Mikumi National Park, which ranks as the fourth largest park in Tanzania, is an ideal safari destination where wildlife sightings are nearly assured.
Mikumi is among the largest National parks in Tanzania. Additionally, Dar es Salaam has the easiest access to it. It is the perfect safari destination for individuals who don’t have a lot of time because wildlife encounters are almost guaranteed. Moreover, Mikumi National Park had been anticipated to become a major tourist destination in Tanzania with the completion of the paved road connecting the park gate with Dar es Salaam.
The fourth-biggest national park in Tanzania, Mikumi, is only a few hours’ drive from the country’s main metropolis. Furthermore, it is situated between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range.
The park is home to a large diversity of species that is both easily spotted and used to game viewing. Mikumi is a well-liked destination for weekend visitors from the city or for business travelers who don’t have a lot of time to spend on an extensive safari itinerary because of its proximity to Dar es Salaam and the abundance of wildlife that lives inside its limits.
The ‘Big Five’—the leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, and also rhino—are the main draws for visitors to Mikumi National Park, and they almost never leave disappointed. The mud-loving animals can be viewed up close in hippo pools, while bird-watching along the canals is rewarding, too. Together, the Selous Game Reserve, Udzungwa National Park, as well as Mikumi National Park provide a diverse and enjoyable safari circuit.
The approaching dawn is obscured by swirls of thick mist. The first rays of sunlight cast a reddish glow over the puffy grasses that are rippling across the plain. At this hour when predators are most active, a herd of zebras strikes a ballerina-like position with their heads in line and stripes flowing together.
The surfaced road connecting Dar es Salaam and Iringa passes through Mikumi National Park, which borders the Selous, the largest game reserve in Africa, on its northern boundary. Thus, it is the area of a 75,000 square kilometer (47,000 square mile) wilderness that is most easily accessible. Additionally, this wilderness area extends almost as far east as the Indian Ocean.
The popular focal point of Mikumi, the Mkata Floodplain, is frequently compared to the more well-known Serengeti Plains because of its expansive vistas and profusion of species.
Lions watch over their grassy domain and the migratory herds of zebra, wildebeest, impala, as well as buffalo from the flat tops of termite mounds or, occasionally during the rainy season, from high perches in the trees.
Giraffes forage in the solitary acacia trees that line the Mkata River. Moreover, these are the same shade islands that Mikumi’s elephants like.
The Mkata Floodplain, which is crisscrossed by a good network of game watching routes, is maybe the most dependable location in Tanzania for sightings of the mighty eland, the largest antelope in the world. The miombo-covered foothills of the highlands that rise from the park’s boundaries are home to the equally magnificent greater kudu and sable antelope.
More than 400 bird species have been identified, with many European migrants arriving during the rainy season to join colorful common residents like the lilac-breasted roller, yellow-throated long claw, as well as bateleur eagle. Five kilometers north of the main entrance gate, amid a pair of pools, hippos are the main draw, backed by a shifting ensemble of water birds.
If you like Mikumi National Park, you might also like Mkomazi National Park.
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