Mikumi National Park

Cool place, enjoyable stay, wildlife and fresh breeze!

Is a nice park to visit in a weekend from Dar es Salaam. But if you come in Tanzaniafor game viewing, you cannot lose other parks much more exciting.

There is bountiful wildlife in Mikumi. The fact that it is so easy to get to from Dar is both a plus and a minus.

The wildlife is good, but no different than many other parks in Tanzania. The location along the Great East Road makes it easily accessible for a quick game drive, but takes away some of the wildness of the remoter parks.

The animals are very small and not attractive

I have been 4 times.

Perfect Ten

To avoid the traffic jams of Ngorongoro and the other parks around Arusha, head further afield to Mikumi. I've visited twice and have seen only three other tourists there. Everyone there--rangers, hoteliers, tour guides--is more laid back and informal, they'll treat you more like a friend than a client. In addition to the animals (they've got them all), the drive down from Arusha via Dodoma or better yet via Iringa is a great experience.

Off beaten tack and great for a quick safari if you are in or near Dar es salaam

I stayed and always stay at Vumi Hills tented camp in Mikumi, 3 miles off main road, clean and excellent food .Tented camping from ordinary to luxurious rooms or tents.

This park has the usual range of African wildlife - lions, elephants, giraffes, and so on. Unusually, the (unserviced) camp sites are unfenced, so think twice before venturing out of your tent at night! There are also more luxurious accommodation options for the less brave. The park is large and not commonly visited, so you may well have the place to yourself - a nice change from some of Tanzania's busier parks.

It's more a wide and open park, compared to Ruaha - and Arusha National park the scenery is not so beautiful and surprising.