Mikumi National Park

First gazetted in 1964 with additions made to the north and south in 1975, Mikumi National Park has risen through the ranks to be the third largest National Park in Tanzania with an area of 2320km2.   Combined with Selous Game Reserve which borders it to the southwest, this Greater ecosystem is the size of Denmark.  The park is surrounded by an arc of mountains and protected land, with the Uluguru Mountains to the east, the Mbesera, Madzini and Mazunyungu hills to the north and west.  Perhaps due to the shadow cast by these mountainous areas, Mikumi is renowned as having the most fabulous light and colour, making it a favourite with photographers, both professional and amateur.

The ecosystem is rather special as there are 4 major and distinct vegetation zones converging in Mikumi:  miombo woodland from southern Africa, arid bushland from the north, the coastal zone to the east and the mountains of Uluguru and Ruhumero to the north and west making a unique ecotonal area.  The animals and birds species are also different in each of these habitat types.  The park boasts 60 mammal types, 400 birds and over 1200 plant species.  Such diversity should not be underestimated.    Lion, leopard, elephant, crocodiles, zebra, giraffe and varied antelopes are regularly seen on the plains with Hertebeest, Sable, Greater Kudu, Colobus Monkey and Hunting Dog are found in the Miombo woodland area.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park

With three nights in Mikumi at any of our advertised camps there is time for a full day of trekking in Udzungwa Mountain National Park walking under the canopy rainforest and endemic primates and birds to emerge at Sanje water falls with spectacular views over the rift valley below.  

Udzungwa is a remnant of the eastern arc rainforest that used to stretch along the eastern rift. 165 m years ago Madagascar separated from the mainland such that the forests there have similarities to the Udzungwa rainforest. While 6m years ago the Udzungwa rainforest was isolated from the West African rainforests so that there exists a high degree of endemism with 25% of the plants being unique only to Udzungwa.

Of the ten primates that are found in these forests four are endemic only to Udzungwa including the Red Hehe Colobus and the Crested Mangaby. There are also a couple of endemic Galagoes (bushbabies), several endemic birds including the Rufous Winged Sunbird and Udzungwa partridge, and the forest is so full of biodiversity that the scientists are still finding endemic birds, plants, butterflies (& other insects) and mammals.

Accommodation in Mikumi National Park