Mikumi is the most accessible national park in southern Tanzania, a few hours’ drive west of Dar es Salaam. Its open Mkata floodplain is often compared with the Serengeti, and it offers classic savannah game viewing without long transfers.
Lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and eland are all regularly seen, and the hippo pools are a highlight. Mikumi works well as a short safari from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, and it can be combined with hiking in the nearby Udzungwa Mountains.