Mikumi National Park in a nutshell
Mikumi National Park lies in the Morogoro Region of Tanzania, on the A7 highway. The Mkata floodplain is the heart of the safari area: open grassland, seasonal waterholes and patches of woodland. The park was created in 1964 with 1,070 km² and grew to 3,230 km² by 1975. It is open all year, and visits are made by game drive, bird watching or an authorized guided walk.
This guide covers safaris in Mikumi, trips from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar by road or SGR train, entry and park fees, the animals of the Mkata floodplain and the Hippo Pool, the Udzungwa Mountains with the Sanje waterfalls, the town of Morogoro and the Uluguru Mountains, weather, accommodation, getting there and history. Prices are given in US dollars for foreign visitors and in Tanzanian shillings (TZS) where Tanzanian rates apply. They change, so check the current amount before you book.
Our picks: Mikumi safaris
Fly-in day trips from Zanzibar, a Dar es Salaam day trip by train and cheaper starts from Morogoro.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
2-day Mikumi safari with flights and a bush barbecue
- Flights from Zanzibar or Pemba
- Park and conservation fees
- One night, full board
Two game drives in Mikumi with a guide and a barbecue dinner in the bush. Airport and lodge transfers are included.
Check availability →
2-day Mikumi and Udzungwa safari from Morogoro
- Mikumi and Udzungwa entry
- Private 4x4 with pop-up roof
- Sanje waterfall hike
One night with full board, a game drive in the savanna and a guided walk to the Sanje waterfalls.
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2-day private Mikumi safari from Dar es Salaam
- Private guide
- One night and all meals
- Mikumi entry
Game drives in Mikumi with your own guide, picked up in Dar es Salaam. The price is per person.
Check availability →Mikumi day trip with flights from Zanzibar
- Return flight from Zanzibar
- Park entry and landing fees
- Bush lunch
Shared game drives in a 4x4 with a driver-guide, all in one day.
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Mikumi day trip from Dar es Salaam by SGR
- SGR transport
- Mikumi park entry
- Lunch and water
A guided Mikumi day tour that uses the SGR train for part of the way. It makes for a long day, so plan on an early start.
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Mikumi day safari from Morogoro
- Hotel pick-up and return
- Private game drive
- Park entry
An open safari jeep with a driver-guide and a bush lunch.
Check availability →Mikumi safaris and day trips
Safaris and trips to Mikumi from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, with live prices and availability.
Tanzania safari: where Mikumi fits
A short safari on the way between the coast and the south of the country.
If you search for a Tanzania safari, many results lead to the northern parks, for example the Serengeti. Mikumi is a different kind of trip. It sits next to the highway between Dar es Salaam and the interior, so a safari fits into a few days on the mainland. Good chances to see elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffalo and lions are part of the appeal, though no sighting can be promised.
South of Mikumi, the same landscape continues into Nyerere National Park, which has its own park, fees and boat safaris. If you start from the islands, Zanzibar has its own guide. This site stays with Mikumi, Udzungwa, Morogoro and the Uluguru Mountains.
Plan your trip to Mikumi
Start with the safari pages, then open the practical ones you need.
Mikumi safari
Game drives, birding and guided walks, with the fees that come on top of entry.
Trips from Zanzibar
Two-day safaris with mainland transfers and what to check before you book.
Safari from Dar es Salaam
Day trips, the road, the SGR train to Morogoro and the transfer to the park.
Park fees
Entry, vehicle and activity fees, and how to pay.
Wildlife
Lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos and more than 400 bird species.
Udzungwa Mountains
A separate national park with the Sanje waterfalls and forest walks.
Places, seasons and practical pages
The town, the mountains, the weather and the way there.
Morogoro
The town at the foot of the Uluguru Mountains and the stop for the SGR train.
Uluguru Mountains
Hikes, waterfalls and villages above Morogoro.
Weather and best time
The dry season from June to October and monthly figures for Morogoro.
Lodges and camps
Where to sleep: inside the park, in Mikumi town or along the road.
Dar es Salaam to Mikumi
SGR train, road, flights to the airstrip and the rules on the A7.
History
The park from 1964 and the highway that crosses it.
A few things to know before you go
Four points that shape most plans.
Entry fees have changed over time
The 2023/24 tariff set USD 30 for adult non-EAC visitors and USD 10 for children aged 5 to 15, with 18 percent VAT added. Rates of USD 50 and USD 15 are quoted for 2026/27. Ask whether an offer includes the fee and VAT, and check the current amount before you book.
Park fees →The train stops in Morogoro
The SGR runs between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro. Mikumi is reached on the road afterwards, and there is no direct train from Zanzibar. Plan the rail leg, the island crossing and the road transfer as separate steps.
Getting there →Mikumi and Udzungwa are two parks
Game drives on the Mkata floodplain belong to Mikumi. The Sanje waterfalls and the rainforest walks belong to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, with its own fees and permits.
Udzungwa →Entry insurance for the mainland
Since 1 October 2026 a state entry insurance also applies to the mainland. It costs USD 44 per person for up to 92 days, with an exception for holders of Tanzanian residence permits. If you combine island and mainland, check the recognition rules before you pay twice.
Trips from Zanzibar →More independent guides to Tanzania
Separate guides from the same team.
Ngorongoro
The crater, fees, crater tours and the highlands.
Serengeti
Safaris, the Great Migration, park fees and the best season.
Kilimanjaro
Climbing routes, day hikes, park fees and trips from Moshi.
Tarangire
Elephants, baobabs, day trips from Arusha and park fees.
Lake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, Mto wa Mbu and park fees.
Arusha
Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, the city and its airports.
Lake Natron
Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Engare Sero waterfall.
Ruaha
Lions, walking safaris and the southern circuit.
Nyerere
Boat safaris on the Rufiji, wild dogs, park fees and trips from Zanzibar.
Selous
The Selous name, Frederick Selous, the World Heritage Site and Selous safaris.
Stone Town
Walking tours, Prison Island, spice tours and the ferry from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar
Beaches, Mnemba snorkeling, Jozani Forest, the best time to visit and entry rules.
Mikumi National Park: frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Mikumi?
The dry season from June to October is the favorable time for wildlife, because animals gather at the remaining water. The park is open all year, and safaris also run outside these months. Short rains fall in November and December and long rains from March to May. See the weather page.
How far is Mikumi from Dar es Salaam?
Plan 3 to 5 hours by road, depending on traffic, and about 1 hour from Morogoro. That is one way, so a day trip uses a large part of the day on the road. See safari from Dar es Salaam.
Can I visit Mikumi from Zanzibar?
Yes, but there is no direct train. The island crossing and the transfer to the park are separate legs, and the park has an airstrip. Most people choose a trip of two days or more. The Zanzibar trips page explains the formats.
Which animals can I see in Mikumi?
Elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, lions, leopards and spotted hyenas live in the park, and hippos and crocodiles use the water. Living in the park is not the same as seeing an animal on every drive, so expect good chances rather than a promise. More on the wildlife page.
How much does it cost to enter the park?
The 2023/24 tariff set USD 30 per adult for non-EAC visitors, and USD 50 is quoted for 2026/27. Vehicle, guide and activity fees come on top, and a booked safari may include them or not. Check the current amount before you book; details are on the fees page.
Is mikumi-national-park.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), the railway, a lodge or any safari operator.