Mikumi National Park was gazetted as a National Park in August 1964 and is the 3rd largest park in Tanzania covering 3230 square kilometers.
The park is named after the village just beyond its western border on the Dar es Salaam - Iringa Highway which bisects the park for 50 km. Mikumi shares its boundary in the extreme south, with the Selous Game Reserve, which is the largest Reserve in Africa, and the two make one ecosystem with some animals (Elephant, Buffaloes and Zebras) migrating to and from the northern part of the reserve into Mikumi National Park.
The park lies in a horseshoe of towering mountains and forested foothills which almost enclose the flood plain of the Mkata river. To the east rises the 2743 metre massif of the Uluguru ranges while to the south west is seen the craggy-peaks of the Lumango mountains.
The hog backed ridges of the Mbesera, Madzini and Mazunyungu hills sweep round northward and westward.
To the far south is the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, gazetted in 1992, which is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains which include the Usambaras. It is possible to visit the Udzungwas as a day trip from Mikumi.
The best time to visit the park is during the dry season which is June through February.
During the rainy season (March through - May) some of the park roads are impassable.
The park gate is 96 km from Morogoro along the Tanzania - Zambia Highway, 288 km from Dar es Salaam, 216 km from Iringa and 80 km to Udzungwa National Park.
Driving time from Dar es Salaam is roughly 4 ½ hours depending on the season. There are scheduled private road transfer services offered from Dar es Salaam.
A cheaper option is to take a Scandinavia coach from Dar-Mikumi village, cost roughly $10.
In 2003 Foxtreks intend to introduce a private train connecting Dar-Selous-Mikumi.
Onward private road transfers are available from Mikumi-Ruaha or alternatively a cheaper option is to catch a southbound coach to Iringa.
There are currently 3 safari lodges in Mikumi NP from around $100p.p./night.
Alternatively there are 2 cheaper hotels in Mikumi village where it is possible to negotiate car hire for safaris.