Distance from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park: Getting to Mikumi National park from Dar es Salaam: Mikumi National Park is situated near Morogoro Town in Mikumi South, Tanzania, few kilometers from Dar es Salaam-Tanzania largest city. It borders the Selous Game Reserve, the largest national reserve in Tanzania and all of East Africa. The park is situated between the renowned Lumango Range and the Uluguru Mountains. Despite its distant location, the park has gained recognition as one of the best and most popular tourist safari destinations in Africa for wildlife viewing in a game drive and walking safari. Mikumi national park is not famous as other Tanzania Northern safari parks of Serengeti, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro crater and Tarangire national park but wildlife viewing there is worth the money, effort and your time spent.
Only 280 kilometers separate Dar es Salaam from the Mikumi National Park when traveling along the A7 Tanzanian highway that links the city to South African nations and smaller southern settlements. The distance between Dar-es-Salaam and Mikumi National Park, according to various sources or Google Maps, is approximately 302 kilometers, using the A7 route to pass through Morogoro town. As you travel into Tanzania’s rural areas to Mikumi national park, passing through tiny towns and villages, the road becomes more scenic. The park is now accessible to the bustling business district thanks to the construction of the express A7 freeway through it. The journey from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours, depending on which side of the city you are on.
The journey from Dar es Salaam to the park is much simpler thanks to a solid asphalt road that leads up to the park gate, so the distance shouldn’t worry you too much. The park is divided in half by the highway: the northern section, which is the most well-known and where all game drives are conducted, and the southern section, which is dominated by acacia forests and has subpar game drive trails. Rare antelope species like the shy and difficult-to-find Sable Antelope are more abundant in the southern region. The wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and steep terrain as you go to the park make the drive even more picturesque.
Visitors can use both private and public transportation to get to the park via the road. Daily buses from Dar es Salaam to Tanzania’s southern region pass through the park in large numbers. You can get off the bus right at the gate. Due to the high demand from the number of travelers each day, you simply need to book the bus early, like a day before your trip. Additionally, local travel operators provide all-inclusive Mikumi safari packages. This is the best option because you will not only be driven through but also learn about and experience the African bush, as the driver guide will always explain a lot while driving and you will have plenty of chances to halt briefly at amazing locations.
The guided drive from Dar es Salaam to mikumi national park lasts a little longer (4 to 6 hours), but it is still worthwhile. The good news is that while traveling to the park, you will have ample opportunity to speak with more residents. As opposed to public transportation, where you just have to dance to their tunes and not your dreams, you can choose any recommended stop for photos at your leisure. If you take public transportation, you’ll miss more than if you drove alone because you’ll be free to stop wherever you choose. On the other hand, you can even fly into the park.
You can reduce the distance from Dar es Salaam by taking a flight to the Mikumi national park. Mikumi National Park does not have an airfield, but you can fly from Dar es Salaam to Selous Game reserve and then connect to the park. Your driver guide will just wait for you at the airport in the Selous Game Reserve, reducing the distance and driving time. Daily flights are available from Dar es Salaam to the Selous Wildlife Reserve, and you can even book them online. For those who dislike spending extended periods of time in the car, flying is a good option.
The short driving distance—just a few hours—between Dar es Salaam and Mikumi National Park has helped the park attract more visitors. Short Mikumi safari packages of 2 or 3 days that depart from Dar es Salaam have become more popular. These packages are primarily intended for the business community, which has a lot of work to do but just a weekend to unwind. The number of visitors to the park has substantially increased since the A7 freeway opened. Mikumi National Park is very popular with visitors since it is home to a variety of unusual creatures that are rarely seen in other national parks. Additionally, it is one of Tanzania’s two national parks, where visitors can embark on adventure safaris and encounter primates, particularly chimpanzees.
What Safari Animals Can I See at Mikumi National Park?
Mikumi won’t let you down if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the fabled “Big Five” (lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, and rhino). However, you can also get up close to hippos as they wallow in the muddy pools, and avid bird watchers will be richly rewarded with over 400 different species of colorful birds.
The Mkata Floodplain, the main attraction in Mikumi national park, is where you can see herds of zebras grazing in the early morning light, while giraffes prefer the shelter of the acacia trees near the Mkata River. The majestic eland, the largest antelope in the world, has been spotted in the floodplain, making it possibly Tanzania’s most reliable location for doing so. The sluggish lions, whom you may see lounging on the flattened tops of termite mounds or up in the branches of the trees, are also some of the highlights you can see in mikumi national park.
