3-day Mikumi safari from Zanzibar with Maasai village visit

Three days crossing Tanzania by train and ferry to hunt wildlife in an unfenced park

A 3-day private safari tour from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park with roundtrip ferry and train transport, two nights' accommodation, full-day and evening game drives, a Maasai village visit, and meals. You depart Zanzibar by ferry to Dar es Salaam, take the SGR train to Morogoro, then drive two hours into the park for game viewing and cultural immersion before returning the same way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Mikumi and evening game drive

• Pick up from Zanzibar hotel
• Drive to ferry terminal
• Ferry to Dar es Salaam
• Take SGR train to Morogoro
• Drive to Mikumi National Park
• Enjoy hot lunch
• Evening game drive until sunset
• Dinner and overnight at Mikumi Bandas

Day 2: Full day game drive and Maasai Village visit

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Full day game drive in Mikumi National Park
• Lunch at picnic camp site
• Visit Maasai Village for cultural tour
• Dinner and overnight at Camp Bastian Mikumi

Day 3: Return to Zanzibar

• Early breakfast
• Drive to Morogoro
• Take 9:00 AM SGR train to Dar es Salaam
• Transfer to ferry terminal
• Afternoon ferry to Zanzibar
• Transfer to Zanzibar hotel

The experience

The route itself is half the experience. Day one starts with hotel pickup in Zanzibar, ferry crossing to Dar es Salaam, then a 90-minute train ride on the SGR to Morogoro. From there your driver takes you two hours into Mikumi National Park, where you'll have lunch and an evening game drive until sunset. The park sits between the Uluguru Mountains to the north and the Lumango Mountains to the southeast, and because it's unfenced, wildlife moves freely across the landscape. You'll spot lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, leopards, crocodiles and pythons from the vehicle.

Day two is a full-day game drive across Mikumi's plains, which are wide open enough to see animals at distance. You'll have a picnic lunch at a camp site inside the park, then in the afternoon leave the park boundary to visit a Maasai village for a cultural tour. Dinner and overnight are at Camp Lilac Mikumi. The third day reverses the journey: early breakfast, drive back to Morogoro, catch the 9 a.m. SGR train to Dar es Salaam, then ferry back to Zanzibar and transfer to your hotel.

A live English-speaking guide travels with you throughout. Private transportation means no shared vehicle and no fixed group schedule. Accommodation is at Mikumi Bandas the first night and Camp Lilac Mikumi the second. All meals, park fees and taxes are included. The ferry and train are public transport you board as part of the itinerary, not separate bookings.

What’s included

• Private vehicle and driver for all transfers and game drives.
• roundtrip ferry from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam and SGR train from Dar to Morogoro.
• two nights' accommodation at Mikumi Bandas and Camp Lilac Mikumi.
• all meals during the safari.
• entry fees to Mikumi National Park and the Maasai village visit.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Zanzibar.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 to 74 years) · Senior (75 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kihindo Tours and Safaris Limited

Is this one for you?Book this 3-day tour if you want to see Tanzania's wildlife without flying to a remote airstrip: the train and ferry get you there from Zanzibar, and the private vehicle means you control the pace and stops. It suits travelers with three days to spare and an interest in both game viewing and cultural experience.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I actually see on the game drives in Mikumi?

Mikumi National Park hosts lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, leopards, crocodiles, pythons and many other species. The park's open plains make spotting wildlife easier than in denser reserves, and because the park is unfenced, animals move freely across the landscape.

How does the transport work on day one from Zanzibar to Mikumi?

Your driver picks you up from your hotel in Zanzibar and takes you to the ferry terminal. You board the ferry to Dar es Salaam, then transfer to the SGR train station for a 90-minute train ride to Morogoro. Your driver meets you there and drives you two hours into Mikumi National Park, where you arrive in time for lunch and an evening game drive.

What is the Maasai village visit like?

On day two after the full-day game drive and picnic lunch inside the park, you leave the park boundary to visit a Maasai village for a cultural tour. The exact activities depend on the village, but it's a chance to learn about Maasai life and traditions outside the wildlife viewing.

Do I need to book the ferry and train separately, or are they included?

The ferry and train are part of the tour itinerary and included in the price. Your guide and driver handle the logistics. You simply board at the scheduled times as part of the overall journey.

What happens if I want to stay in Zanzibar an extra day before or after the safari?

Additional accommodation before and after the tour can be arranged at checkout as an add-on option. Government park fees and taxes may increase and would be passed on if they change between booking and travel.