Underrated Mikumi National Park is known for its open horizons and abundant wildlife, especially across the Serengeti-like expanses of the Mkata Floodplain. The hippo pool and Millennium area are particularly popular, and for good reason. The Dar-Ruaha Road bisects Mikumi, and it can get busy during the dry season. To escape the crowds, the parks south have a wild, wilderness feel and are known for their elephants and lions.
Pros and Cons of Mikumi National Park
- Good general wildlife viewing, including lions, buffalo, elephants, and giraffes
- Home to unusual antelope species like eland, greater kudu, and sable
- Guided walks are available.
- Excellent, well-priced mid-range lodges
- A convenient stopover between Dar es Salaam and Ruaha National Park
- The park’s south promises quieter, wildlife-rich expeditions.
- The Tanzam Highway runs straight through the park.
- Animals are scattered and more difficult to see during the wet season.
- Some lodges close from March to May.
- The park can get busy at weekends.
Wildlife
The grasslands of Mikumi support large herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and impala. Giraffes and elephants are also common. Large predators such as lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas are less conspicuous but still possible. Watch also for eland, greater kudu, sable, and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. Troops of yellow baboons and vervet monkeys are found throughout the park. The planned reintroduction of rhino to Mikumi will only increase the park’s appeal.
Zebra, wildebeest, impala, and buffalo inhabit the grassy plains of Mikumi National Park. Lions, which prey on these animals, are also quite often seen. Giraffes browse the isolated acacia trees that fringe the Mkata River, where you should also see elephants.
The Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
The dry season runs from June to October, and late June to October is the best time for wildlife viewing in the park. This is when wildlife is easier to spot because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around the Mkata River, the hippo pool, and other waterholes. During September and October, these waterholes are almost constantly visited by big herds of buffalo and elephants, as well as other wildlife.
