Located north of the Selous Reserve, less than 300 km from Dar es Salaam, is the Mikumi National Park. Because of its accessibility it is one of the most popular parks in Tanzania and is an important centre for education where students go to study ecology and conservation. A wide range of wildlife inhabits its 3230 sq km area. The Mikumi flood plain, with its open grasslands, dominated the park together with the mountain ranges that border the park on two sides. Lion is commonly seen as are packs of wild dog, rare elsewhere in Africa.