Day Trip Mikumi National Park
Day Trip Mikumi National
Mikumi National Park is the most accessible park from Dar es Salaam; it is transcended by the paved highway between Dar es Salaam and Iringa. The park is located between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range.
Mikumi guarantees year-round wildlife sighting and is often compared to the Serengeti due to its savannahs, acacias, and baobabs. The park is an ideal safari destination for those wishing to spot the big five ( elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, and cheetah ) in one day.
Inside Mikumi, you will see wildebeest, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, hippos, zebras, impalas, kudus, lions, leopards, wild dogs, crocodiles and over many bird species – over 400 birds species have been recorded.
Day Trip Mikumi National Park Itenerary:
Pick up from your hotel, resident or airport in Dar Es Salaam around 05:30hrs in the morning and travel about 283km to Mikumi National Park where you will arrive in time for lunch. Late after lunch to sunset enjoy game drives in the park a home to Elephant, Lion, Wild dog, Zebras, Hyena, Buffalo, Wildebeest, Eland, Hartebeest, Crocodile, Lizard and other residents. Over 300 species of birds have been observed in this park. You will have dinner and overnight at budget Motel /Hotel in Morogoro.
Getting to Mikumi National Park from Dar-es-salaam
Safaris to Mikumi usually start from Dar es Salaam, and your point of entry for the country is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and handle all further ground operations or domestic flights.
Mikumi is a four-hour drive away from Dar es Salaam and can easily be visited as a weekend get-away. However, most people visit Mikumi en route to Nyerere or Ruaha, the more popular parks in southern Tanzania. The only scheduled flights to Mikumi are with Safari Air Link which offers a daily connection to Ruaha, Selous, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
If driving from Ruaha, the distance is about 320km/200mi, and the drive takes roughly five hours.
Mikumi National Park Mini Guide
The Mikumi Park near Morogoro, Tanzania, was established in 1964. It covers an area of 3,230 km² is the fourth largest in the country. The park is crossed by Tanzania’s A-7 highway.
Territory: Mikumi National Park borders Selous Game Reserve on the south, the two areas forming a unique ecosystem. Two other natural areas bordering the national park are the Udzungwa Mountains and Uluguru Mountains. Malundwe Mountain is within the park, the highest of a belt of hills that run east and west through the park, connecting the Uluguru Mountains to the northeast with the Uvidunda and Udzungwa mountains to the west. Malundwe Mountain consists of three peaks along a ridge running north and south. Malundwe’s south peak is the highest point in the park, reaching 1290 meters in elevation.
Mikumi Wildlife
Wildlife: Zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo can be found on the grassy plains. Lion, which prey on these animals, share the same area and can occasionally be spotted. Giraffe browse leaves from the isolated acacia trees that fringe the Mkata River. The small islands of shade provided by these acacias are also favored by elephant.
Best Time To Visit
from late June to October (the Dry season). At this time vegetation is thinner, and animals gather around waterholes. The end of the Dry season (September and October) is particularly also very rewarding.
Weather and Climate
The climate in Mikumi varies from warm to hot and humid, with little change through the year. The warmest months are October to March, and the coolest are June to August. Mikumi's Wet season runs from November to May. .
Birds: More than 400 bird species have been recorded, with such colorful common residents as the lilac-breasted roller, yellow-throated longclaw and bateleur eagle, joined by a host of European migratory birds from November to April. The hippo pool and Mwanambogo dam are a good place to see some of the water-associated birds like African fish eagle, African spoonbill and hamerkop, and the Mkata river offers great views of African openbills fishing.
Accommodation at Mikumi National Park
Mikumi NP offers a variety of accommodation options including lodges.
Lodges
Lodges at Arusha NP for visitors to choose from include:
- Vuma Hills
- Mikumi adventure lodge
- Tan-Swiss lodge
- Mikumi safari lodge
Newlyweds may also indulge on a Tanzania honeymoon safari or a luxury safari where they’ll receive a lot of extra pampering and top notch service, ensuring they feel all the love on a Tanzania safari.
Camps
Safari camps at Mikumi NP for visitors to choose from include:
- Vuma Hills tented Camp
Camping
2 camping areas are available, 1 public and 1 private. The campsites in the public sector are named 1, 3 and 5 and are located in Vuma Hills and Mkata Plains with bathrooms and toilets available. The private campsite in the Vuma area is known as Campsite 4.
Bars/restaurants/amenities
Lodges will typically have all meals and drinks included in the lodge package.
Mikumi National Park Frequently asked Questions
Mikumi National Park covers an area of 3,230 sq km, and is rich in wildlife including buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, lion, elephant, impala, hippos, baboon, giraffe, warthog, waterbuck and eland which can be viewed throughout the year. Reptiles including crocodile, monitor lizard and python are also resident in the park.
Wildlife in this quiet national park includes elephant, giraffe, buffalo, Burchell’s zebra, sable, eland, Liechtenstein’s hartebeest, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, and jackal. You can also find yellow baboons near Kiboga, at the southern end of the park.
It Depends with the number of people, days, and Accommodation. But is between: $200 – $700/day and the entry fee: USD $20 per adult and USD $10 per party at Udzungwa for the daily guide fee.
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