Mikumi National Park is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park and by far its most accessible. It lies about 300 km west of Dar es Salaam on the Dar–Mbeya highway, in the Morogoro Region, and borders the enormous Nyerere (Selous) ecosystem, which is why a park this easy to reach still has such dense wildlife.
For many visitors it is the first — or only — safari they do in Tanzania: a long weekend from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, or a stop on the way south to Ruaha, Iringa and Mbeya. This guide covers what you will see, when to come, what it costs, and how to get here.
Quick facts
| Size | 3,230 km² |
|---|---|
| Location | Morogoro Region, ~300 km west of Dar es Salaam |
| Main gate | On the A7 highway at Mikumi town; the park is bisected by the highway |
| Ecosystem | Part of the Nyerere–Selous ecosystem; Mkata floodplain in the north, miombo woodland in the south |
| Nearest towns | Mikumi (gate), Morogoro (120 km, SGR station) |
| Best known for | Elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo and big plains herds, easy to see from the road network |
Wildlife in Mikumi
The Mkata floodplain, just inside the main gate, is where most of the action happens. It is open grassland dotted with acacia and baobab, and animals are visible from a long way off. Expect:
- Elephants — large family groups, especially in the dry season around the waterholes.
- Lions — Mikumi’s lions are famous for climbing into the trees when the ground gets hot.
- Giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, impala and eland — in big numbers on the floodplain.
- Hippos — at the hippo pools, about 5 km from the gate.
- Rarer sightings — sable antelope, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, greater kudu and, with luck, African wild dogs and leopard in the southern woodland.
- Birds — more than 400 species, including lilac-breasted rollers, bateleur eagles, marabou storks and, in the rains, European migrants.
Around our camp itself impala, warthog and vervet monkeys are daily visitors,.
Best time to visit Mikumi
| June – October (dry) | Best game viewing. Short grass, animals concentrated at water, cool mornings. Peak season — book ahead. |
|---|---|
| November – December (short rains) | Green and quiet. Showers are usually brief; birding is excellent. |
| January – February (dry spell) | Hot but dry and very good for wildlife. Fewer visitors than July–August. |
| March – May (long rains) | Lush scenery, newborn animals, lowest prices. Some southern tracks become muddy; the floodplain circuit stays open. |
Mikumi is a year-round park. Unlike parks that close in the rains, the main floodplain circuit is drivable in every month, which is one reason it works so well for a weekend trip.
Mikumi National Park fees (2026)
Entry fees are set by TANAPA and charged per 24 hours. Mikumi sits in TANAPA’s lower price band, which makes it one of the cheapest big-game safaris in East Africa:
| Non-resident adult | US$30 + 18% VAT (US$35.40) per 24 hours |
|---|---|
| Non-resident child (5–15) | US$10 + 18% VAT (US$11.80) per 24 hours |
| Children under 5 | Free |
| East African residents / citizens | Lower rates in TZS — ask us |
| Vehicle fee | Charged per vehicle per day (included in our safari packages) |
Park fees are included in all our safari packages. Rates usually change on 1 July; check the TANAPA website for the current schedule before you travel. If you visit the park on your own, fees are paid at the gate by card or mobile money, not cash.
How to get to Mikumi
- SGR train from Dar es Salaam — about 1.5 hours to Morogoro, then a 2-hour road transfer to the camp — 3.5 hours in total. The most comfortable option. We provide the 2-hour transfer; it is free when you book a 2+ day safari with us.
- By road from Dar es Salaam — about 300 km, 5–6 hours on the A7 depending on traffic leaving Dar.
- From Zanzibar — morning ferry to Dar es Salaam (2 hours), then the SGR train or road. You can be at the camp by late afternoon.
- By air — charter flights land at the Mikumi airstrip; scheduled flights go to Iringa or Dar es Salaam.
Full details, timings and prices on our Getting here page.
Where to stay in Mikumi
Accommodation falls into three groups: a handful of camps inside the park (remote, expensive, with concession fees on top of entry fees), basic guesthouses in Mikumi town, and a few camps and lodges in the bush around the park. Most of the camps and lodges outside the park sit in town or directly on the highway, which means truck noise at night.
Camp Lilac is in the third group but set away from the road, with luxury tents with private bathrooms, air conditioning and the only view of the Mikumi mountain ridge. Being minutes from the gate, you lose no safari time, and you do not pay in-park concession fees. See our rooms and tents.
Mikumi vs Selous (Nyerere) vs Ruaha
| Mikumi | Nyerere / Selous | Ruaha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Dar es Salaam | 5–6 h road / 3.5 h by train + transfer | Fly-in or 6–8 h rough road | Fly-in or 10+ h road |
| Park fee (adult) | US$35.40 | US$82.60 | US$35.40 |
| Game viewing | Very good, easy, open plains | Excellent, boat safaris, more remote | Excellent, wild, big elephant and lion numbers |
| Typical trip | 1–3 days | 3–4 days | 3–5 days |
| Budget | Lowest | High | Medium–high |
Mikumi is the park to choose when time or budget is limited, when you are travelling with children, or when you are passing through on the way south. It also combines well with a waterfall hike in the Udzungwa Mountains, an hour away — see our Mikumi & Udzungwa safari.
Practical tips
- Game drives are best at 06:30–10:00 and 15:30–18:30; the floodplain is empty in the midday heat.
- Bring a light fleece for early mornings June–August, and neutral-coloured clothes.
- Malaria prophylaxis is recommended; the camp has mosquito nets and air conditioning.
- Mobile data works around Mikumi town and the camp; inside the park it is patchy.
- Driving through the park on the highway at night is prohibited for a reason: animals cross the road. Plan to arrive before dark.