Mikumi Day Trips

3.5/5 – 95 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 47 results. Rankings are based on performance, relevance and payment. Learn more

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’.
› More about Anthony

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 95 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

DQR –

Reviewed: Oct 22, 2026

unforgettable

5/5

We had an unforgettable safari adventure in Tanzania. The landscapes are stunningly beautiful, and we were lucky enough to encounter plenty of wildlife we had hoped to see. Every wildlife sighting was breathtaking and left us in awe. We...

Full Review

Allan –

Reviewed: Jul 22, 2026

4/5

The problem at Mikumi is that it's easily accessible by road and attracts lots of tourists. It's often difficult to span the horizon without seeing another tourist vehicle. If you spot lions, you'll soon be surrounded by at least another...

Full Review

Robyn –

Reviewed: Jul 16, 2026

Mesmerizing

5/5

Mikumi National Park is an absolutely incredible destination and one of the highlights of my trip to Tanzania. The wildlife was beyond anything I imagined. We saw so many amazing animals in their natural habitat, and every sighting was...

Full Review

Luca Dentis –

Reviewed: Jan 9, 2026

5/5

To enjoy an excellent experience at Mikumi National Park, a 3-day (2 night) package is sufficient. You'll be immersed in wild nature, in contact with an extraordinary multitude of animals, and in a constantly changing landscape. An exciting...

Full Review

All 95 Mikumi Reviews

Your Safari

Tour Length

Rates in USD $ – Change Currency

Starting From

Comfort Level

Private or Shared Tour

Safari Type

Operator Rating

Specialized Tours

Other Tour Features

Filter by Operator

Filter by Accommodation

Operators From

Mikumi Day Trips

1-Day Safari Beyond the Horizon

1-Day Mikumi Fly in Shared Safari from Zanzibar

1-Day Shared Safari in Mikumi Flying from Zanzibar

1-Day Exclusive Private Mikumi Safari from Zanzibar

1-Day Daydream Journey to Mikumi National Park by Sgr

1-Day Epic Trip to Mikumi National Park by Sgr Train

1-Day Mikumi Day Trip Using Standard Gauge Railway

1-Day Mikumi Safari Experience from Zanzibar

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

1-Day Zanzibar to Mikumi Day Trip by Flight

1-Day Mikumi National Park from Dar Es Salaam

1-Day Fly in Safari to Mikumi National Park from Znz

1-Day The Ultimate Mikumi Safari from Dar Es Salaam

1-Day Fly in Fly out Mikumi National Park- from Zanzibar

1-Day Explore Mikumi NP from Dar Es Salaam by Train

1-Day Exciting Fly-in & out Shared Safari to Mikumi NP

1-Day Fly-in Private Mikumi Safari from Zanzibar

1-Day Mikumi Safari Trip from Paradise of Zanzibar

1-Day Private Game Drive Safari to Mikumi from Zanzibar

1-Day Private Fly-in Wildlife Safari Zanzibar to Mikumi

Related Searches

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

unforgettable

Mesmerizing