The park has a wide variety of wildlife that can be easily spotted and is also well-acclimatized for game viewing. Its proximity to Dar es Salaam and the amount of wildlife that lives within its borders makes Mikumi National Park a popular option for weekend visitors from the city, or for business visitors who don’t have to spend a long time on an extended safari itinerary, you can take a look at our sample itinerary 2 Days Mikumi safari from Dar Es Salaam.
Most visitors come to Mikumi National Park aiming to spot the ‘Big Five’ (cheetah, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), and they are always not disappointed. Hippo pools provide close access to the mud-loving beasts, and bird-watching along the waterways is particularly rewarding.
The open horizons and abundant wildlife of the Mkata Floodplain, the popular centerpiece of Mikumi, draw frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains
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 favored also by Mikumi’s elephants.
Mikumi’s landscape provides a serene wildlife experience, commonly seen animals are elephants, giraffes, Zebra, Antelope, Wildebeest, Eland, crocodiles, hippos, and baboons. If luck is in your favor, you won’t miss seeing Lions & ultimately the Leopard. Mikumi inhabits over 300 species of birds namely saddlebill stork, hammer kop, malachite kingfisher, lilac-breasted roller, yellow-throated longclaw, battler eagle, etc.
Don’t miss to visit Hippo Pool, where you can watch hippos wallowing and snorting at close range.
Best Time to Visit Mikumi National Park.
The dry season, from May to November, is the best time for wildlife viewing as animals gather around water sources. The park is open year-round, but roads may be challenging to navigate during the rainy season.