This 3-day safari gives a genuine chance to see the Big Four in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania's fourth-largest national park and the most accessible from Dar es Salaam. Spanning roughly 3,230 square kilometres between the Uluguru Mountains to the north and the Lumango Mountains to the southeast, Mikumi's centrepiece is the Mkata Floodplain, an open horizon of grassland frequently compared to the more famous Serengeti Plains.
Lions survey their grassy kingdom, along with the zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo herds that migrate across it, from the flattened tops of termite mounds, or during the rains, from perches high in the trees. Giraffe forage in the isolated acacia stands fringing the Mkata River. This itinerary travels by road from Dar es Salaam, though it can also be customized to fly directly to Mikumi Airstrip from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, contact us for details if you'd prefer that option. If you only have 2 days available, our 2-Day Mikumi National Park Safari From Dar es Salaam covers the essentials in a shorter window.
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$985 per person when 1 person travels alone
$691 per person when 2 persons travel together
$630 per person when 3 persons travel together
$544 per person when 4 persons travel together
$537 per person when 5 persons travel together
$494 per person when 6 persons travel together
For a more accurate estimate, contact us with your specific requirements and budget. We'll send a detailed quote based on your itinerary, group size, and preferred level of comfort.
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A morning pickup from your hotel, the airport or the ferry terminal, then a roughly 5-hour drive to Mikumi National Park. On arrival, you'll head out for an afternoon game drive before settling in for the night on a full-board basis.
Distance: Approx. 5 hours' drive, plus an afternoon game drive
Activity: Drive to Mikumi National Park, afternoon game drive
Accommodation: Lodge or camp inside Mikumi National Park
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, a full day of game driving with a packed lunch. Mikumi's vegetation includes woodland, swamp and grassland, with two distinct waterholes, Mkata and Chamgore, both worth slowing down for. Beyond the saddle-bill stork, hammer kop and malachite kingfisher commonly seen here, monitor lizard and the occasional python also inhabit these pools.
Distance: Full day of game driving
Activity: Full-day game drive covering the Mkata and Chamgore waterholes
Accommodation: Lodge or camp inside Mikumi National Park (second night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
An early morning game drive before returning to your accommodation for a late breakfast, then the drive back to Dar es Salaam. On arrival, you'll be dropped at your hotel or the ferry terminal for the last ferry to Zanzibar, or at the airport for your onward flight home.
Distance: Early morning game drive, then approx. 5 hours' drive back to Dar es Salaam
Activity: Final morning game drive, return drive to Dar es Salaam
Accommodation: N/A, end of safari
Meals: Breakfast
The standard version of this itinerary travels by road from Dar es Salaam, roughly 5 hours each way. It can be customized to fly directly to Mikumi Airstrip from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar instead, skipping the road journey entirely, contact us for details and pricing if you'd prefer that option.
Mikumi is best known for reliable sightings of elephant, lion, buffalo and giraffe, often referred to locally as the Big Four for this park. Leopard is present but elusive, and rhino is not found in Mikumi, so the full Big Five isn't a realistic target here.
No fitness requirement applies, this is a vehicle-based safari throughout, with no walking required beyond getting in and out of the vehicle.
The dry season (June to October) concentrates wildlife around the Mkata and Chamgore waterholes, generally the most reliable game viewing. The wetter months bring lush scenery and strong birdlife, with predators sometimes spotted resting in trees during this period.
Please see the full "What's included" and "Not included" sections on this page for the complete breakdown of what's covered on this itinerary.
Elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala and eland are all commonly seen across the Mkata Floodplain, with monitor lizard and occasional python sightings around the Mkata and Chamgore waterholes, alongside strong birdlife including saddle-bill stork, hammer kop and malachite kingfisher.
Yes, the moderate pacing with a full day dedicated entirely to game driving makes this manageable for most ages, though the road journey on both ends is worth considering for very young children, the fly-in upgrade is worth asking about if this is a concern.
Most nationalities can obtain a Tanzania tourist visa online via the eTA system before travel, or on arrival. The visa costs USD 50 for most nationalities and USD 100 for US citizens. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation is recommended for all safari travelers.
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