Mikumi Day Trips

3.5/5 – 82 Mikumi Reviews

Mikumi National Park is one of the best national parks and wildlife destinations in southern Tanzania. It is easily accessible from Dar es Salaam and close to other national parks, including Nyerere (Selous) and Udzungwa Mountains. It’s a little like a lesser-known Serengeti, and it rewards all visitors no matter how much time you have to spend here. Yes, 1 day will never be enough to experience everything that Mikumi has to offer, so plan to stay longer if you can. But 1 day in the park is still one of the best days you can have on safari, and if you simply don’t have more time, you still have so much to look forward to.

1-20 of 30 one day tours and day trips to Mikumi National Park

5 Questions About Mikumi Day Trips

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony is a writer and author of nearly 150 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Tanzania’ and ‘East Africa’. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for publications worldwide. He is also author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’ (partly set in Tanzania) and ‘The Man Who Loved Pink Dolphins’.
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How can I find a reliable operator for a day trip in Mikumi National Park?

“The best place to start looking for a reliable operator for your 1-day Mikumi National Park safari is SafariBookings.com. Easily the best and most comprehensive resource on safaris, SafariBookings covers every aspect of your safari, starting with expert reviews of national parks such as Mikumi. This means that you can fully understand what to expect on a safari here and compare it with what’s on offer in other parks and reserves. Then, when it comes to looking for (and choosing) a safari operator for your Mikumi day trip, you can check out the reviews by other travelers. These are a valuable resource because the reviews are from people who have traveled to Mikumi with the operator you’re considering. Of course, you should read a number of different reviews to get a representative sample of the experiences of safari-goers who have been there before you.”

What can I expect on a day trip to Mikumi?

“It’s important to understand that a day trip to Mikumi means that you will travel to and from Mikumi National Park on the same day, with no overnight stay in the park. Check with each individual tour operator exactly what’s involved, and where you’ll begin and end each day. If you’re traveling to Mikumi from elsewhere in Tanzania, your transfer to and from the park will either be by road or by air. This will depend partly on how far away you’re traveling from and how much you’re willing to pay. Arriving in, and leaving from, Mikumi by air means that you will have more time in the park itself, but it will cost a lot more than if you travel here by road. Once you’re in the park, you can look forward to a game drive in an open-sided 4WD safari vehicle with a guide and a driver. The main drawback of only being here on a day trip is that you’re unlikely to be looking for animals at the optimum time of day. The best time for game drives is early morning and late afternoon, when the animals are at their most active and easiest to find. But at these times you may be traveling to and from the park instead.”

Which animals can I expect to see on a 1-day safari in Mikumi?

“On a day trip to Mikumi, you’ll almost certainly see large numbers of zebra, buffalo, impala and wildebeest, as well as elephant. This is especially likely if you visit Mikumi’s Mkata Floodplain, which is often compared to the Serengeti. Other commonly sighted animals include yellow baboon and vervet monkey, and there’s a reasonable chance that you will see hippo and giraffe. With just a day in the park, seeing both lion and spotted hyena is possible, but you’d have to be very lucky in such a short space of time. There are other animals you can see in Mikumi, although, once again, your chances of seeing them are less if you’re only here for a day. These include eland (the largest of all antelope species), as well as greater kudu, sable antelope and Lichtenstein's hartebeest.”

Where should I stay to do a day trip in Mikumi?

“You will need to check with your safari tour operator exactly what’s involved in your 1-day Mikumi National Park safari, but obviously the closer you stay to the park, the more time you’ll have to explore. In most cases, a day trip means that you will travel to Mikumi from elsewhere in the country and return the same day. If you’re really lucky, some safari tour operators may consider it a day trip if you stay overnight in Mikumi town (which is just outside the park), spend the day in the park, and then leave the park before nightfall to again sleep in the town near the park entrance. If this is the case for you, you can be inside the park immediately after daybreak and leave just before sunset, which would greatly increase your chances of experiencing the best of Mikumi.”

How much does a Mikumi day trip cost?

“A 1-day Mikumi National Park safari could start at around US$200 per person per day, although there are lots of variables that could push that price much higher. The main one is the kind of transport you use to travel to and from Mikumi. If you travel by air, the price of your day trip will be a lot higher than if you travel by road. On the other hand, you won’t have to factor in the cost of accommodation. It's important to understand what’s included in your day safari. Make sure that you get a detailed list of inclusions and exclusions from your safari operator for any price they quote. Quoted prices should include all transfers, guide, driver, vehicle, park entry fees (US$30/15 per adult/child per day) and game drives, as well as food and drink.”

Mikumi Reviews

3.5/5 82 Reviews

Expert

Philip Briggs –

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

An Underrated Gem

4/5

Little-known Mikumi, an extension of the vast Selous ecosystem, is the country’s fifth-largest national park, and a popular goal for weekend breaks out of the port city Dar es Salaam, or as an initial pit stop on a more extensive safari...

Full Review

Expert

Mary Fitzpatrick –

Mary is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including South Africa, Tanzania, East Africa and Africa.

Wildlife Watching Just off the Highway

3/5

Mikumi's highlights are its ease of access (it's an easy four-hour drive from Dar es Salaam along the main highway), its reasonably-priced lodges and the chance it offers to see a good array of wildlife within a short amount of time. Every...

Full Review

Jean-Pierre Garot –

Reviewed: Oct 23, 2023

Great experience

5/5

High Peaks Expeditions was a random choice from the internet, after reviewing the comments and notations. Choice was good, for a 2 days Safari at Mikumi starting from our hotel in Zanzibar and returning to International airport for our...

Full Review

Olivia –

Reviewed: Oct 3, 2023

Incredible experience!! Excellent tour guide!

5/5

Incredible experience!! our guide William was experienced, patient and had an excellent knowledge of the park and wildlife which enabled us to get up close with all of the animals including elephants having their evening shower and lions...

Full Review

Margaux –

Reviewed: Oct 5, 2022

Incredible

5/5

We did a day safari at Mikumi Park and it was just awesome. I highly recommend having this once in a lifetime experience. I don't know if we were lucky or if it's still the case but we saw lions a few times. The meal was also very good. It...

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Katja Rajh –

Reviewed: Sep 22, 2022

Amazing wildlife, friendly people and unforgettable moments.

5/5

Amazing experience seeing the animals up close in their natural habitats. We were lucky enough to see lions on a hunt, a lot of elephants and giraffe, antilopes, buffalos,... The driver and the guide were excelent. On the day, that we went...

Full Review

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Mikumi Day Trips

1-Day Trip Mikumi Safari

1-Day Mikumi National Park by Train from Dar Es Salaam

1-Day Zanzibar Mikumi National Park

1-Day Safari to Mikumi by (Sgr)Train from Dar Es Salaam

1-Day Dar Es Salaam to Mikumi NP by Train and Car

1-Day Safari from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park

1-Day Safari to Mikumi by Sgr Train

1-Day Trip from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park

1-Day Wonderful Mikumi Expedition

1-Day Flying Zanzibar to Mikumi NP, Full Day Game Drive

1-Day Wild Wonders in Mikumi

1-Day Mikumi Fly in out from Zanzibar (Once a Life Time)

1-Day Mikumi National Park

1-Day Flying to Mikumi National Park Safari

1-Day To a Thrilling Wildlife Adventure at Mikumi

1-Day Mikumi National Park from Dar Es Salaam and Back

1-Day Mikumi- Experience the Wonder from Dar Es Salaam

1-Day Safari to Mikumi by Train from Dar Es Salaam

1-Day Tanzania Mikumi Safari

1-Day Fly Zanzibar to Mikumi Park & Free Hotel Transfers

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5 Questions About Mikumi Day Trips

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About Mikumi Day Trips

How can I find a reliable operator for a day trip in Mikumi National Park?

What can I expect on a day trip to Mikumi?

Which animals can I expect to see on a 1-day safari in Mikumi?

Where should I stay to do a day trip in Mikumi?

How much does a Mikumi day trip cost?

Mikumi Reviews

An Underrated Gem

Wildlife Watching Just off the Highway

Great experience

Incredible experience!! Excellent tour guide!

Incredible

Amazing wildlife, friendly people and unforgettable moments.