Mikumi National Park is one of Tanzania's most accessible wildlife reserves, sitting just 283 km west of Dar es Salaam along the main highway to Zambia. Its relative proximity to the coast makes it a popular destination for day trips and weekend safaris from the city, and it serves as the northern gateway to the much larger Selous Game Reserve to the south.
The park covers roughly 3,230 square kilometres of open floodplains, acacia woodland, and miombo forest. The Mkata Floodplain at the heart of the park is the best area for game viewing — hippo pools and crocodile pools along the Mkata River attract a steady parade of animals, and you can get out of your vehicle to observe them from close range. Elephants, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and impala are common sights. Lions are present but harder to spot; patience and a good guide improve your odds considerably.
At the entrance gate there is a small museum with free admission, giving an overview of the park's ecology and the animals you are likely to encounter. It is worth stopping for a few minutes before heading into the bush. Guides are available at the gate and are obligatory — they know where the animals are and make a genuine difference to the quality of a visit.