2-Day Safari from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park

Two days hunting game across the Mkata plain, from pickup in Dar es Salaam to the park gates and back.

A 2-day safari from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park with an English-speaking guide, 4x4 vehicle with open pop-up roof, and unlimited game drives at dawn and dusk. The tour includes hotel pickup, all meals, and accommodation inside or outside the park. You arrive after a six-hour drive via Morogoro, spend the afternoon and full second morning on game drives across plains where herds of wildebeest, impala, zebra and giraffe graze alongside elephants, buffalo and antelope, then return to Dar es Salaam by midday.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Mikumi and afternoon game drive

• Pick up from Dar es Salaam at 5am
• Drive to Mikumi National Park via Morogoro
• Arrive for lunch in Mikumi National Park
• Afternoon game drive until sunset
• Dinner and overnight at Tanapa Tourist Cottage

Day 2: Morning game drives and return to Dar es Salaam

• Early morning game drive until 8:30am
• Breakfast at tourist cottage
• Continue game drive until 11:00am
• Drive back to Dar es Salaam
• Stop for hot lunch in Morogoro town
• Drop off at hotel or airport in Dar es Salaam

The experience

Pickup happens at 5am from your Dar es Salaam hotel. The drive to Mikumi takes six hours, passing through Morogoro town before you reach the park gates. You arrive in time for lunch at the park, then head straight into an afternoon game drive that runs until sunset. The 4x4 has an open pop-up roof, so you stand to spot wildlife across the Mkata plain. The floodplain that gives Mikumi its name and its herds. Dinner and your first night happen at either a cottage inside the park or a lodge outside it, depending on which accommodation option you choose at checkout.

Day two starts before dawn with an early morning game drive that runs until 8:30am. You return for breakfast, then continue driving until 11am, when the vehicle turns back toward Dar es Salaam. The route stops in Morogoro for a hot lunch before the final stretch home. Drop-off is at your hotel, the airport for a late flight, or another destination in the city.

The park itself sits on plains that support vast herds of wildebeest, impala, zebra and giraffe, hunted by lions and other predators. The surrounding hills hold elephants, buffalo, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, greater kudu, roan and sable antelope. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and children from age four are welcome when sharing accommodation with two paying adults.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dar es Salaam.
• 4x4 vehicle with open pop-up roof and English-speaking guide.
• unlimited game drives at dawn and dusk.
• accommodation inside or outside the park.
• all meals (two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast).
• National Park fees.
• bottled water.

Options for this experience

3 options

Lodging located within the parkGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027One night's stay inside the park gives you enough time to enjoy the nature through game drives on every day of your visit. Stay at Tanapa Tourist Cottage. Duration: 2 days. Pickup is included.

Mid-range options situated outside the parkGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Stay at Mikumi Bastian Camp, a midrange accommodation. Duration: 2 days. Accommodation outside the park: this two-day safari to Mikumi NP offers standard lodging outside the park. This option is used when accommodation inside the park is fully booked. Game drives take place over two days. Pickup is included.

High Range AccommodationGuide in English · 06:30 and 07:30Vuma Hill Luxury Tented Camp, Private. Duration: 2 days. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30 and 07:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by African Pangolin Safaris

Is this one for you?Book the inside-the-park option if you want to wake in Mikumi and start the morning game drive without the drive back from outside the gates. Choose outside the park if you prefer a lodge setting and don't mind the extra drive time on the final morning. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and children from age four travel at a reduced rate when sharing accommodation with two paying adults.

Traveler reviews

4.91★★★★★★★★★★

11 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What animals am I likely to see on the game drives in Mikumi?

The Mkata plain supports vast herds of wildebeest, impala, zebra and giraffe, hunted by their predators. The surrounding hills hold elephants, buffalo, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, greater kudu, roan and sable antelope. Your guide will drive the 4x4 across both terrain types during the dawn and dusk game drives.

Do I need to bring my own food, or is it included?

All meals are included: lunch and dinner on day one, and breakfast and lunch on day two. Vegetarian options are available if you advise at the time of booking.

What time does the safari start and end each day?

Day one begins with a 5am pickup from your Dar es Salaam hotel and an afternoon game drive after lunch. Day two starts before dawn with an early morning game drive until 8:30am, then continues until 11am, with drop-off in Dar es Salaam by midday.

Can I choose where to sleep, inside the park or outside?

Yes. Your accommodation option at checkout determines where you stay: either a TANAPA Tourist Cottage or Vuma Hill Camp inside the park, or Mikumi Safari Lodge or Bastian Camp outside the park. All are included in the tour price.

Is the driver also a guide who can explain what we're seeing?

Yes, your driver is a live English-speaking guide who leads both game drives and explains the wildlife and landscape as you travel.

What's the drive time from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi, and do we stop along the way?

The drive takes up to six hours and passes through Morogoro town. On the return journey on day two, you stop in Morogoro again for a hot lunch before heading back to Dar es Salaam.