In its natural compression between the Udzungwa and Uluguru peaks the Mikumi National Park throws up rolling savannah plains, leaning groves of baobab trees, misty rock ridges and endless swaths of wild, untouched Tanzanian backcountry. Joined at the base with the legendary UNESCO Selous Game Reserve, and easily accessible from nearby Morogoro and Dar es Salaam on the coast, it’s hailed as one of most well-rounded safari spots in the country, touting everything from wandering lion packs to galloping zebra herds, galumphing elephants and the iconic African wildebeest. Indeed, your Mikumi National Park tourist guide will be quick to point out that the veritable wealth of bird and animal life that clusters around the lands of the Mkata Floodplain here has given the reserve a reputation for reliable wildlife viewing to rival even the most celebrated enclaves of the Great Rift Valley. And yet, the sparse smattering of lodges and campsites housed by the park has kept crowds at a pleasant relative low.