Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park

The small town of Mikumi which extends along the Tanzam highway was founded in 1914 by chief Kikiwi of the Wavindunda tribe. Mikumi national park is about 10km north of the small village, Mikumi. The name 'Mikumi' comes from the local name for one type of palm tree found in the park. The park is predominantly Miombo woodland that covers almost three-quarters of the park. It is mainly covered by the trees of the deciduous Brarchystegia genera (local name 'miombo').

The Miombo woodlands are at the most beautiful in October and November during and before the short rains when they put the new leaves. The leaves that are shaded every year producing the chain of the complex food, creating an ideal habitant for dozens of large mammal species, the Miombo also favoured the habitant of the Tsetse flies, which are the vector of Sleeping sickness(trypanosomiasis) . These Tsetse flies could not affect wild animals because of their immune power to resist them, but it affect mostly the domestic animals and human beings.

Mikumi national park has an area of about 3230sqkm, relegated to be the fourth largest national park in Tanzania. The park is located at 286km west of Dar es Salaam, also the park is enclosed by Uluguru Mountains to the north- east, Rubeho Mountains to the north-west, Udzungwa Mountains to the south-west and Selous Game reserve to the south. Mikumi national park is gazetted in 1964 following by construction of the section of Tanzam highway between Morogoro and Iringa. The road passing through the park has created some hazard of local wildlife,. This formerly remote area's wildlife was previously only under threat from poachers, now the road kills have accounted for a significant number of animals deaths since the park's inception.

But the problem was worsened in 1990s, following with massive improvements to the roads surface, as well as steady increase in every traffic. Between 1992 and 1997 more than 450 large mammals road kills were reported from Mikumi, most affected species was the African Palm Civet of which there were about 110 fatalities. In order to slow down the trucks and reduce the carnage, 50km of the the public road running through Mikumi has recently studded with speed bumps. In 1975 the park extended its territory to share a borders with the Selous Game reserve

There are many wildlife which are found in the park these include elephants, buffalo, giraffe,the famous climbing trees lion, leopard, zebra and other habitants. There are over 400 bird species in the park, but many of the birds are infrequently seen in the game parks of northern Tanzania., this migrant present in October and April, they include the violet turaco,and the pale-billed horn bill, along with various species of storks, pelicans, herons ibis, kestrels, kites and eagles. Normally giraffe and elephants are common on the main road loop,especially in the vicinity of acacia trees but the best time to see them is December, lion and hyena are also around in reasonable they can not frequently seen during the day, but you can hear them during the night, but the suitable time to see animals is in the mid of August to the end of December when the the surface of water has dried so many animals accumulated around the river to finding water. In previous years Mikumi national park had a good reputation for the African's dog, but the resident pack is though to have the migrated to the Selous game reserve. The mkata river which are located in the park along the north-west of the main road are the good place to see eland, and this river comprise of the of the grassland with patches of acacia woodland and infrequent of the baobab trees.

Mikumi national park is popular with weekend visitors as it take few hours to drive from Dar es salaam which cover about 300km, and from Morogoro the main Tanzania -Zambia road which is about 100km before reaching the boundary of the park., the southern boundary of the is closed to the Selous Game reserve. Mikumi is combined with the longer road safari to Selous , Ruaha, and Udzungwa. Mikumi can also be reached by the public bus, these buses run from Morogoro to Ifakara, Iringa, you can ask to dropped Mikumi Genesis Motel 4km east of the junction to Udzungwa and Ifakara road or Kilimanjaro village inn 1km east of the junction. For the private car also you can reach in the park but it should have 4WD.

There is an airstrip near the headquarters suitable for light aircraft, a fright from Dar es salaam take almost 45minutes, It is better to take a tour guide with you for the first time you visit the park.

Within the park two walking trails have been started, the shorter trails passes through Vuma hill, and takes about 2 hours to complete, while the longer trails passes through the Ngotikwe Hills and it take about 5 hours to complete.

There are hotels in Mikumi National Park of a high standard to tackle the needs of the visitors, many of the hotels and camps are located to the area where the wildlife can be seen. To camp within the park is also allowed.

For more information contact Wild Things

Frederick Mlaponi is a Tanzanian Student researcher on work experience with Wild Things Safaris in Tanzania http://www.wildthingsafaris.com.