Situated on the northern border of the larger Selous Game Reserve, in central eastern Tanzania, this park is divided into two distinct regions: the northwest alluvial plains of the Mkata River Basin, with its savannah landscape, Acacia and palms; and the less hospitable and less accessible region to the southwest. To the west of the park, the Rubeho Mountains offer a striking silhouette. More readily available than other parks in the area, Mikumi National Park is a reliable destination for game viewing year round, but particularly during the dry season, from May - November.

Features:

Accessibility:

Accessible by the surfaced road between Dar es Salaam and Iringa, Mikumi is the most accessible part of a 75,000 sq km (30,000 sq mi) tract of wilderness that stretches east almost as far as the Indian Ocean.

Hippo pools:

Five kilometers north of the park, two artificially-made pools are home to many hippopotami, offering some of the best opportunities to see and photograph these majestic beasts.

Wildlife:

Mikumi boasts a wide variety of game including tree-climbing lions, elephants, zebra impala, eland antelope, baboons, wildebeest, and more.

The park is home to a subspecies of giraffe that is said to be the link between the Maasai giraffe and the Somali giraffe species.

More than 400 bird species have been recorded, including the brightly colored lilac-breasted rollers and yellow-throated long-claws.

Facts:

• established as a national park in 1964
• size: 3230 sq km (1200 sq mi)
• location: 283 km (175 mi) west of Dar es Salaam, north of the Selous Game Reserve

Accommodations:

• lodges
• luxury tented camps
• campsites

Add-ons:

• Night Game Drive