Mikumi National Park day trip from Zanzibar: Safari by flight

One day, two game drives, and the Big Five across Tanzania's most accessible park

A Mikumi National Park day trip from Zanzibar combines a scheduled flight, two safari drives in open-top vehicles, and lunch in the park: all in 13 hours. You depart early from Zanzibar airport, spend the morning and afternoon spotting elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes and zebras across savannahs and wetlands, then return by evening flight. A live guide leads the drives and translates in your choice of language.

The experience

The day starts before dawn at Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport with a scheduled 1-hour flight to Mikumi. Once you land, you board an open-top safari vehicle for a 3–4 hour morning game drive across the park's open savannahs and wetlands. Mikumi is one of Tanzania's most accessible parks, and the landscape concentrates wildlife: you'll watch for elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and antelope species as the guide points out movement and behavior. The vehicle's open sides let you photograph and scan without obstruction.

After the morning drive, you return to a lodge or camp in the park for lunch. An afternoon game drive or nature walk follows, depending on timing, giving you another stretch to explore different areas and spot animals in the cooler light. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three other languages, and travels with you both drives. By late afternoon, you head back to the airport for the return flight to Zanzibar, landing by early evening.

The trip includes private transportation, bottled water, soda, lunch and the guide's expertise throughout. The open-top vehicle is standard for safari parks (it's how you see and hear the landscape), and the schedule is fixed so the flights and both drives fit inside a single day. Bring sunscreen, a hat and binoculars if you have them. The park's scale and the vehicle's height mean you'll spot animals at distance.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel to Zanzibar airport and back.
• a scheduled round-trip flight to Mikumi.
• two game drives in open-top safari vehicles with a live guide.
• lunch at a lodge or camp in the park.
• bottled water and soda throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (15 to 90 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Swedish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Silver Travels and Safari

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Tanzania's Big Five and major wildlife without committing to a multi-day safari. The 1-hour flight makes Mikumi reachable from Zanzibar in a single day, and the two game drives (morning and afternoon) give you the best hours for spotting animals while keeping you back in Zanzibar by evening.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

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

Mikumi's open savannahs and wetlands support elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and various antelope species. The landscape concentrates wildlife, so sightings are frequent during both the morning and afternoon drives.

How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Mikumi?

The scheduled flight takes approximately 1 hour each way. You depart early in the morning from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and return by evening after the afternoon activities.

What's included in the lunch at the park?

A delicious lunch is provided at a designated lodge or camp within Mikumi after your morning game drive. Alcoholic beverages are not included, but bottled water and soda are available throughout the day.

Do I need any experience or fitness level for the game drives?

The tour suits all physical fitness levels. Travelers must be at least 15 years old. The open-top vehicle is stationary during drives, so you're seated and observing rather than hiking or climbing.

What should I bring for a full day in Mikumi?

Bring sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and binoculars if you have them. The open-top vehicle offers no shade, and the park's scale means wildlife appears at distance. Comfortable clothing in neutral colors helps you blend into the landscape.