Mikumi is located astride the main Dar es salaam to Mbeya highway, to the north of Selous Game Reserve and is only 283 km from Dar-es-Salaam. The park is an important educational centre for students of ecology and conservation.

The Mikumi flood plain is the main feature of the park along with the bordering mountain ranges. It has a landing strip and is home to; the buffalos, zebras, giraffes, lions, wild dogs, pythons, monitor lizards, hartebeests, wildebeests, elephants (these elephants are grazers and do not damage trees), hippos, impalas, warthogs, elands and antelopes. Birds include  hammer kops, saddle-bill storks, and the malachite kingfishers.

The vegetation is made up of woodland, grassland and swamp. There are two water holes which are Mkata and Chamgore.