Zanzibar to Mikumi Safari Day Trip: Lions & Game Drive

One Day, Two Flights, a Full Safari: Mikumi from Zanzibar

You leave your hotel before dawn, fly to the mainland, spend six hours on a game drive through Mikumi National Park spotting lions and elephants, eat lunch in the bush, and fly back to Zanzibar by evening. Hotel pickup, all flights, park fees, lunch and drinks are included. You just show up at the hotel at the pickup time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mikumi National Park Safari Day Trip

• Pick up from hotel at 4:40am
• Flight departs Zanzibar at 7:00am
• Arrive Mikumi at 8:00am
• Start full game drive in Mikumi
• Lunch break and relax at 1:00pm
• Continue game drive until evening
• Drive to Mikumi airstrip
• Flight departs Mikumi at 4:00pm
• Arrive Zanzibar at 5:00pm
• Transfer to hotel from airport

The experience

What if you could wake up on an island, land in the African bush by mid-morning, and be back in your hotel before dark? That's the shape of this day: a Zanzibar to Mikumi safari that compresses what usually takes three days into one. The pickup happens early, 4:40am from your hotel, and the flight leaves Zanzibar at 7:00am. By 8:00am you're standing in an open vehicle on the savannah with a professional safari driver, and the park spreads out in front of you: flat, golden, alive.

Mikumi National Park sits on mainland Tanzania, about an hour's flight from the island. The game drive runs the whole morning and into the afternoon. You're moving through the park looking for lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, buffalo, zebras, hyenas, antelope, hippos, crocodiles. A safari driver knows where to go and when to stop, which saves you from the guessing. Around 1:00pm there's a break for lunch and a rest, then the drive continues until it's time to head back to the airstrip. The return flight leaves at 4:00pm and lands in Zanzibar at 5:00pm, and a driver picks you up from the airport and takes you back to your hotel. You've seen the animals, eaten, and slept in your own bed.

The day is long and the hours are tight, but that's what makes it work. You don't have to book a lodge, arrange separate transport, or negotiate with guides: the flight times, the game drive, the lunch, and both pickups are already locked in. The park itself is the draw: open landscape, real wildlife, and the kind of quiet you don't get on the island. If you've got one day and you want to see what a Tanzanian safari actually looks like, this is how you do it without leaving Zanzibar.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Zanzibar accommodation.
• round-trip flights between Zanzibar and Mikumi National Park.
• full game drive through Mikumi with a professional safari driver.
• lunch in the park.
• drinks throughout the day.
• all park fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00 and 06:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Senior (51 to 80 years) · Youth (15 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 14 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 30

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 47 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Africa’s Home Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Zanzibar and want to see a real African safari without spending nights away from the island. The tight schedule is what makes a full day in the park possible in one departure.

Traveler reviews

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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: Youth (15 to 17 years); Child (2 to 14 years); Infant (under 2).

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 time do I need to be ready at my hotel?

Pickup is at 4:40am. The flight departs Zanzibar at 7:00am.

How long is the game drive?

The full game drive runs from 8:00am until around 3:00pm, with a lunch break around 1:00pm.

What animals might I see?

Lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, buffalo, zebras, hyenas, antelope, hippos, and crocodiles. Cheetahs are rarer.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, along with drinks throughout the day.

What time do I get back to my hotel?

The return flight lands in Zanzibar at 5:00pm, and you're dropped at your hotel shortly after.

Do I need a visa for mainland Tanzania?

That depends on your nationality. Check Tanzania's entry requirements before booking.

Is this accessible for wheelchair users?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, including transportation and all areas of the park visited.