The climate in Mikumi National Park varies from warm to hot and humid, with little change in temperatures through the year. The warmest months are October to March, and the coolest are June to August. Mikumi’s Wet season runs from November to May, when rains occur almost daily, usually in the afternoon, but they seldom last long. The Dry season is from June to October.

Dry Season –June to October

Afternoon temperatures are usually around 28°C/82°F. Days are bright and clear.

• June, July, August & September – It hardly ever rains. These are the coolest months. Nighttime temperatures drop to about 17°C/63°F.
• October – If the rains come early, they might start at the end of October. Otherwise, it can be very hot and dry, with humidity building throughout the month.

Wet Season –November to May

It is usually hot and humid during the Wet season. Afternoon temperatures are usually around 31°C/88°F and nighttime temperatures fall to around 20°C/68°F.

• November & December – This is the beginning of the Wet season, and the exact start date is unpredictable. Rains are infrequent, usually coming as thunderstorms in the afternoon. It is rare for it to rain throughout the day.
• January & February – The rainy season is well on its way now, and there will be more rainy days in these months. Still, it’s rare to experience rain all day. Afternoon showers are common.
• March, April & May – April is the peak of the Wet season. There tends to be cloud cover and rain most days, although seldom for the whole day. The average temperatures range from 30°C/86°F for a high and 20°C/68°F for a low.

Zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo inhabit the grassy plains of Mikumi National Park. Lion, which prey on these animals, are also quite often seen. Giraffe browse the isolated acacia trees that fringe the Mkata River, where you should also see elephant. Mikumi’s famous and much-studied yellow baboons are plentiful. Rhino disappeared from the park in the 1990s, but the park authorities have announced plans to reintroduce the species.

Wildlife Highlights

Most wildlife activity occurs around Mikumi’s waterholes, where hippos are joined by thirsty herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. Mikumi’s grasslands rank among Tanzania’s best Tours to see eland, the world’s largest antelope. The equally impressive greater kudu and sable antelope feed in the park’s hills, which are covered in miombo woodland. The unusual Lichtenstein’s hartebeest is also present. Ask your guide or park rangers about the plans to reintroduce rhino.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The Dry season runs from June to October and late June to October is the best time for wildlife viewing in the park. This is when wildlife is easier to spot because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around the Mkata River, the hippo pool and other waterholes. During September and October, these waterholes are almost constantly visited by big herds of buffalo and elephant as well as other wildlife.

Safaris to Mikumi National Park usually start from Dar es Salaam, and your point of entry for the country will generally be Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and handle all further ground operations or domestic flights.

Flying to one of Mikumi’s airstrips is possible from Nyerere (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Parks, as well as from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Charter flights might also be possible from some of Tanzania’s Northern circuit parks.

Mikumi is a 6-hour* drive from Dar es Salaam (300km/186mi to the east) and is sometimes visited as a weekend getaway by residents. Many travelers who visit Mikumi do so en route to the popular Ruaha National Park.

If driving from Ruaha, the distance is about 320km/200mi, and the drive takes roughly 6 hours*.

Mikumi lies 795km/494mi south of Arusha by road.