3-Day Safari to Mikumi & Udzungwa Hike
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Mikumi gives you the open plains. Udzungwa gives you the rainforest. This 3-Day Safari to Mikumi & Udzungwa Hike puts both in one trip, so you leave Zanzibar with a proper game drive and a proper hike, not just one or the other.
Mikumi National Park is Tanzania’s fourth-largest park, built around the Mkata floodplain, a stretch of open grassland often compared to a smaller Serengeti. Elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and lion move across it in real numbers, and the park’s Hippo Pools are one of the most reliable wildlife stops in southern Tanzania. If you’ve read our 1-Day Mikumi Fly-In Safari page, this trip covers the same ground with more time to actually sit with the wildlife instead of rushing back for a flight.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park is where this itinerary earns its second half. Part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a chain scientists rank among the most biologically important on the continent, Udzungwa has no roads and no game drives. You explore it on foot. The signature hike leads through rainforest to Sanje Waterfall, a 170-metre, three-tier cascade with a swimmable plunge pool at the base, roughly four hours round trip. Along the trail you’re walking through the territory of the Sanje crested mangabey and the Iringa red colobus, two primate species found nowhere else on Earth. Udzungwa also holds more than 400 recorded bird species and over 2,500 plant species, a quarter of them found only in these mountains.
Mikumi vs Udzungwa, At a Glance
| Mikumi National Park | Udzungwa Mountains | |
|---|---|---|
| Main activity | 4×4 game drive | Guided rainforest hike |
| Signature sighting | Elephant, lion, giraffe on the Mkata floodplain | Sanje crested mangabey, Iringa red colobus |
| Terrain | Open savanna | Montane rainforest, no roads |
| Highlight | Hippo Pools | Sanje Waterfall, 170m |
We build the three days around this contrast on purpose. Day one takes you from Zanzibar into Mikumi for an afternoon game drive, with dinner and overnight at a lodge inside the park. Day two shifts pace entirely, an early game drive through Mikumi’s Kisungura area and Hippo Pools, then the drive south to Udzungwa for the Sanje Waterfall hike, lunch by the falls and a swim in the plunge pool before dinner. Day three closes with one more early Mikumi game drive before the transfer back toward Zanzibar.
Included/Exclude
- Transport (4x4 Land Cruiser) with open roof,
- Â Accommodations,
- Â Park fees
- Â Professional English speaking and experienced safari guide,
- Â breakfasts; lunches; dinners.
- Â Pick up and Drop off.
- Flights
- Travel insurance,
- Â Visa and passport fees,
- Â Personal items,
- Â Tips for safari guide,
- Â Accommodation before and after safari,
- Â Soda and Alcoholic beverages,
- Â Extra activities not mentioned in the Itinerary.
Tour Plan
We will pick you up from your hotel or airport to start your adventure in business class with the 6:00 AM express train from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, a scenic journey that takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Upon arrival, you’ll hop on a comfortable Jeep for a 2-hour drive to Mikumi National Park.
Once you arrive, you'll embark on your first thrilling game drive, where you'll have the chance to spot elephants, giraffes, lions, and other incredible wildlife. The game drive will continue until sunset, offering you ample time to soak in the beauty of the park. The day promises a perfect blend of travel, nature, and adventure, setting the stage for an unforgettable safari experience! After this exciting day, you will head to Camp Bastian for a restful night, ready for another thrilling day ahead.
An early game drive through the Kisungura area rounds out your time in Mikumi before breakfast at the lodge. From there, we drive south to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, part of the Eastern Arc Mountains and home to primate species found nowhere else on Earth.
With a packed lunch in hand, you set out on the guided hike to Sanje Waterfall, a 170-metre, three-tier cascade reached through dense rainforest, roughly four hours round trip.
Along the trail, keep an eye out for the Sanje crested mangabey and the Iringa red colobus, both endemic to these mountains. At the base of the falls, take time to swim in the natural plunge pool before the hike back down. Dinner and overnight near the park.
After breakfast, we fit in one more early activity, either a short forest walk in Udzungwa or a final game drive if your route passes back through Mikumi, before beginning the journey back toward Zanzibar.
Depending on your flight schedule, this typically means a mid-morning departure with a picnic lunch en route. We transfer you from the airport straight to your hotel on arrival, safari and hike both done, with the rest of your Zanzibar stay still ahead. Whatsapp us for free quote.
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