Mikumi Budget Safari Tours

3.5/5 – 88 Mikumi Reviews

Mikumi National Park is a land of big experiences and big wildlife, and both will be a feature of your Mikumi budget safari. All across the Serengeti-like Mkata Floodplain, elephant, giraffe, buffalo and hippo roam and wallow, and predators such as big cats are never far away. It’s well suited to those looking for a more affordable safari holiday, and although it’s a popular park, it’s big enough to absorb the crowds and retain its unmistakable wilderness feel. Lots of travelers come here on packages and tours that combine a trip to Mikumi with visits to nearby Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve). These are a great idea, but even if you just visit Mikumi and go nowhere else, you’ll still have a fabulous safari experience.

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5 Questions About Mikumi Budget Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Tanzania and East Africa. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for magazines and newspapers worldwide. He is also the author of The Last Lions of Africa.
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What is usually included in a budget trip to Mikumi NP?

“Accommodation (including camping fees and equipment), a guide, driver, vehicle, meals, water, and two daily game drives on most days are usually included in the quoted price of your safari. The price may also include park fees (US$20/10 per adult/child per day). Transfers are sometimes included in quotes, sometimes not. Non-game-drive activities will usually be considered additional costs. When you’re choosing a Mikumi budget safari, there are lots of tours and packages so it really helps to know what’s included. You should always ask your operator for a clear list to make sure you know what you’re paying for, and to avoid any nasty surprise extras when it comes time to pay. Remember, too, that on a really cheap safari, you may need to help with camp chores (such as setting up camp, taking down tents, cooking and washing up).”

Can you describe a typical day on a Mikumi NP budget safari?

“A typical day on a Mikumi budget safari should include lots of animals and beautiful scenery. It usually begins before dawn with a wake-up call and hot drink, before heading out on an early morning game drive. Along with late afternoon, this is the best time to see the animals because it’s when they’re most active. You’ll probably return to camp mid to late morning when you’ll enjoy a late breakfast or early lunch (which you may be asked to help prepare). Unless it’s a day when you’re moving to different accommodation, you’ll have time to relax during the hottest part of the day, before heading out again for a game drive around 3:30 PM or 4 PM. After returning to camp, you’ll eat dinner and probably swap stories around the campfire. Don’t forget to look up into the sky for an incredible display of stars before heading off to bed in preparation for another early morning start tomorrow.”

What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Mikumi NP packages?

“Mikumi National Park has a number of national park campsites inside the park boundaries. These include both normal and special campsites; the latter involve bush camping at a site that, on most tours, you and the rest of your safari group will have to yourselves. At the normal or public campsites, there will be a communal shower and toilet building with separate areas for men and women. There are also simple, park-run bandas (bungalows) with bathrooms and air-con close to the park entrance and within the park’s boundaries. There are many more accommodation choices just outside the park’s main entrance. These are all privately run and come in a range of shapes and sizes. They include campgrounds and simple lodges or motels, and some combine budget campgrounds with midrange hotels where you’re allowed to use the facilities (perhaps even a swimming pool). They can be good places to meet other travelers.”

How do I avoid the crowds on a Mikumi NP safari?

“To start with, Mikumi may be part of Tanzania’s popular Southern safari circuit, but it’s generally less crowded than other, better-known Tanzanian parks. You can also enjoy a quieter Mikumi experience by choosing to stay at one of the campsites or bandas that are inside the park gates. While those who are staying outside the park queue to get in at dawn each morning, you’re already on your way for your morning game drive within the park itself. The high season runs from June to October. While they’re generally not too busy, these are nonetheless the busiest months to visit. Visiting outside of these months is even quieter. That said, November to May corresponds to the Wet season, so there is a chance that rain can impact upon your safari. On the plus side, the Wet-season months are best for birding, because this is when large numbers of migratory birds are present in the park.”

How much does a Mikumi NP budget safari cost?

“Prices can vary greatly, but prices for a cheap Mikumi budget safari start at around US$100 to US$150 per person per day. This estimate should include all standard inclusions and the daily park fees (US$20/10 per adult/child per day). It’s a good idea to shop around for quotes from a number of different safari operators: this could be the holiday of a lifetime, and there are numerous different tours and packages to choose from. A variable to take into consideration when calculating the cost of your trip is the season in which you travel. Low season prices should be a little cheaper than those in high season, even at the budget level. There will also be some variation in cost depending on whether you choose a group or self-drive budget safari.”

Mikumi Reviews

3.5/5 88 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...

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Abdul Jabbar Soomro –

Reviewed: Apr 23, 2025

5/5

Mikumi National Park is a great safari destination, especially for first-time visitors. It offers easy access, diverse wildlife, and scenic landscapes. While smaller than other parks, it provides rewarding game drives and a peaceful,...

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Rose –

Reviewed: Mar 26, 2025

Wonder

5/5

A day of wonder in front of all the animals of Mikuni Park, an encounter in the heart of nature, organized by Lekobe adventures & experiences, a top team passionate about their land, an unforgettable and memorable day! (automatic...

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Jennifer –

Reviewed: Mar 6, 2025

It was a very special experience

5/5

The pick-up went really well early in the morning. We were on safari until 5pm and were brought back safely to our hotel. Our tour guide was super friendly and told us everything about the animals and tried to make sure we saw all of them...

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Jim Grant –

Reviewed: Feb 22, 2025

A short hop from Zanzibar

5/5

We flew from Zanzibar into the dirt airstrip in Mukumi early in the morning. The safari guides were waiting to take us off animal spotting. The guides were excellent at judging the animal movements and got us very close to them. We enjoyed...

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Mikumi Budget Safari Tours

5-Day Private Tour Mikumi & Ruaha Wildlife Lodge Safari

3-Day Mikumi Budget Adventure

4-Day Nyerere and Mikumi National Park

5-Day Budget Safari Nyerere and Mikumi Adventure

5-Day Safari to Selous Nyerere, Mikumi & Maasai Village

4-Day Southern Circuit Mikumi and Selous (Nyerere NP)

4-Day Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains Waterfalls

6-Day The Ultimate Escape

5-Day Nyerere NP(Selous) to Mikumi & Maasai Village

6-Day Mikumi, Udzungwa, Ruaha Safari and Maasai Visit

4-Day Great Selous and Mikumi Safari

16-Day The Best of Tanzania

5-Day Selous and Mikumi Safari

3-Day Wonderful Mikumi Adventures with Cultural Tour

2-Day Trip to Mikumi from Zanzibar

2-Day Safari in Mikumi N P; from Dar Es Salaam

2-Day Mikumi Stay at Tanapa Banda

5-Day Nyerere and Mikumi Camping Safari

3-Day Budget Mikumi Safari Adventure - Wildlife & Maasai

3-Day Maasai Village & Mikumi Safari /Culture & Wildlife

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5 Questions About Mikumi Budget Safaris

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About Mikumi Budget Safaris

What is usually included in a budget trip to Mikumi NP?

Can you describe a typical day on a Mikumi NP budget safari?

What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Mikumi NP packages?

How do I avoid the crowds on a Mikumi NP safari?

How much does a Mikumi NP budget safari cost?

Mikumi Reviews

An Underrated Gem

Wildlife Watching Just off the Highway

Wonder

It was a very special experience

A short hop from Zanzibar