MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK

Sharing the same ecosystem with Selous Game Reserve in the south, Mikumi National Park is located about five to six hours from Dar es Salaam by road, and one hour and forty minutes by Electric train to Morogoro town and then one hour and thirty minutes drive from Morogoro town to Mikumi National Park. The park lies along the main highway that connects Tanzania to Zambia and is also on the way to other national parks such as Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Ruaha National Park, and Kitulo National Park. One of the main attractions of the park is the large Mikumi floodplain, surrounded by mountain ranges on both sides. The floodplain is mostly covered by open grasslands, which later connect with the miombo woodlands found on the lower hills.

Mikumi National Park covers about 3,230 square kilometers and is home to many different animals. Visitors can see Buffaloes, Wildebeests, Zebras, Lions, Elephants, Impalas, Hippos, Baboons, Giraffes, Warthogs, Waterbucks, and Elands throughout the year. Reptiles such as Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, and Pythons are also found in the park. Some animals are more difficult to spot, including the Sable Antelope, Greater Kudu, Leopard, and African wild dog, especially in the southern area near Selous. The park is also rich in birdlife, with more than 400 bird species recorded, including migratory birds that arrive during the rainy season.

Mikumi National Park is one of the most popular safari destinations for travelers coming from Dar es Salaam because of its road and Electric train access. Day trips are common for visitors who do not have enough time to stay overnight. However, spending at least one night in the park is highly recommended to enjoy a more complete and relaxing safari experience. There are also different accommodation options available around Mikumi for visitors who wish to stay longer.

UDZUNGWA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is home to one of the largest and most important forests in East Africa. The park covers an area of about 1,990 square kilometers. It is bordered by the Great Ruaha River in the north, while Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve are located further to the north and east. Before becoming a national park in 1992, the area was protected as a forest reserve. Today, Udzungwa is known as one of the few remaining untouched and unique tropical forests in the world. The forest is rich in biodiversity and contains many plant species that cannot be found anywhere else, from small African violets to very tall trees reaching up to 30 meters high.

Besides the forest, the park is also important because it helps collect and store water for the environment and supports many rare animals and plants found only in this area. The park has beautiful mountain landscapes, open grasslands, rocks, rivers, and waterfalls. One of the most special attractions is the presence of two rare monkey species: the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje crested mangabey, which was only discovered in 1979. 

The park is also home to about six species of primates, as well as elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, African wild dogs, and many forest bird species living on the plateau.

Walking safaris to the Sanje waterfalls, which are about 170 meters high, are among the most popular activities in the park. Udzungwa Mountains National Park can easily be combined with game drives in nearby Mikumi National Park, located about one hour away. It can also be included in safari itineraries to Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve, which are around four to five hours away by road. The park can be visited throughout the year, although some trails become slippery during the rainy season. The dry season usually lasts from June to October.