Lodges and campsites near the park
Simple lodges in Mikumi town just outside the park, and public campsites inside it. Ideal for short and budget safaris, with game drives starting minutes from your door.
Mikumi town and park campsites
Southern Circuit · Tanzania
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi Park is 3,230 km² of open floodplain and wooded hills about four to five hours from Dar es Salaam, with lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and zebra on the Mkata plains. The easiest classic safari in southern Tanzania, and the natural choice for a short safari from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.
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June to October, the dry season
3,230 km², Southern Circuit
6 to 7 hr (about 290 km) by road from Dar es Salaam
Mkata plains, lions, easy access
Mikumi: The Open Plains of Southern Tanzania
Mikumi National Park was established in 1964 and covers 3,230 km² between the Uluguru Mountains to the northeast and the Rubeho Mountains to the west. To the south it runs into Nyerere National Park, and together they form part of one of the largest protected wilderness areas in Africa. At its heart is the Mkata floodplain, open grassland dotted with baobab, tamarind and palm that is often compared to the Serengeti. Lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, impala and hippo are seen here regularly, and the wooded hills in the south hold greater kudu and sable antelope. Leopard, the occasional pack of wild dog and more than 400 bird species complete the picture.
What makes Mikumi special is access. The main highway from Dar es Salaam toward Zambia runs through the park, so you can be on a game drive the same day you leave the city. That makes it one of the most practical safaris in Tanzania for travellers with one to three days, including those on a Zanzibar beach holiday who want wildlife without a long flight north. Mikumi rewards a longer stay too. It pairs naturally with the forests and waterfalls of the Udzungwa Mountains next door, or with boat safaris in Nyerere National Park. For the quickest taste, our Mikumi day trip is a full day in the park, but one or two nights let you be out in the early mornings and late afternoons, when the animals are most active.
Things to Do in Mikumi
Mikumi is an open, easy park to explore. Game drives are the heart of any visit, and the gentle terrain means you cover a lot of ground in a day. Around them you can add a walk, a stop at the hippo pools or a side trip into the mountains.
Game drives on the Mkata plainsThe open floodplain gives long, clear views of lion, elephant, buffalo and plains game, with giraffe and zebra often in the same frame.
Hippo poolsThe hippo pools near the park headquarters hold a busy pod of hippo, along with crocodiles and wading birds, and are a good place to stretch your legs with a guide.
Walking safarisShort guided walks with an armed ranger along set routes. A quieter way to learn tracks, plants and the smaller life of the bush.
Lions and big catsMikumi's lions are often found on the open plains and around termite mounds and baobabs, while leopard keep to the wooded areas along the rivers.
Udzungwa Mountains side tripNext door to Mikumi, Udzungwa is a forest park home to primates found nowhere else, such as the Udzungwa red colobus, and to the Sanje waterfalls. A rewarding hike before or after your safari.
BirdwatchingMore than 400 species, including lilac-breasted roller, bateleur and yellow-throated longclaw, with migrant birds arriving from November to April.
The Best Time to Visit Mikumi, Season by Season
Mikumi is open all year, and because it is so easy to reach it works for a short trip in almost any month. The dry season is best for wildlife, while the wet months bring birds, lush scenery and lower prices.
June to October: dry season. The grass is short and animals gather near the Mkata River and the waterholes. The best game viewing of the year and the most comfortable temperatures.
November to February: the early rains. Showers, often in the afternoon, bring fresh grass, newborn antelope and plenty of migrant birds. Game viewing on the open plains stays good.
March to May: the main rains. The heaviest rain of the year. Tall grass hides some wildlife and a few tracks on black cotton soil close, but the park is green and quiet and rates are at their lowest.
Because a tarmac highway runs through the park, Mikumi stays accessible even in the rains, which makes it one of the more reliable wet-season safaris in Tanzania. For monthly rainfall, see our Tanzania weather guide. Let us know which time suits you and we will plan together. →
Where to Stay in Mikumi
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Tented camps and lodges in the park
Comfortable tented camps and lodges inside the park, several overlooking waterholes where elephant and buffalo come to drink, with en-suite rooms and full-board meals.
Inside the park, near the Mkata plains
Upmarket Luxury camps
Mikumi has only a handful of upmarket camps, set away from the highway with private verandas, good food and a more remote feel. For a fuller luxury experience, many guests combine Mikumi with Nyerere or Ruaha.
Quieter areas of the park
Safaris That Include the Serengeti, Tailored to You
Start with one of these routes, then work with a local planner to change the pace, the camps, and the length.
Mikumi Questions We Get Most Often
Can I do a Mikumi safari from Dar es Salaam in one day?Yes. The park is four to five hours by road, so a Mikumi day trip leaves before dawn, spends the middle of the day on game drives and returns in the evening. It is a long day, but one night in the park makes it far more relaxed.
Can I visit Mikumi from Zanzibar?Yes. Take a short flight or the ferry to Dar es Salaam and drive to the park, or fly to the airstrip inside the park on a charter. Two nights is the sensible minimum from Zanzibar, and our short safari with Zanzibar shows how the two fit together.
Can I see the Big Five in Mikumi?Only Four of them. Lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo all live in the park, although leopard take some luck. There are no rhino in Mikumi, so for all five you need the northern circuit and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Mikumi or Nyerere: which should I choose?Mikumi is quicker to reach by road and cheaper for a short trip, with open plains that make wildlife easy to see. Nyerere is much larger and wilder, with boat safaris on the Rufiji River, and usually needs a flight. With four days or more, doing both works very well.