About Mikumi national park

About Mikumi national park is one of the Tanzania national parks that is located in the Southern part of the country. Its one of the few parks that are close to the former Tanzania capital city Dar es Salaam. It was established in 1964 and managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority. It’s the fourth largest national park in Tanzania covering a total land area of 3,230 square kilometers. Mikumi national park was among the least visited national park due to poor accessibility till the express highway was construct that connected Dar es Salaam with the South African Countries hence boosting the number of visitors to the park. Its estimated that by 2012 the park received around 41,666 visitors which came from across the world.

Mikumi national park is named after the popular dominant Palm tree species that is commonly found at the park called Borrassus Spp. The tree is exceptional in that it grew at the park but with no stems seen from anywhere in the village. The park also shares its name with the village which is named after the park.

Location of Mikumi national park

 Mikumi national park is located in the South of Tanzania, it is 240 kilomters away from the largest Tanzania city Dar es Salaam. The park is located near the town of Mogoro in the middle of the famous mountains in Tanzania. It borders the African largest national reserve that is Selous Game Reserve in the South. It borders the Udzungwa Mountains, Uluguru Mountains and Malundwe Mountains in the North East. The park is crossed by the hill belt that crosses from the East to the West. The park also borders Uvidunda Mountains in the West. The beautiful scenery of the Malundwe Mountains which is composed of three peaks with its ridge running from North to South. The Southern peaks are the highest with its point reaching around 1290 meters high in elevation. The park is easily accessed through the A-7 highway that divides the park in to two sectors. The Northern side and the Southern side. The Northern part is more popular and its where game drives are done in the park.

Flora and Fauna of Mikumi national park

Mikumi national park is gifted by nature with great vegetation cover that guests mostly compare it with Serengeti national park and Tarangire national park. The Tanzania A-7 highway divides the park in the middle hence creating two different environments with different vegetation zoning. The Northern part is dominated by the Alluvia plains that is drained by the Mkata River. This region is covered by the open Savannah grass land that is dotted by the large Boabab trees, Acacia trees, palm and tamarinds. The palm is found along the river basin of Mkata in the far North near the mountains of Uluguru and Rubeho. These mountains add great scenic views during your Mikumi national park safari experience, its also where hiking is done at the park.

The southern part of Mikumi national park is dominated by the forests and acacia trees. This hosts more rare wildlife species due to the fact that they are very safe. The only bad news with the Southern part of this park is that its not easily accessible due to poor road network. The park is consist of different plant species which are found in the African Savannah vegetation. The dotted acacia trees has made Mikumi national park one of the parks where guests can easily see tree climbing lions in Tanzania. Infact the chances of seeing tree climbing lions in Mikumi national park are higher than the famous Lake Manyara National park.

Fauna/wildlife of Mikumi national park

Being a little Serengeti national park located in the middle of the great scenic juggle of the mountains. This unique territory boundaries has made the wildlife at the park permanent residents that can be seen throughout the year. However much the park is missing one of the African big five, the other four (Lions, leopards, Elephants and Buffaloes) are available. Other game found at the park include Giraffes which are unique as they are subspecies of mix blood of of Masai giraffe and the Somali giraffe. Guests also enjoy other game like hippos, Zebras, Gazelles and many more.

Bird list is also long making Mikumi national park a birding paradise, the park has over 400 bird species like Lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird, Boehm’s Bee-eater, Dickson’s kestrel, Straw-tailed Whydah, Superb starling, Yellow-throated long claw, Bateleur eagle, herons mention but a few. The bundant wildlife in the Mikumi national park is found around the Mkata floodplain where all the game drives are done at the park. Hippos are viewed at the manmade water pools that are found near the Mikumi national park gate.

Accessibility of Mikumi national park

Mikumi national park is located 240 kilometers away from the city of Dar es salaam/ It used to be hard to acess the park till the Tanzania A-7 highway was constructed. After the construction of the highway it has now made the park one of the dream tourist destinations in the Sourthern part of Tanzania. The guest can use public buses that come from Dar es Salaam and drop you at Mongoro town or Ubungo town. The good bus company that operate on daily basis include Sumry buses, Mbeya express and others. To enjoy much better book all inclusive Mikumi national park safari with the local reputable tour operator who will deliver you great wildlife experience. Book all inclusive safari packages are cheaper compared to using public means. The operator is responsible for all you’re the best service delivery during your safari. They give accountability of each coin spent during the safari visa vi your safari experience.

Attractions in Mikumi national park

The attractions of Mikumi national park are basically located inside the park with only the scenic mountains that are found around the borders surrounding the park. The park is gifted with a wide range of attractions like:

Wildlife

The park is endowed with more wildlife species that ranges from the African big game like Lions, leopards, giraffes, Elephants, hippos, Buffaloes, Sable Antelopes, hyenas, African wild dogs, kudu, Zebras, Wildebeest, eland and many more to the small dik dik, Gazelles, oribi and many more. The park also has over 400 bird species that guests can view like Secretary bird, superb starling, lovebird, herons, Black billied bustard, Secretary bird, Guinea fowl, Ox peckers, Bateleur eagles, cattle egret, Open billed stork, Yellow throated long claw, Zanzibar red bishop, Lilac breasted roller, Martial eagle, Francolin, eagles mention but a few. Game viewing is best done along the Mkata plains in the North.

Culture

The park is surrounded by the uniques cultures that are very organized under their umbrella the Chilunga Cultural Tourism. They train their guides about the different surrounding cultures that are around the park. The cultural tour is booked from their offices that are found in Morogoro which is a few minute drive to the park gate. This has boasted locals to protect the national park, helped they acknowledge the benefits of tourism hence reduced poaching and other illegal encroachments to the park.

Kinole Waterfalls

This is one of the key attraction in  Mikumi national park, its located in the mountains of Uluguru in the village of Kinole. The falls was named after the village, its great site for sightseeing, hiking and swimming. Guests can swim bellow the waterfalls, enjoy birding around the area and many more experience.

Mountains.

Mikumi national park is located in the center of the great mountains that form boundaries of the park. These mountains are attractions to many guests who like hiking and other challenging safari experience. Its also good spotting site for the wildlife especially the primates that are found jumping at the mountains.

Mikumi national park has of recent become a hot cake for the tourists who come and spend some time along the beaches of Zanzibar and others across the Indian Ocean. Its short distance has attracted many business tourists to spend a short holiday at the park after their shopping.