Mikumi Express Safari 2 Days
A fast, complete safari escape from Dar es Salaam. Mikumi is Tanzania's most accessible major park, and this two-day itinerary delivers a genuine game drive experience without a long journey. An afternoon and a full morning across the Mkata flood plain, ideal for a weekend or a short stopover before Zanzibar.
Mikumi Express Safari 2 Days Southern Tanzania
A fast, complete safari escape from Dar es Salaam. Mikumi is Tanzania's most accessible major park, and this two-day itinerary delivers a genuine game drive experience without a long journey. An afternoon and a full morning across the Mkata flood plain, ideal for a weekend, a business trip add-on or a short stopover before Zanzibar.
Haven Trails operates this itinerary in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a 360° pop-up roof, an expert English-speaking southern circuit guide and all accommodation, park fees and safari meals included. Mikumi's open grassland and short drive time from Dar es Salaam make it the easiest genuine safari experience in Tanzania.
The Park What Awaits
Mikumi National Park
Tanzania's most accessible major park from Dar es Salaam and one of its finest open-plains destinations. The Mkata flood plain delivers classic big game viewing. Lions, elephants, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest in vast open grassland. The hippo pool and Mwanambogo Dam are consistently productive year-round, making Mikumi ideal for even a short two-day trip.
The Itinerary
1
Dar es Salaam → Mikumi Afternoon Game Drive
Morning pickup from your Dar es Salaam hotel or airport at 8:00 AM for the four-hour drive west through the Uluguru foothills to Mikumi National Park. You arrive around midday, check in and enjoy a light lunch before heading straight out for the afternoon game drive across the Mkata flood plain. Elephants, giraffe, zebra and buffalo are typically encountered within the first hour, and the hippo pool at the park entrance rarely disappoints. As the light softens, the plains take on their most photogenic character of the day.
2
Full Morning Game Drive → Return Dar es Salaam
Early breakfast followed by a full morning game drive, when Mikumi's wildlife is at its most active. Predator sightings are more likely early: lion prides resting after a night hunt, and the occasional cheetah on the open ground. The morning covers the Mwanambogo Dam circuit and the wider grassland before returning to camp for check-out and a packed lunch. The drive back to Dar es Salaam follows, arriving at your hotel, the ferry terminal or Julius Nyerere Airport in the afternoon.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Return 4x4 Land Cruiser (pop-up roof) from Dar es Salaam
- Expert English-speaking naturalist guide
- All national park entry and conservation fees
- 1 night accommodation, as per itinerary
- All safari meals as per the itinerary
- Bottled water and soft drinks in the vehicle daily
- Government taxes
- Hotel/airport pickup and drop-off in Dar es Salaam
- International flights to/from Tanzania
- Tanzania tourist visa (required approx. $50 USD)
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Alcoholic beverages throughout
- Safari guide and crew gratuities (discretionary)
- Optional activities not listed in itinerary
- Personal items and souvenirs
Why Haven Trails Adventures
Our southern circuit specialists have guided extensively in Nyerere, Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa. They know the best game drive routes, the wildlife concentrations by season, and the hidden corners of these vast, untouched parks.
All southern safaris depart in a private, custom-built 4x4 Land Cruiser with a 360° pop-up roof. Never shared with strangers. Your vehicle, your pace, your experience.
The Southern Circuit is Tanzania's most undiscovered safari destination. Fewer tourists, wilder landscapes and wildlife encounters with depth and intimacy impossible in the Northern Circuit's busier parks.
Haven Trails is based in Moshi, Tanzania. Not a booking platform abroad. Our local team has deep knowledge of road conditions, seasonal wildlife movements and the best lodges throughout the Southern Circuit.
Every southern safari can be extended, combined, upgraded, or tailored to your group. Add Nyerere National Park, extend with Kilwa Beach, or combine with the Northern Circuit. Tell us your vision.
Haven Trails operates in strict compliance with TANAPA and TAWIRI regulations. We use community lodges where available and support anti-poaching initiatives in Nyerere and Ruaha.