Things to see in Mikumi national park : The most idle safari destination with the definitely guarantee to see the wildlife and recently grown to be the hot spot for the visitors. This national park is known as Mikumi national park located between the Luguru Mountain and the Lumango range it’s also close to the large city in Tanzania which is Dar es Salaam. The Mikumi national park is the home of the big five. This park has the wide range of the wild life that is found and mostly famous the Big 5 which are cheetah, lion, elephants, buffalos and the rhinos. The Mikumi national park covers the total area of 3230 squares of kilometers, which makes it the fourth largest national park in Tanzania.
The famous Mikumi national park obtained its name after the popular dominant palm tree species that is named as Burrassus Spp which was exceptional as it grew in the park but with no stem in the village which it shares the name. The village was named after this national park hence there is Mikumi village as well as the Mikumi national park. The climatic condition makes the game viewing as well as the animal spotting very easy hence it’s the hot spot of most tourist.
There are things that you must see on your trip to see national park, because what you expect is what exactly you’re going to meet with in this national park. The following are what you must expect to see and you will definitely enjoying seeing and exploring them in Mikumi national park.
- Expect to see the big 5 in the Mikumi national park. Mikumi national park has a wide variety of animal species that are found. This makes it to be compared with Serengeti national park which is the first large national park in Tanzania and highly habited by variety of animal species. The Mikumi national park is compared because of the availability of many different animal species not as much as those of Serengeti but close to that. The home of the big five is Mikumi national park. The worlds big five are the cheetah, lion, elephant, buffalos and rhinos. It’s always not disappointing as in this national park your assured to see the big five.
- Have a sight on more than 500 different bird species that are found in this national park. Visit the Mikumi national park and have this golden chance of seeing variety of bird species and with assurance of seeing them. The best time for bird watching in this park is during the wet season as both residential as well as the migratory birds are found here. The most common bird species you will encounter with are Zanzibar red bishops, yellow throated long claw, lilac breasted roller these are among the rest. The perfect place for the water associated birds are found around the Hippo pools and Mwanambogo dam. Birds such as fish eagles, African spoonbill and hamerkop.
- The landscape of the little Serengeti will not disappoint you at all, the park is dived by the road in between, and the divided areas have their own environment and different landscape that makes it even more unique and not the sight to miss. The northwest side of the park is made up of the savannah scattered with acacia and baobab trees, tamarinds as well as the rare palm plants. On the far side of this part of the park there is a rocky formation mountain the Uluguru and Rubeho. The open horizon and abundant wildlife of Mkata foot plains is most famous and makes this park called the little Serengeti.
- Apart from just the big five the Mikumi national park has variety of many other wildlife that you cannot miss to see in this national park, the big five being included this national park is also the home of many other wild animals both the prey and predators. There are animals such as antelopes, hyenas, zebras, giraffe’s, wildebeest’s, impala, hippos and many more. This animals are mostly found on the northwest part of this national park while in the southern part there are few animals. The best times for having a clear sights of the wildlife in this park is normally on the dry season that is around June to October where by the vegetation cover is less and there are short grasses. The animals can be viewed as they move freely and scatter around looking for food. This seasons is also perfect for the guided nature walks, as well as the game drive. The roads are clear and animals tracing can be perfect as the land is clear and roads are well seen.
- Explore the vegetation cover of the Mikumi national park, see the beauty of tall standing trees as well as savannah land found in this national park. The vegetation of this national park is dominated by the grassy plains that are covered with baobab and black hardwood trees. The palm trees are found along the river basin of Mkata in the far north, the Uluguru and Rubeho Mountain gives the spectular scenery during the safari experiences. Southern part of this national park has been mostly inhabited by the forests and acacia trees. The tree climbing lions can be easily seen due to the dotted acacia tree that are mostly found and scattered in this national park, the chances of seeing the lion climbing the acacia tree are far higher in this national park than in Lake Manyara national park.
- Enjoy the sight of the Kinole waterfalls, which is located in Uluguru Mountain in the village of Kinole. This is also the key attraction that you must see on the safari tour to this national park and the waterfalls are named after the village that are found. The perfect breathtaking sights of water falls that gives a chill in your back born will not disappoint you, this is a perfect spot for swimming hiking and taking the perfect photos. You can enjoy swimming below the water falls, as well as enjoying bird watching around this area. Hiking the Uluguru and Rubeho Mountain while exploring the beautiful natural landscape as the guides leads the way, the hiking is normally perfect in the morning and in the evening.
What you will see depends on the number of activities that takes place in this national park. There are a number of different activities that can be done in this national park and will give you a perfect experience as well as giving you to see all the things you expect to see.
Game driving in the Mikumi national park, this is perfect activity for animals sighs as well as bird watching. The big five can be clearly seen during the game drive. The most thrilling wilderness experience and watching animals during this safari experience.
Guided nature walks are mostly suitable in this national parks the most common trails in the nature walks are lodge trails, vuma trails and kikogoba trails. The guided nature walks offers you the opportunity to feel the nature in person as well as enjoying the wilderness and beautiful landscape.
The bird watching activity cannot be missed on this tour, the different bird species give this park a unique and most magnificent view. This park is also used as the research and study area for different institutions based on either wildlife or different birds found here plus the study of flora in this national park.
