Conveniently located along the Dar es Salaam–Iringa highway, Mikumi National Park is one of Tanzania’s most accessible safari destinations. The park lies between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango Range, forming part of the vast ecosystem that also includes the Selous Game Reserve and Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Covering an area of over 3,200 square kilometers, Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park and serves as a vital wildlife corridor between the coast and the southern circuit.
Thanks to the paved road connecting it to Dar es Salaam — just a few hours’ drive away — Mikumi has become a popular choice for weekend getaways and short safaris. Its open savannahs, reminiscent of the Serengeti, provide easy game viewing and a truly rewarding wildlife experience.
Mikumi offers an impressive diversity of animals that are well accustomed to safari vehicles, allowing for exceptional sightings. Visitors can expect to encounter the Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and the occasionally spotted black rhino — along with zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, impalas, hippos, and crocodiles.
The park’s hippo pools are particularly popular, offering close-up views of these massive creatures wallowing in the water, while birdwatchers can enjoy spotting more than 400 avian species along the rivers and floodplains.
Mikumi’s strategic location makes it an ideal part of a southern Tanzania safari circuit, linking seamlessly with Selous Game Reserve to the south and Udzungwa Mountains National Park to the west.
Whether you’re visiting for a quick escape from Dar es Salaam or including it as a stop on a longer southern safari, Mikumi National Park offers the perfect blend of accessibility, scenery, and exceptional wildlife viewing.
