Mikumi Safari from Zanzibar: Fly-in game drive with Hippo Pool

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1/20
Duration10h
GroupUp to 45
LanguagesEN · DE +1
PickupAt your hotel

See elephants, lions and sable antelope in a single morning flight from the island

A fly-in safari from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park puts you on the Mkata floodplains by mid-morning for a full day of game drives with a local guide, hot lunch and a stop at Hippo Pool. The round-trip domestic flights and all park fees are included; the guide speaks English, French or German. Ten hours total, from early morning departure to evening return to Zanzibar.

10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Fly to Mikumi and safari exploration

  • Fly from Zanzibar to Mikumi National Park
  • Meet driver-guide at Kikoboga Airstrip
  • Game drive through Mkata flood plains
  • Enjoy hot lunch in the park
  • Visit the Hippo Pool
  • Drive back to airstrip
  • Fly return to Zanzibar

The Experience

The day starts before dawn in Zanzibar with a domestic flight that lands you at Kikoboga Airstrip in Mikumi by mid-morning. Your driver-guide meets you at the airstrip and outlines the route ahead—the Mkata floodplains, a landscape that echoes the Serengeti, where elephants, buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests move across open grassland. The guide knows where to find them and how to read the terrain.

The first game drive takes you through the heart of the park. The Mkata floodplains are a hotspot for wildlife: you may encounter lions, leopards and hyenas, as well as the sable antelope, Great Kudu and Eland—the world's largest antelope species. There is no fixed route; the guide adjusts based on animal movement and sightings. Midday brings a hot lunch in the field, then the afternoon continues with a second drive that includes a visit to Hippo Pool, a gathering place where multiple species congregate. By late afternoon you drive back to the airstrip for the return flight to Zanzibar.

The flight itself saves the hours a road journey would take, which is why the day holds so much wildlife time. Soda, bottled water, coffee and tea come with you; lunch is prepared in the field. The guide is a local who works the park regularly and speaks your language—English, French or German.

What’s included

  • Round-trip domestic flights between Zanzibar and Mikumi.
  • hotel pickup in Zanzibar.
  • full-day game drive with local guide.
  • hot lunch in the field.
  • Hippo Pool visit.
  • soda, bottled water, coffee and tea.
  • all park fees and taxes.
Good to know
Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by HOLA AFRICA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to maximize wildlife time without spending hours on the road from Zanzibar. The fly-in format gets you into the park by mid-morning, which is why a full day of game drives fits into a single departure and return.

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Top questions

How much time do I actually spend on game drives in Mikumi?

The full day is ten hours from Zanzibar departure to return, which includes the round-trip flights. Once you land at Kikoboga Airstrip by mid-morning, you have the rest of the day for two separate game drives with a lunch break in between, so you are in the vehicle or at Hippo Pool for most of the afternoon and early evening.

What animals am I likely to see on the Mkata floodplains?

The Mkata floodplains are home to elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, lions, leopards, hyenas, sable antelope, Great Kudu and Eland. Sightings depend on animal movement and the season, but the guide knows the park and adjusts the route to find them.

Is the Hippo Pool visit included, or is it an add-on?

The Hippo Pool visit is included in the tour. It is a stop during the afternoon game drive, a gathering place where you may see hippos and other wildlife congregating.

What is included in the lunch, and are alcoholic drinks available?

A hot lunch is prepared for you in the field and is included in the tour price. Soda, bottled water, coffee and tea are also provided. Alcoholic beverages are not included; if you wish to purchase them, Tanzania's legal drinking age is 18 and age verification may be required.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the airport in Zanzibar?

Pickup is included in the tour, so your hotel or accommodation in Zanzibar will be collected before the early morning flight departure.

What language does the guide speak?

Your driver-guide speaks English, French or German, depending on the option you select at checkout.

Mikumi Safari from Zanzibar: Fly-in game drive with Hippo Pool

10h · EN · DE +1 · at your hotel

from US$ 500 per person

★★★★★★★★★★4.96386 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
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