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A lone giraffe among umbrella acacias in the Tanzanian savanna – view in Mikumi National Park

07:00 · Take-off on Zanzibar

Mikumi National Park: An hour's flight, then giraffes on the Mkata plain.

At seven in the morning the light aircraft leaves Zanzibar, and an hour later you are on the Mkata plain among elephants, giraffes and zebras. What a day in Mikumi costs, which animals to expect and when Nyerere is the better choice.

Choose a day tourHow the day goes ↓
1:00 hDrive time one way1ReservesnoBig FiveriskMalaria 3,062reviews Checked on 2 October 2026

Photo: bgodfroid, Envato Elements

08:00 · Landing

Mikumi National Park: The essentials in 30 seconds

Mikumi National Park lies on the highway from Dar es Salaam to Iringa, according to Transafrika around 300 km south-west of Dar es Salaam, and at 3,230 km² it is Tanzania's fourth-largest national park. From Zanzibar a light aircraft gets you there in 40 to 70 minutes: you land on the airstrip inside the park, game-drive across the open Mkata plain, stop for lunch at the hippo pools and are back on the island by evening. Elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest are common, lions occasional, and there are no rhinos.

Flight from Zanzibar airport (ZNZ) 40 to 70 minutes each way according to operators: Rafiki Tours quotes around 40 minutes, Rede Tours around 45 minutes, mikuminationalpark.net around an hour. You land on the airstrip inside the park, which operators call Mikumi Airstrip or Kikoboga Airstrip; depending on the schedule there may be a stop in Dar es Salaam. By road it is around 300 km from Dar es Salaam, which TANAPA puts at three to five hours depending on traffic, plus the ferry from Zanzibar.

Drive time
Flight from Zanzibar airport (ZNZ) 40 to 70 minutes each way according to operators: Rafiki Tours quotes around 40 minutes, Rede Tours around 45 minutes, mikuminationalpark.net around an hour. You land on the airstrip inside the park, which operators call Mikumi Airstrip or Kikoboga Airstrip; depending on the schedule there may be a stop in Dar es Salaam. By road it is around 300 km from Dar es Salaam, which TANAPA puts at three to five hours depending on traffic, plus the ferry from Zanzibar.
Big Five
Four of the Big Five live in the park: Safaribookings rates elephant and buffalo as common, lions as occasional and leopards as rare. According to Safaribookings, rhinos disappeared from Mikumi in the 1990s, and a reintroduction has only been announced.
Malaria
The German Federal Foreign Office states a high year-round malaria risk for all of Tanzania below 2,500 metres, explicitly including the national parks and the island of Zanzibar. The highest point of Mikumi National Park, Malundwe, stands at 1,290 metres, so the whole park lies within the risk area.
Price
TANAPA Conservation Fee Mikumi, non-East Africans aged 16 and over, per person per day: 30 USD plus 18% VAT (35.40 USD)
Best time
The best time is the dry season from late June to October. The vegetation thins out and animals gather along the Mkata River, at the hippo pools and at the waterholes; in September and October, according to Safaribookings, large herds come to the last water sources.
01

Mikumi National Park

National park · 3,230 km² · 1 h · 263 km

The heart of the park is the Mkata plain in the north-west, an open floodplain savannah with acacias, baobabs and seasonal pans that operators like to call a “mini Serengeti”. Around 5 km from the northern boundary lie two artificial pools with hippos, where most day tours stop for lunch. Mikumi borders the Selous area to the south and is the obvious choice for a single safari day from Zanzibar, because the animals of the plain stand close to the main loops.

Honestly: The highway from Dar es Salaam towards Iringa and Zambia runs straight through the park, so Mikumi is not remote wilderness. The day tour leaves you a net six to seven hours in the park, a good part of it in the midday heat. Lions are seen occasionally, not reliably; leopards, hyenas and wild dogs are rare, and rhinos and cheetahs are absent altogether. Shared vehicles are the norm.

Big Five
no
Malaria
risk
Wildlife
Elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest (common); lion and hippo (occasional); leopard, spotted hyena and wild dog (rare); also eland, greater kudu, sable antelope, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, yellow baboons and over 400 bird species; no rhinos, no cheetahs
Conservation Fee non-East Africans aged 16 and over, per person per 24 hours (TANAPA tariff 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026)
30 USD plus 18% VAT, i.e. 35.40 USD (2026-10-02)

Official website

Zebra on a gravel track in the bushveld – wildlife encounter in Mikumi National Park

08:15 · Mkata plain

Savannah right beyond the airstrip.

The 4x4 is waiting beside the plane, and the first loop heads to the waterholes of the Mkata plain. Elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras and wildebeest are common, lions occasional, leopards rare. There are no rhinos. Picnic lunch at the hippo pools.

Park fee 30 USD plus 18% VAT, children 10 USD. Malaria area.

Photo: Simoneemanphotography, Envato Elements

The whole day

Mikumi National Park · Itinerary: How it really goes.

  1. 04:30Pickup at the hotel, between 04:00 and 05:15 depending on location.
  2. 07:00Take-off at Zanzibar airport, 40 to 70 minutes' flight.
  3. 08:00Landing on the airstrip in the park, change into the 4x4.
  4. 08:15Game drive across the Mkata plain.
  5. 12:00Lunch at the hippo pools, second loop until 15:30.
  6. 16:00Return flight, landing on Zanzibar around 17:00.
  7. 18:30Back at the hotel.

Hotel pickup is between 4:00 and 5:15 depending on where you stay; Rafiki Tours gives 4:30. The light aircraft leaves Zanzibar at 7:00 and, according to operators, lands on the airstrip inside the park between 8:00 and 8:30. A 4x4 with a pop-up roof or open sides is waiting, and the first game drive heads into the Mkata plain while it is still cool and the animals are at the waterholes. Lunch is around 12:00 to 13:00, with several operators serving a picnic at the hippo pools. A second loop follows until about 15:30, the return flight leaves around 16:00 and lands on Zanzibar around 17:00. You are back at your hotel around 18:30, so the whole day takes about 14 hours door to door.

Open safari vehicle on a gravel track in the morning light – on the road in Mikumi National Park
Photo: Image-Source, Envato Elements · Stock image

12:00 · Decide

Mikumi National Park · Day tours: The day tours people actually book.

Sorted by number of reviews, only tours with genuine reviews. Booking via GetYourGuide or Viator through affiliate links (advertising), same price as booking direct. Prices as of 2 October 2026, in US dollars.

With flightMost booked

From Zanzibar: Mikumi Safari Day Trip with Flights and Lunch

★ 4.7 · 3,062 reviews · 8 - 10 hours · Day trip

from$423Availability →

via GetYourGuide · usually free cancellation up to 24 h before
With flight

1-Day Mikumi National Park Fly-In Safari from Zanzibar

★ 5.0 · 402 reviews

from$500Availability →

via Viator
With flight

Mikumi Safari Tour: Day Trip Return Flight From Zanzibar

★ 4.9 · 234 reviews

from$494Availability →

via Viator
Full day

From Zanzibar: Mikumi Safari by Twin-Engine Plane + Lunch

★ 4.7 · 144 reviews · 10.5 - 12 hours · Day trip

from$498.75Availability →

via GetYourGuide · usually free cancellation up to 24 h before
With flight

From Zanzibar: Mikumi Safari Day Trip with Flights and Meal

★ 4.4 · 88 reviews

from$490Availability →

via Viator
Full day

1. Day safaris to Mikumi by Train from dar es salaam

★ 4.9 · 50 reviews

from$370Availability →

via Viator
With flight

A Day Trip To Mikumi fly from Zanzibar

★ 4.2 · 39 reviews

from$580Availability →

via Viator
Full day

From Zanzibar Day Safari Tour to Mikumi National Park

★ 4.1 · 29 reviews

from$510.24Availability →

via Viator
Full day

Day trip Safari to Mikumi National Park

★ 4.8 · 28 reviews

from$560Availability →

via Viator

Show all 23 tours
Full day

Dar es Salaam: 1-Day Mikumi National Park Safari with Free Pickup

★ 5.0 · 24 reviews

from$295Availability →

via Viator
With flight

1-Day Fly in Shared Safari to Mikumi National Park from Zanzibar

★ 4.9 · 21 reviews

from$590Availability →

via Viator
Full day

Mikumi National Park Day Trip from Dar es Salaam by SGR Train

★ 4.5 · 19 reviews

from$415Availability →

via Viator
Full day

1 Day shared Safari Trip to Mikumi Np from Dar es salaam by Train

★ 5.0 · 17 reviews

from$330Availability →

via Viator
With flight

1 Day private Safari to Mikumi N park from Zanzibar by flight

★ 4.6 · 11 reviews

from$650Availability →

via Viator
With flight

Fly-in Full Day Safari to Mikumi National Park from Zanzibar

★ 5.0 · 10 reviews

from$550Availability →

via Viator
With flight

From Zanzibar: Mikumi 1-Day Safari with Scenic Flight & Lunch

★ 5.0 · 5 reviews

from$525Availability →

via Viator
With flight

1 Day shared trip to Mikumi NP from Zanzibar flying

★ 5.0 · 5 reviews

from$679Availability →

via Viator
With flight

Zanzibar to Mikumi Safari Day Trip with Flight Lunch and Transfer

★ 4.0 · 4 reviews

from$552Availability →

via Viator
Full day

One Day Safari to Mikumi Departure from Zanzibar

★ 4.5 · 4 reviews

from$520Availability →

via Viator
Full day

Full-Day Safari Tour from Mikumi National Park of Zanzibar

★ 5.0 · 3 reviews

from$550Availability →

via Viator
With flight

Mikumi Day Trip by Flight From Zanzibar

★ 5.0 · 1 reviews

from$500Availability →

via Viator
Full day

1 Day Safari Tour to Mikumi National Park from Zanzibar

★ 5.0 · 1 reviews

from$530Availability →

via Viator
Full day

1-Day Mikumi National Park Safari from Zanzibar

★ 5.0 · 1 reviews

from$580Availability →

via Viator

Official fees and prices

  • Conservation Fee non-East Africans aged 16 and over, per person per 24 hours (TANAPA tariff 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026)30 USD plus 18% VAT, i.e. 35.40 USD2026-10-02
  • Conservation Fee children aged 5 to 15, per day; under 5 free10 USD plus 18% VAT, i.e. 11.80 USD2026-10-02
  • Day safari from Zanzibar with flight, shared vehicle, park fees and taxes included (Rafiki Tours)390 EUR per person, private vehicle 240 EUR extra2026-10-02
  • Day safari from Zanzibar with flight, from 2 people (Rede Tours)400 USD per person, solo travellers 450 USD, children 380 USD2026-10-02
23 sourcesChecked on 2 October 2026No cookies, no trackingTANAPA Conservation Fee Mikumi, non-East Africans aged 16 and over, per person per day: 30 USD plus 18% VAT (35.40 USD)
Close-up of a lioness's eyes – wildlife encounter in Mikumi National Park

16:00 · Second look

Mikumi National Park: What the web gets wrong.

Entry to Mikumi costs 50 USD

The TANAPA park page shows this figure as an “illustrative” amount with a note to check the tariff. The valid TANAPA tariff gives 30 USD per day for non-East Africans aged 16 and over, so 35.40 USD with 18 percent VAT.

Mikumi has the Big Five

One of the five is missing. According to Safaribookings, rhinos disappeared from the park in the 1990s, and TANAPA does not list them on its park page. Four of the five species are possible, but leopards are rare.

Nyerere costs 59 USD entry including tax

This is what a fee guide from January 2026 says. The TANAPA tariff groups Nyerere with the Serengeti: 70 USD in high season and 60 USD from 15 March to 15 May, each plus tax.

You need a yellow fever vaccination for the flight to the mainland

The German Federal Foreign Office states that no yellow fever vaccination is required for direct entry from Germany to the mainland or Zanzibar. The flight between Zanzibar and the mainland is domestic, and a Zanzibar guideline explicitly waives the certificate for visitors arriving from the mainland.

The day trip takes eight to ten hours

That counts from the airport. With pickup at 4:30 and return to the hotel around 18:30, Rafiki Tours works on around 14 hours door to door.

Nyerere is the largest national park in Africa

At 30,893 km² Nyerere is the largest national park in Tanzania. The frequently quoted 50,000 km² and more refer to the former Selous Game Reserve, whose southern part remains a game reserve.

Photo: byrdyak, Envato Elements

16:00 · Return flight

Mikumi National Park · Park fees: What it costs.

The day safari from Zanzibar costs 390 EUR to 500 USD per person including the flight: Rafiki Tours 390 EUR in a shared vehicle (private vehicle 240 EUR extra), Rede Tours 400 USD from two people and 450 USD for solo travellers, Travelwise Safari 450 USD in a group and 680 USD private, mikuminationalpark.net 500 USD without hotel transfer. All include the flight, vehicle, guide, lunch and the park fee. The park fee alone is 30 USD per adult per day under the TANAPA tariff, children aged 5 to 15 pay 10 USD, each plus 18 percent VAT.

For comparison, Nyerere: a day there costs 70 USD in high season and 60 USD from 15 March to 15 May, children 20 USD, each plus tax; a boat safari costs a further 20 USD per person payable to TANAPA. The cheapest shared Nyerere day trip from Zanzibar on Safaribookings is 400 EUR, Kitano Tours charges 450 USD. One operator suggests 10 USD per person per day as a tip for the driver-guide.

Official fees and prices

  • TANAPA Conservation Fee Mikumi, non-East Africans aged 16 and over, per person per day30 USD plus 18% VAT (35.40 USD)As of 2026-10-02
  • TANAPA Conservation Fee Mikumi, children aged 5 to 15, per day (under 5 free)10 USD plus 18% VAT (11.80 USD)As of 2026-10-02
  • TANAPA short walking safari (1 to 4 hours), adults, on top of the Conservation Fee20 USDAs of 2026-10-02
  • TANAPA Conservation Fee Nyerere, non-East Africans aged 16 and over, high season 16 May to 14 March70 USD plus 18% VAT (82.60 USD)As of 2026-10-02
  • TANAPA Conservation Fee Nyerere, non-East Africans aged 16 and over, low season 15 March to 15 May60 USD plus 18% VATAs of 2026-10-02
  • TANAPA Conservation Fee Nyerere, children aged 5 to 15, per day20 USD plus 18% VATAs of 2026-10-02
  • TANAPA boating safari fee Nyerere, non-East Africans, per person20 USDAs of 2026-10-02
Outdoor breakfast buffet at sunrise in the savanna – on the road in Mikumi National Park
16:00 · Back through the evening lightPhoto: wirestock, Envato Elements · Stock image

Best time to go

Mikumi National Park · Best time to visit: When it is worth it.

The best time is the dry season from late June to October. The vegetation thins out and animals gather along the Mkata River, at the hippo pools and at the waterholes; in September and October, according to Safaribookings, large herds come to the last water sources. Safaribookings rates May, November and December as good, January and February as fair, and March and April as poor.

During the rains from November to May it is hot and humid, animals are harder to spot in the long grass, tracks can become impassable and some lodges close from March to May. For birdwatchers November to February are the best months; TANAPA lists over 400 bird species.

Who you might meet

Elephantbuffalozebra and wildebeest; lion and hippo; leopardyellow baboons and over 400 bird species; no rhinosgiraffespotted hyena and wild dog; also elandgreater kudusable antelopeLichtenstein's hartebeestno cheetahs

Four of the Big Five live in the park: Safaribookings rates elephant and buffalo as common, lions as occasional and leopards as rare. According to Safaribookings, rhinos disappeared from Mikumi in the 1990s, and a reintroduction has only been announced.

The German Federal Foreign Office states a high year-round malaria risk for all of Tanzania below 2,500 metres, explicitly including the national parks and the island of Zanzibar. The highest point of Mikumi National Park, Malundwe, stands at 1,290 metres, so the whole park lies within the risk area.

Who is it for?

With children

Children under 5 pay no park fee, those aged 5 to 15 pay 10 USD plus tax, and Rede Tours charges 380 instead of 400 USD for children. With pickup before 5:00, a light aircraft and around six hours in the vehicle, the day is long. It works well for children from about eight who enjoy watching animals; with younger children a version with an overnight stay is more relaxed.

Malaria

Mikumi lies in a high-risk area, and so does Zanzibar itself. The German Federal Foreign Office considers taking tablets advisable there in addition to mosquito protection; falciparum malaria accounts for over 99 percent of cases. Settle the question of prophylaxis with a travel health consultation for your whole stay before you go. A yellow fever vaccination is not required for direct entry from Germany, and the flight from Zanzibar to the mainland is a domestic flight.

Self-drive

Not possible in a day from Zanzibar. The ferry to Dar es Salaam takes around two hours, and from there it is around 300 km to Mikumi, which TANAPA puts at three to five hours. If you want to drive yourself, plan at least two nights on the mainland.

Limited mobility

You board the light aircraft via narrow steps, and there is no toilet on board. The 4x4s have a high step, and apart from lunch there is no walking in the park. If you can manage steps safely, the day is feasible with limited mobility; for wheelchair users it is generally not suitable.

What to wear

A light jacket is welcome in the morning at the airport and in the open vehicle; from late morning it gets hot on the plain. Light, long clothing in muted colours protects against sun and mosquitoes, plus a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and repellent. Bring only a soft bag for the light aircraft.

What to wear? Read the safari clothing guide →

Photography

The best light is straight after landing until around 10:00 and again from 15:00; in between the sun is high. On the open Mkata plain animals are often further away, so a telephoto lens from 200 mm is worthwhile. On the flight you see the coast and the mainland from above, so ask for a window seat.

Budget

The flying day to Mikumi is not available for less than 390 EUR per person, and most offers are 400 to 500 USD. You can save with a shared vehicle and group rates from two people. Mikumi is cheaper than Nyerere on park fees (30 instead of 70 USD per day), while the tour prices for the two parks are close.

Tips for the day

  1. 01Ask the guide to head for the waterholes of the Mkata plain first after landing. Lions are most active in the cool morning hours and rest in the shade at midday.
  2. 02Check before booking whether hotel transfer and park fee including tax are in the price. At mikuminationalpark.net, for example, the hotel transfer is excluded.
  3. 03If you are flexible, stay near the airport or in Stone Town for the safari day. From the north of the island the pickup starts considerably earlier.
  4. 04Take your passport; it is checked at the airport and at the park entrance.
  5. 05Pack light and soft: hard-shell suitcases do not fit in the light aircraft.
  6. 06Aim for June to October if you have the choice. According to Safaribookings, March and April are the weakest months for game viewing.
  7. 07If you are after waterscapes, a boat trip and wild dogs, Nyerere is the better choice, ideally with an overnight stay, because day tours usually leave out the boat safari.
  8. 08Bring binoculars: on the open plain giraffes and elephants often stand far from the track.

18:30 · Back

Mikumi National Park: Frequently asked questions.

How much does a Mikumi day safari from Zanzibar cost?

With the flight you pay 390 EUR to 500 USD per person (as of October 2026). Rafiki Tours charges 390 EUR in a shared vehicle, Rede Tours 400 USD from two people, Travelwise Safari 450 USD in a group and 680 USD private. Flight, 4x4, guide, lunch and park fee are usually included, tips are not.

What are the Mikumi National Park fees in 2026?

Under the TANAPA tariff, non-East Africans aged 16 and over pay 30 USD per person per day, children aged 5 to 15 pay 10 USD and children under 5 nothing. On top comes 18 percent VAT, so 35.40 and 11.80 USD respectively. Booked day tours usually include the fee already.

What is the best safari to take from Zanzibar?

For a single day, Mikumi is the most straightforward option: 40 to 70 minutes' flight, an airstrip inside the park and open savannah with elephants, giraffes, zebras and buffalo close to the tracks. Nyerere, the former Selous, suits travellers who want a river landscape and have time for an overnight stay. Serengeti and Ngorongoro are not day trips from Zanzibar.

How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Mikumi?

Operators quote 40 to 70 minutes each way. Departure from Zanzibar is usually at 7:00, landing on the airstrip in the park between 8:00 and 8:30. Depending on the schedule there may be a stop in Dar es Salaam.

Mikumi or Nyerere: which park is better for one day?

Mikumi offers open savannah with elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and wildebeest close to the tracks and costs 30 USD in park fees. Nyerere, the former Selous, is a river and lake landscape along the Rufiji with many hippos, crocodiles, large groups of giraffes and a chance of wild dogs; its fee is 70 USD. Tour prices are similar. For a single day Mikumi is the simpler choice, while Nyerere comes into its own with an overnight stay and a boat trip.

Will I see lions in Mikumi?

Often, but not for certain. Safaribookings rates lions in Mikumi as occasional, and elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras and wildebeest as common. Your best chance is early in the morning at the waterholes of the Mkata plain.

How likely is malaria, and do I need prophylaxis?

No official body gives a probability for a single day. The German Federal Foreign Office classifies all of Tanzania below 2,500 metres, including Zanzibar and the national parks, as an area of high year-round risk and considers taking tablets advisable there in addition to mosquito protection. The decision applies to your whole holiday and belongs in a travel health consultation.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccination for the flight to the mainland?

According to the German Federal Foreign Office, no yellow fever vaccination is required for direct entry from Germany to Tanzania and Zanzibar. The flight from Zanzibar to Mikumi is a domestic flight. Proof becomes mandatory only if you arrive from a yellow fever country, such as a neighbouring state.

Is a 2 day safari from Zanzibar worth it?

Yes, if time and budget allow. The flight costs the same, but you gain the late-afternoon and early-morning game drives, the hours with the most animal activity, which the day trip misses because of the flight times. This applies even more to Nyerere with a boat trip on the Rufiji.

When is the best time to visit Mikumi?

Late June to October: in the dry season animals gather at the waterholes, in September and October in large herds. March and April are the weakest months, because rain softens the tracks and the grass is long. Birdwatchers do best from November to February.