MIKUMI & UDZUNGWA SAFARI
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Destination to Visit
Dar es Salaam, Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains
Start / Finish in
Start in Dar es Salaam & End in Dar es Salaam
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Overview
Southern Tanzania offers a quieter alternative to the northern parks, with accessible wildlife areas reached by road from Dar es Salaam. Mikumi National Park forms part of a larger ecosystem connected to the Selous landscape and covers about 3,230 square kilometres, supporting healthy populations of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and predators across open plains that resemble parts of the Serengeti. Nearby Udzungwa Mountains National Park protects one of East Africa’s most important forest systems and is recognised for biodiversity rather than large mammals.
The mountains are home to several endemic primates, including the Iringa red colobus monkey, found nowhere else in the world. This trip combines traditional game drives with guided hiking, offering variety within a short and practical timeframe.
Day By Day
Day 1: Drive to Mikumi National Park and Game Drive
In the morning, you depart Dar es Salaam by road and travel west toward Mikumi National Park, a drive that passes through towns, farmland, and the Uluguru Mountains before entering protected areas. The journey typically takes five to six hours depending on traffic and road conditions. Upon arrival, you begin an afternoon game drive across the Mkata Floodplain, the park’s main wildlife viewing area.
The open landscape makes animal sightings easier, and it is common to see giraffes moving between acacia trees and herds of zebra grazing in open grassland. As the day cools, you head to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Mikumi National Park Full Day
The day is spent exploring different sections of Mikumi with morning and afternoon game drives. Early hours often provide good chances of seeing predators before temperatures rise, while later drives focus on areas where animals gather near water sources. Mikumi supports over 400 bird species and a wide range of antelope, including eland, one of the largest antelope species in Africa.
Lions here are known for occasionally resting in trees, a behaviour not commonly observed in many other parks. Between drives, you return to camp for meals and rest, allowing the day to unfold at a comfortable pace shaped by wildlife activity rather than fixed timing.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Udzungwa Mountains Hike
After breakfast, you drive to Udzungwa Mountains National Park for a guided hike along established forest trails. Unlike traditional safari parks, Udzungwa has no game drives, and exploration happens entirely on foot.
The walk leads through tropical forest rich in plant life, butterflies, and bird species, with guides pointing out medicinal plants and signs of wildlife along the way. The hike to Sanje Waterfalls is one of the highlights, climbing gradually to viewpoints overlooking the Kilombero Valley. The park forms part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a chain estimated to be over 30 million years old and considered one of Africa’s biodiversity hotspots due to its high number of endemic species.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Return to Dar Es Salaam
After breakfast, you begin the drive back to Dar es Salaam, retracing the route through Morogoro and surrounding countryside. The return offers a final look at daily life outside protected areas, with roadside markets and farming communities lining parts of the highway.
Arrival in Dar es Salaam is expected in the afternoon, depending on traffic conditions, with drop off at your hotel or the airport for onward travel. The trip concludes having combined wildlife viewing in Mikumi with a contrasting experience of Tanzania’s mountain forests and guided walking exploration.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
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RECOMMENDED FOR
- Anyone looking to immerse themselves in Tanzania wilderness.
- People who want an authentic safari adventure.
- Nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
PRICE INCLUSION
- All Game Drives;
- Accommodation At Lodges/Tented Camps
- English Speaking Driver/Guide;
- All Food; Drinking Water;
- 18% VAT Tax;
- At Least 1 Pair Of Binoculars;
- Accommodation In Moshi/Arusha;
- Airport Transfers;
PRICE EXCLUSIONS
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities (guide, driver, lodge staff)
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks (unless stated)
- Optional activities