Selous & Mikumi Safari: Boat and Game Drives from Dar es Salaam

Two parks, one safari: Selous by water, Mikumi by land

A 4-day safari tour from Dar es Salaam combining Selous (Nyerere National Park) and Mikumi National Park with a professional guide, private transport, full board accommodation and all activities. The itinerary pairs boat safaris on the Rufiji River with game drives across open savanna, moving between parks on day three after a walking safari in Selous.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Selous and boat safari

• Pick up from hotel or airport
• Drive to Selous Game Reserve
• Have lunch at Selous
• Afternoon boat safari on Rufiji River
• Overnight at Mloka Lodge

Day 2: Full day game drive in Selous

• Breakfast at lodge
• Full day game drive with packed lunch
• Picnic lunch at selected site
• Continue game drive until evening
• Dinner and overnight at Mloka Lodge

Day 3: Walking safari and Mikumi safari

• Morning walking safari
• Return to lodge for shower and breakfast
• Drive to Mikumi National Park with lunch stop
• Half-day safari in Mikumi plains
• Dinner and overnight at Mikumi Bandas Lodge

Day 4: Morning game drive and return to Dar

• Early morning game drive in Mikumi
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Drive back to Dar es Salaam with lunch stop
• Assistance to ferry, airport, or hotel

The experience

The tour starts with a five-and-a-half-hour drive south from Dar es Salaam to Selous, where you arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon boat safari on the Rufiji River. Day two is a full game drive with a packed lunch at a site your guide selects. You return to Mloka Lodge for dinner. On day three, you start with a two-and-a-half-hour walking safari before breakfast, then drive to Mikumi National Park with a lunch stop, and finish the afternoon on a half-day game drive through the savanna. The final morning brings an early game drive from 6:30 to 10:00 am, then a six-to-seven-hour drive back to Dar es Salaam with a lunch break in Msolwa.

Mikumi hosts lions, elands, hartebeests, buffalos, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, elephants, wild dogs and a large variety of birds across its plains. The greater Selous ecosystem offers an untouched African wilderness with its own wildlife diversity. Your guide speaks English, Italian or French and handles all driving. Accommodation is at Mloka Lodge in Selous and Mikumi Bandas Lodge inside the national park.

Transport from your hotel, airport or ferry is included, as are all meals and drinks specified in the day-by-day itinerary, all park activities, lodging, taxes and parking. A tipping guideline is US$10 per person per day. You can arrange additional accommodation before the tour starts or after it ends at checkout.

What’s included

• Private transportation and a professional driver/guide throughout.
• all accommodation at Mloka Lodge (Selous) and Mikumi Bandas Lodge (inside the park).
• all meals and drinks as specified each day.
• all activities including boat safaris, game drives and the walking safari.
• roundtrip airport or hotel transfer.
• all taxes and parking fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 35 pickup points.

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

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Kihindo Tours and Safaris Limited

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both boat and land game drives across two parks in one trip: the four-day fixed itinerary moves you from Selous to Mikumi on day three, combining the Southern Circuit's main ecosystems in a single departure.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What wildlife will I see on the game drives in Mikumi?

Mikumi's plains host lions, elephants, wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffalos, hartebeests, elands and a large variety of birds. Your guide will drive you through the savanna to locate them.

How long is the drive from Dar es Salaam to Selous?

The drive south to Selous (Nyerere National Park) takes approximately five and a half hours from Dar es Salaam. You'll be picked up from your hotel, airport or ferry and briefed before departure.

What happens on the walking safari in Selous?

On day three morning, you walk through Selous for around two and a half hours with your guide before returning to the lodge to shower and have breakfast.

Are meals included throughout the tour?

Yes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included as specified in the day-by-day itinerary. On day two, you enjoy a picnic lunch at a site your guide selects during the full game drive.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to and from the airport?

No. Roundtrip airport transfer is included. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel, airport or ferry and assist you back at the end of the tour.