MIKUMI

This is perhaps the most accessible and popular of Tanzania's national parks. The main feature here is the open grasslands of the Mikumi flood lain which is bordered on two sides by mountain ranges. On the southern end one can spot the yellow baboon, impalas, reedbucks and other antelope. Some distance to the north are the Hippo Pools dominated by hippo, as well as a variety of waterbirds. The area around these pools is open plain where you can see all kinds of game from the Lichtenstein's hartebeest to the somewhat rare wild dog. Black-bellied bustards, ground hornbills and black turkeys are also found on the plains. There are two other major water holes, Mkata and Chamgore ('place of the python').

Here there are saddle-bill stork, hammerkop, malachite kingfisher and the deadly writhing python. The pink Jacaranda is one of the most beautiful trees in this part of the park which is dotted by small glades of Hyphaene palm, shady figs and occasional baobab. Many trails lead across black cotton soil which transforms to nightmarish bog during the wet season. On the far eastern side of the plains the black-backed jackal is a common predator - this is one of the few mammal species that mates for life.