Wild & Beauty of Mikumi

Mikumi Wild & Beauty of

Paradise for Nature Lovers

If you have chosen the southern circuit for your adventure safari, then a visit to Tanzania’s fourth largest national park, Mikumi, is likely to be on your program. Four to five hours drive on comfortable roads will take you to this park which is known for hosting a wealth of Tanzania’s national animal, the giraffe.”

If you want to spend your holiday in a majestic natural area, the grand Mikumi National Park is the place to be. Established in 1964, Mikumi is the fourth largest national park in the world, enclosing an area of about 3230 square kilometers. Located south of Dar es Salaam right on the main Morogoro Iringa Highway, it is the first national park stop on the Tanzania southern circuit safari. The word Mikumi comes from 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-twahhe-laa Kee-kuu-wee). Mikumi National Park has two

main sections divided by the main road.

The Northwest Section: is where most guests undertake their wildlife and birdlife viewing expeditions made possible by existing safari tracks. The Mkata flood plains aid the ecosystem by creating pools of water and therefore creating a sustainable environment for the plants and wildlife. The vegetations predominantly found are mixed grassland with acacia, baobab, sausage, tamarind and few small palms trees. Game driving further into the park or staying at the Foxes Tented Camp, itself lying on a hill, the majestic view of the Rubeho and Uluguru mountains can be seen, which are part of the pre-Cambrian rocks formed over 600 million years ago.

The Southeast Section:

is not conducive to the safari experience because of its underdeveloped infrastructure. Guests staying at the Vuma Hills Tented Camp can experience the rugged and wilderness experience from a geological and Vegetation perspective.

Visiting Mikumi National Park during the dry season can aid a safari experience by the fact that the dried up vegetation and the brown soil creates a superb hue during sunrises and sunsets.

Wildlife and Birdlife Experience at Mikumi

National Park: The wildlife viewing experience at Mikumi National Park can be experienced right upon entering the park where guests can encounter baboons, zebras and impalas speedily crossing the road. Making a right turn after paying the park fees leads you right into the Kikoboga-Mikumi Wildlife Camp, where guests can watch the elephants in the distance splattering them with mud. Circulation around the Kisungura road circuit leads you to the hippo pool, which is best visited during the evenings when the distant setting sun and the bobbing heads of the hippos create perfect pictures. Next to the flood plain, guests might see birds such as crowned cranes, kingfishers, hornbills and storks each having a sharp eye out for anything that might

WHY VISIT MIKUMI WHY VISIT MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL PARK

First Park on the Southern Safari

Circuit: Mikumi National Park is the first stop on the southern safari circuit, allowing guests an enjoyable break with a wildlife viewing experience on route to Ruaha National Park. • Excellent Biodiversity: Mikumi offers the opportunity to view a diverse number of animals and birds in a short period of time without too much driving around. • Personalized Wildlife Watching:

With relatively few numbers of people undertaking the southern safari circuit by road, Mikumi is one of the most under-visited parks in Tanzania. • Accommodation Fairly

Priced: Accommodations in

Mikumi National Park cater to all personalities and budgets, making it a must-visit park for any person visiting Tanzania. • Unique Wildlife Experience:

Safari guides often state that it is easier to spot a tree-climbing lion in Mikumi National Park than to spot one in Lake Manyara

National Park.

slither or move in the water or on the grassy patches. Traversing further northwest, heading to the Foxes Safari Camp, may lead you to wallowing buffalos taking advantage of Mkata flood plains small catchments or you might see the unpublicized treeclimbing lions of Mikumi National Park. Crisscrossing the safari road tracks of the Mikumi National Park can lead you to the ultimate treat of viewing the giraffes that are being debated by many naturalists to be a cross between the Maasai and reticulated giraffe because of their compromising patterns.

What To Do?

Game drives and guided walks are great options. Manu guests enjoy visiting the snake park in Mikumi village. Guests can also visit the nearby Udzungwa Mountains, or travel on for more wildlife safari in Selous or Ruaha.

Best Time to Visit

Mikumi National Park’s dry season starts around mid-May lasting to mid-November, with patches of transition time between January and February when rains switch from the short to the long rains. Long rains start from around the middle of February tapering off by the middle of May.

Getting there

A good surfaced road connects Mikumi to Dar es Salaam via Morogoro, roughly a 4 hour drive. There are also road connections to Udzungwa, Ruaha and (dry season only) Selous. Charter flights are available from Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Selous and local buses run from Dar to park HQ where Tanzania Safari game drives can be arranged.

Lodges & Camps

Mikumi national park lodges are located outside the park around Mikumi town and some in the neighboring protected areas. The park has two lodges that are located inside, 3 tented camps and 3 public campsites. Like any other protected areas in Tanzania, Mikumi national park lodges are categorized in to three categories those are Luxury lodges, Mid-range lodges and Budget lodges. Its true that few lodges are located inside the park but most of them are found around the park.

Mikumi National Park’s wonderful wildlife experience, along with its perfect location on route to Ruaha National Park, makes it a must-visit during a Tanzania safari.

For booking and reservation, please contact Kanuth Adventure

Call: +255 754 967 544 www: kanuthadventure.com