Perched near Morogoro in eastern Tanzania, Mikumi is the fourth-biggest national park in the country with its landscape almost the same as that of Serengeti National Park as acacias, baobabs, and tamarinds dot the savannah.
The Park is the most open from Dar Es Salam and with confirmed wild life sightings, it makes a perfect safari goal for those who are busy and have less time to travel.
Ever since the construction of a highway linking Mikumi National Park to Tanzania’s busiest and largest city – Dar Es Salam, the Park has been slated to be a major hotspot for the travel industry in the country.
The park center has a wide assortment of natural life that can be effortlessly spotted and furthermore very much suitable to viewing in a game drive.
Its propinquity to Dar Es Salam and the measure of wildlife that live inside its fringes makes Mikumi National Park a well-known choice for those travelers who don’t have much time but also want to enjoy a wildlife safari.
Attractions in Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park is part of the Selous ecosystem and it always has a good number of wildlife moving in and out of the park.
This constant movement is however being disrupted due to the A7 tarmac road that runs through the park.
Most of the routes that cross the Mikumi proceed in the direction of the Ruaha National Park and the Selous National Reserve.
The recommended season for visiting the park is the dry season between May and November, warm weather and beautiful sites that are once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The north-western region of the Park is characterized by the alluvial plain of the river basin Mkata. The vegetation of this area consists of savannah dotted with acacia, baobab, tamarinds, and some rare palm.
In this area, at the furthest from the road, there are spectacular rock formations of the mountains Rubeho and Uluguru. The southeastern part of the park though is less rich in wildlife, and not very accessible.
Among the fauna in the Park includes many species characteristic of the African savannah. Some rumors suggest that chances of sighting a lion that climbs a tree trunk in Mikumi National Park is larger than in Lake Manyara National Park – famous for being one of the few places where the lions exhibit this behavior.
The park contains a subspecies of giraffe that biologists consider the link between the Masai giraffe and the reticulated or Somali giraffe. Other animals to spot in the park include; elephants, zebras, impalas, elands, kudus, black antelopes, baboons, wildebeests and buffaloes.
Furthermore, 5 kilometers from the north of the park, there are two artificial pools filled with hippos and to boot; the Park comprises of more than 400 different species of birds.
Consequently, the most common amazing activities in the Mikumi, include; Game viewing and game drives, birding safaris, nature walks, picnics, and camping in the Park.
Accessibility
Mikumi National Park is a 4 hours’ drive (250 kilometers) from Dar es Salaam by road but still you can access the Park by air whereby there are various charter flights from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha or Selous Game Reserve straight to Mikumi National Park.
Accommodations in Mikumi National Park
Mikumi Adventure Lodge
Being away from home means enjoying the nature and adventures, that’s why Mikumi Adventure lodge offers you the perfect home away in the cool beautiful forest at the border of Mikumi National Park.
It’s only 286 kilometers away from Dar Es Salam that can be reached through Morogoro – Iringa road using private cars or by buses to Iringa or Mbeya and by flight to Mikumi Nationa Park Airstrip.
It takes less than a 10 minutes’ drive from Mikumi National Park Main Gate. The lodge offers affordable luxury accommodation from rooms to tents, restaurant with most varieties of cuisine, bar with varieties of drinks, camping facilities, game drive facilities, conferences.
The lodge is equipped with a 24 hours’ free Wi-Fi, room service, night fire place, some days evening local dances and much more on site.
Mikumi Adventure Lodge rooms are designed with the guest’s comfort in mind. Each room has an en suite shower room with flushing toilet, shower and twin vanity basin, the latter of which receives hot (solar generated) and cold running water 24-hours a day.
The accommodation is enhanced by facilities which encourage the guests to unwind, relax and enjoy the spectacular surroundings of one of Tanzania’s southern tourist destinations – Mikumi National Park.
Camp Bastian Mikumi
Camp Bastian Mikumi is a unique tourist camp just outside Mikumi National Park. It offers comfortable accommodation and a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The camp consists of seven cottages and a campsite, all decorated with locally made furniture and fabrics to keep an authentic atmosphere. All is located within the unique and natural settings of Camp Bastian.
So no matter which type of accommodation you choose, you will wake up listening to uninterrupted sounds of beetles, crickets and birds. During your stay at Camp Bastian, you will meet the camp’s well trained and service minded staff.
The team is always at your service and your special needs are at their greatest concern. The camp has employed more than 30 local permanent staff not to mention casual laborers. This is its way of injecting money back into the community and improving the welfare of its people.
The camp serves homemade food made from locally grown and produced products. The food is always freshly made, and every day it’s preparing a special menu with some options to choose from.
It is important for the camp to avoid food waste as well as ensuring that the food it is serving is fresh and tasty. The menu is based on these principles and you will taste the difference!
Tan-Swiss Lodge
Featuring free Wi-Fi, Tan-Swiss Lodge is set in Mikumi, 13 kilometers from Mkumi Hippo pool. Free private parking is available on site. All units have a flat-screen TV. Some units feature a seating area and/or terrace.
Each unit is fitted with a private bathroom with a shower. Tan-Swiss Lodge also includes a year-round outdoor pool.
Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. The property also offers packed lunches. Car hire is available at the property and the area is popular for hiking.
Morio Motel and Campsite
Inaugurated in 2015, Morio Motel and Campsite is one of the best hotels in Morogoro. Morogoro is one of the most historical cities in Tanzania and therefore an ideal destination for tourists, business people and families.
It has a perfect balance between traditional and modern life. Amongst the attractions of Morogoro are Mikumi National Park Udzungwa Mountains and Waterfalls.
The hotel consists of 30 full furnished deluxe rooms as well as 3 suites, one restaurant and one bar. Amongst facilities offered by the hotel include laundry/ dry cleaning service, photocopy services, wireless internet services, conference / meeting facilities.
The hotel is well secured with uniformed security guards and on site car parking bay. Rooms are equipped with AC, TV, suite bathrooms and a private terrace at affordable prices to everyone.
The hotel is conveniently located along the Morogoro-Iringa Highway, only 2 kilometers west from Mikumi National Park. The best place for a stopover while on transit or tour.
Morio Motel and Campsite is not only the best luxury hotel in Morogoro, but also the best luxurious hotel for tourists and business travelers in Morogoro, Tanzania. The Hotel is located adjacent to the Mikumi National Park which has a dynamic and historic past.
Matembezi Safari Lodge
Matembezi Safari Lodge is a newly constructed lodge in Mikumi National Park, located on the highway road to Iringa. It’s about 16 kilometers from the National Park Gate, which takes about 20 minutes drive to reach the gate.
This lodge is a class of its own and provides one of the best hotel accommodation in Mikumi National Park, whether you choose one of its generously-appointed, beautifully decorated and supremely comfortable Standard room or, a spacious and fully-equipped deluxe room, you can be assured that you will be enjoying some of the most relaxing, comfortable and amenity-rich accommodation available anywhere in the Mikumi National Park.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enter the elegant and soothing sanctuary of Matembezi Safari Lodge, whether you are traveling for business or leisure, ease your mind and allow the lodge to take care of you.
This lodge is now under New Management since June 2018, which is now collaborating with Selous Jimbiza Camp which is in Selous Game Reserve and Safina Resort which is in Zanzibar.
The main aim is to make the Southern part of Tanzania an easy access for the clients where the lodge can combine wildlife with exotic beach.
