Mikumi National Park is covering an area of 1070 km2; it was later extended in 1975 to cover the current area of 3,230 km2. The park is the fifth largest National Park in Tanzania, it Shares the name ‘Mikumi’ with the village just beyond its Western border of the Dar es Salaam – Iringa highway, which traverse the park for 50km. The small town in turn takes the name from the palm tree (Borassus spp.) which once grew there in profusion but no stem is visible in the village.

The open horizons and abundant wildlife of the Mkata Floodplain, the popular centerpiece of Mikumi, draw frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains. More than 400 bird species have been recorded, with such colorful common residents as the lilac-breasted roller, yellow-throated long claw and bateleur eagle joined by a host of European migrants during the rainy season.