A Mikumi safari in short
A safari in Mikumi means game drives on the park tracks, in a vehicle with a driver or guide. The park also offers bird watching and guided walks in designated areas. The main stage is the Mkata floodplain, with open grassland, seasonal waterholes and woodland along the edges. The Hippo Pool is a well known stop for watching hippos from a safe distance.
Most visitors book a safari from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar and add one night near the park. The offers below show live prices and dates. A safari price is never the entry fee alone, so compare what each offer includes before you choose.
Our picks: Mikumi safaris
A twin-engine day trip, a shared two-day safari by road and a two-park trip with Udzungwa.
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 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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Mikumi by twin-engine plane from Zanzibar
- Twin-engine return flight
- Park entry and landing fees
- Own seat in the 4x4
A long day with a shared game drive and a buffet bush lunch.
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2-day shared Mikumi safari from Dar es Salaam
- One night in a resort
- Meals and soft drinks
- Entry and guide
You drive to Mikumi on day one, with a Maasai village stop, and do the game drive on day two.
Check availability →Mikumi safari offers
Game drives and safaris in Mikumi, with live prices and availability.
Mikumi National Park safari: what a game drive involves
The routes, the landscape and the water.
Game drives follow the tracks the park has set out. You stay in the vehicle, and you get out only at designated places or on an authorized walk. There is no fixed minimum length for a drive and no list of animals that is guaranteed, so a good guide adjusts the route to the day.
The animals move with the seasons. Vegetation and water change with the rain, and with them the places where herds and predators are easiest to find. The floodplain is the core area, and the rivers and pools, including the Hippo Pool, hold hippos and crocodiles. Elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes and lions are all part of the park. For the full list, see the wildlife page.
Safari formats compared
Fees are from the 2023/24 tariff for non-EAC visitors, in US dollars. Check the current amount before you book.
| Format | What it is | Extra fee in the 2023/24 tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Game drive | Drive on the park tracks with a driver or guide | Entry per person plus a vehicle fee |
| Bird watching | More than 400 bird species live in the park | Same as a game drive |
| Short guided walk | 1 to 4 hours with an authorized guide | $20 per adult, $10 per child from 12 years |
| Long guided walk | More than 4 hours with an authorized guide | $25 per adult, $15 per child from 12 years |
| Night game drive | A separate activity with its own permit rules | $50 per adult, $25 for ages 5 to 15 |
These amounts are before 18 percent VAT, so ask whether your offer quotes net or gross prices. A night drive does not run on every date. For most first visits, a day or overnight game drive with a driver-guide is the simplest choice, and a guided walk is a good add-on if you stay a night.
What a Mikumi safari costs
Entry, vehicle, guide and activity are separate items.
| Item | 2023/24 tariff, non-EAC | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry, adult (16 and older) | $30 | $50 is quoted for 2026/27 |
| Entry, child (5 to 15) | $10 | $15 is quoted for 2026/27; under 5 is free |
| Vehicle up to 2,000 kg | $40 | Foreign-registered or commercial vehicle; heavier classes cost more |
| Guide | $20 | Per group and day |
| Open vehicle | – | The 2023/24 tariff adds 50 percent to the vehicle fee |
A booked safari may include some or all of these items, or list them separately. Do not work out a safari price from the entry fee alone. The park fees page has the full picture, including how to pay.
Rules to know
They protect the animals and you.
Stay on the tracks
Keep to the designated tracks and do not leave the vehicle outside permitted places.
Do not feed animals
Feeding is not allowed, for the animals' sake and for yours.
Keep your distance on foot
Do not approach hippo pools or elephant herds on foot. Walks are only allowed with an authorized guide.
Drones need permission
A drone needs prior written permission from the park.
Plan one, two or three days
The number of days is the length of the offer, not the number of full safari days.
One day. It works if you start close by, for example in Morogoro or Mikumi town. From Dar es Salaam the road takes 3 to 5 hours each way, so see the Dar es Salaam page before you book a day trip.
Two days. One night in or near the park gives you an evening and a morning drive. From Zanzibar this is the realistic minimum, and the Zanzibar trips page covers the transfers.
Three days. The extra day can go to a second park. Udzungwa is reached from Mikumi town on the road to Mang'ula, and it is a separate park with its own fees, described on the Udzungwa page.
The dry season from June to October is the favorable time for wildlife, and the weather page has monthly figures. After rain, park tracks can become impassable and may need four-wheel drive, and driving at night outside larger towns is not advised. For boat safaris and walking safaris on the Rufiji, see safaris in Nyerere National Park, which is a different park.
Mikumi safari: frequently asked questions
How long should a Mikumi safari be?
One day is possible from nearby, but from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar most people choose two days with one night near the park. Three days add time for Udzungwa. The number of days is the length of the offer, not full days in the park.
Is a night game drive available?
Night game drives are a separate activity with their own fees, but they do not run on every date. Ask the operator whether one is available for your dates and what permit it needs.
Can I walk in the park?
Yes, on authorized guided walks in designated areas. You need a guide, and you must not approach hippo pools or elephant herds on foot. The 2023/24 tariff distinguishes short walks of 1 to 4 hours and long walks of more than 4 hours.
Can I be sure to see lions?
No. Lions live in the park, but no sighting can be guaranteed. Vegetation, water and season change where animals are, so treat any list of animals as chances, not a promise.
What does a safari cost on top of the entry fee?
Vehicle, guide, activities and any overnight stay come on top of entry. The 2023/24 tariff shows these as separate items, and a booked safari may include them. Read what each offer covers and check the current amounts before you book.
What are the rules on a game drive?
Stay on the designated tracks, leave the vehicle only at permitted places, and do not feed animals. A drone needs prior written permission from the park.