Mikumi-Nationalpark

The Mikumi National Park (English Mikumi National Park ) is a national park in Tanzania (East Africa). It is located 280 km west of Dar es Salaam, was established in 1964. With an area of ​​3230 km ², it is the fourth largest of the national parks in Tanzania. The park is located in the northwest of the Selous Game Reserve and with it forms a nearly 60,000 km ² ecosystem.

Compared to other national parks in Tanzania, including the Serengeti National Park and Ruaha National Park, Mikumi National Park is smaller and less well known. From Dar es Salaam it is easily accessible.

Location and infrastructure

Mikumi National Park is located in central Tanzania and is crossed by the road from Dar es Salaam via Iringa to Zambia and Malawi. It is located about 550 meters above sea level. The park extends from the Uluguru mountains in the north to the Lumungo Mountains in the south. In the south it is directly limited by the Selous Game Reserve, the largest game reserve in Africa. The annual rainfall is in the plains 500 to 600 mm, on the slopes above 1000 mm.

Unlike many other national parks in the Mikumi National Park can be busy even without a leader with your own vehicle. The road network is well developed and provided with numerous signs for guidance. Although regular charter flights from Arusha or Selous be performed directly on the airfield of Mikumi Park Service and the park is close to Dar es Salaam, he has relatively few visitors compared to others. The park has three campgrounds, a guest house and some lodges of varying comfort. The National Park is open all year.

Fauna and Flora

The vegetation and the landscape is similar to the Serengeti. The north-west of Mikumi National Park is dominated by alluvial Mkata. Moreover, Park savannah predominates, which is overgrown with acacia, baobab trees, tamarind trees and some rare species of palms. On the slopes in the east and west of the park is growing miombo forest. The plains are covered by temporarily flooded grasslands and swamps.

There are many different species of animals such as leopard, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, impala, cow and horse antelopes and African wild dogs. For the eland, the largest antelope in the world, there are probably the best viewing opportunities in Tanzania. The lion population is remarkable. The living elephants here have free access to the Selous Game Reserve and thus belong to the largest connected component of the African elephant. But the main asphalt road through Mikumi National Park favors poaching.

Mikumi National Park is known especially for birdwatchers, as it is home to 370 bird species. At a small, artificially watered lake live hippos and crocodiles. From the observation towers, some of which are located in the lodges, the animals can be well observed.