Mikumi's elephants are more compact than the rest of their Tanzanian cousins, but still a lot bigger than any Land Rover. The rains swell the park's bird population to more than 300 species as Eurasian migrants seek refuge in Mikumi, joining resident stars like the lilac breasted roller.
The park's road network provides visitors with a variety of easy game drives. Hippos inhabit pool 5 km north of the main entrance and zebra, giraffe, hartebeest and wildebeest abound.