Travel with Lasi Tours and Safaris

Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park is located south of Dar es Salaam right on the main Morogoro-Iringa Highway with an approximate travel time of 4½ hours and the first national park stop on the Tanzania southern circuit safari. The word Mikumi has nothing to do with number ten in Swahili, which is kumi but the name comes after a local word for Borassus palm trees referred to as Mikuky. Mikumi was the name given to the villages created by a tribal chief of Wavindunda community with the name of Mtwahela Kikuwi (pronounced mm-twa-hhe-laa Kee-kuu-wee). Mikumi was named as National Park in 1967 and currently has an approximate size of 3,230 square kilometers.

Mikumi National Park has an excellent opportunity to view a diverse number of animals and birds in short period of time without too much of driving around. Lions survey their grassy kingdom – and the zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo herds that migrate across it – from the flattened tops of termite mounds, or sometimes, during the rains, from perches high in the trees. Giraffes forage in the isolated acacia stands that fringe the Mkata River, islets of shade favoured also by Mikumi's elephants. More than 400 bird species have been recorded, with such colourful common residents as the lilac-breasted roller, yellow-throated longclaw and bateleur eagle joined by a host of European migrants during the rainy season. Hippos are the star attraction of the pair of pools situated 5km north of the main entrance gate, supported by an ever-changing cast of waterbirds.

How to get there

A good surfaced road connects Mikumi to Dar es Salaam via Morogoro, a roughly 4 hour drive.
Also road connections to Udzungwa, Ruaha and (dry season only) Selous.
Charter flight from Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Selous. Local buses run from Dar to park HQ where game drives can be arranged.

View Itineraries

More Destinations