Mikumi National Park—the Family Friendly Safari Vacation

An astonishing variety of African wildlife, good accommodations, guided drives and walks, and relatively easy access make Mikumi National Park in Tanzania a fine place to take the family to enjoy the safari experience. Mikumi National Park is located a few hours’ drive inland from Dar es Salaam, the largest city in the country, which is on the Indian Ocean.

The park is connected to the city by a newly paved road, which makes access easy. It’s about a four hour drive from Dar es Salaam. Visitors also can take a bus to the park from the city, or charter an airplane to fly into the park. From the other side, the park can be reached by roads that may only be drivable during the dry season, between May to November. Generally speaking, Mikumi is less visited than many African wildlife preserves, and thus offers visitors a more relaxing experience.

Mikumi is the fourth largest national park in Tanzania. It lies between two mountain ranges and is adjacent to the Selous, the largest game reserve on the continent. The park is accessible year round, but the dry season is the more convenient time to visit. The northwest portion of the park, which is transected by paved roads and trails for tours, occupies the alluvial plain, and thus makes for a better wildlife habitat than does the less accessible southeast portion.

The park is home to an amazing variety of wildlife, all of it within reach of tourists. People who want to see the “Big Five”—lions, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, elephants, and water buffalo—should have no difficulty fulfilling that goal. More than 400 species of birds have been identified in the park, and herds of wildebeest, zebra, and several species of antelope crisscross the open grasslands. Several species of giraffes inhabit the park, as do baboons and hippopotamuses.

Aspiring photographers, both young and old, will be in raptures over the long, grass-covered vistas, termite mounds, dramatic rock formations, and of course the animals around every corner. Children will be able to see the creatures they’ve only seen in books or on television in the flesh, and will learn more about the delicate balance that must be struck to protect the wildlife and the environment.

The park has two lodges, three campsites, and three luxury tented camps. For those who prefer to not to stay in the park, there are guest houses for rent in the town of Mikumi, which is on the border of the park. Other permanent accommodations in the park are in the works as well.