Gip Adventure · Tanzania · Classic Wildlife Safaris
4-Day Southern Circuit: Mikumi & Udzungwa
A short, rewarding southern safari: big-sky game drives in Mikumi and a forest hike to the Sanje Waterfalls in the Udzungwa Mountains.
- Mikumi & Udzungwa
- 4 Days / 3 Nights
- Private Safari
Tour overview
Savannah game drives and a swim beneath a rainforest waterfall.
Mikumi National Park is one of the most visited parks in southern Tanzania. Its open horizons teem with wildlife, from the Mkata floodplain to the grassy plains, forested hillsides, riverine thickets and open savannah. Exploring it gives you ample time to commune with the rich plants and wildlife of the south – and the slower you drive, the more unusual sightings you are likely to enjoy, so take your time rather than settling for only the commonly seen species.
The Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a sumptuous forested reserve, rich in indigenous and endemic plants and wildlife, with a waterfall that plunges 170 metres through misty spray into the forested valley below. Keen birders come for the more than 400 species recorded here, and walkers and hikers will find it a park made for exploring on foot. It is also home to the endemic Iringa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey, neither of which occurs anywhere else on Earth.
This compact four-day safari combines both, with two full days in the parks bookended by the scenic road journey to and from Dar es Salaam.
- Start date
- Can start any day
- Duration
- 4 Days / 3 Nights
- Tour plan
- Customizable itinerary
- Transport
- Extended 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Language
- English
Your route
A compact loop from Dar es Salaam into the southern parks.
From Dar es Salaam you drive around 5–6 hours west to Mikumi National Park, your base for all three nights. A day trip takes you to the Udzungwa Mountains for the Sanje Waterfalls hike before the return drive to Dar es Salaam.
- MikumiDays 1–3 · 3 nights
Day by day
Your journey, day by day
Open each day to see the route, the safari experience and where you will sleep in each accommodation level.
Day01Arrival in Dar es Salaam and transfer to Mikumi National Park
Your Gip Adventure team member will meet you at 07:00 on arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, or collect you from your hotel in the city, for the road transfer to Mikumi National Park. The drive takes around 5–6 hours, with a packed picnic lunch along the way.
On arrival, head out on a late-afternoon to early-evening game drive, watching the wildlife as the sun sets over the plains. Return to your camp in the park for dinner and overnight.
Where you will be staying in Mikumi
Day02Mikumi National Park
After a hearty breakfast at around 08:00, set out for a full day of game viewing in Mikumi, travelling through the floodplains, the riverine areas, Chamgore and other parts of the park rich in wildlife.
Lunch is taken at a picnic site, followed by a shorter afternoon game drive before you return to your camp for dinner and overnight.
Where you will be staying in Mikumi
Day03Udzungwa Mountains hike to Sanje Waterfalls and return to Mikumi
After a hearty breakfast at around 08:00, drive to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park for a hike through its forests to the Sanje Waterfalls. At the base of the falls you can plunge into the pool and swim in the cool, clear mountain water.
Enjoy lunch at a picnic site, then drive back to your camp in Mikumi for dinner and your final night on safari.
Where you will be staying in Mikumi
Day04Mikumi to Dar es Salaam and departure
After an early breakfast at around 07:00, drive back to Dar es Salaam, with a packed lunch in the vehicle along the way.
On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel or to the airport for your onward departure, bringing your southern safari to a close.
Accommodation
Choose your accommodation level
Every night is matched to lodges in that exact area. Switch levels to see where you would stay.
Safari details
What is included in your safari
IncludedWhat is included
- Meet-and-greet service at the airport
- All transfers as per the itinerary
- Transport in an extended, spacious 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Concession fees
- Full-board accommodation (per person sharing rates)
- Tanzania Tourism Development Levy
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Bottled water
- Snacks and light bites
- Game drives
- National park gate fees
- Professional safari guide
- Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Cultural tour
- Bonfire
Not includedWhat is not included
- Personal items and expenses
- Optional activities
- Tips and gratuities
- Laundry (can be arranged on request)
- Visa
Safari pricing
Price on request
Prices depend on your dates, group size and accommodation level. Tell us your plans and we will send an exact quote, usually within the hour.
Comfortable, well-run lodges and tented camps with great locations and real value.
Quote for SilverPremium lodges and camps with more space, better views and a touch of style.
Quote for GoldThe finest luxury lodges and camps, exceptional service and the best locations.
Quote for PlatinumStart planning
Ready to make this safari yours?
Send us your dates, group size and preferred accommodation level and we will tailor 4-Day Southern Circuit: Mikumi & Udzungwa to your plans. No booking fees, and a real person replies, usually within the hour.
Guest experiences
What our travellers say
5.0 · Reviews on Tripadvisor, all rated 5 out of 5
- ★★★★★
Credits Gipson’s calm pacing and constant check-ins on summit night for getting the group to the top of Kilimanjaro.
- ★★★★★
Four friends took the 7-day Machame Route, were checked on regularly for their health, and all four reached the summit.
- ★★★★★
Climbed Kilimanjaro in 2017 and Mount Meru in 2019 with Gipson, then kept coming back to Tanzania with friends and family. Felt safe as a solo hiker.
- ★★★★★
A family of six climbed Kilimanjaro, trusted Gipson’s calls on health and weather, and now want to tackle Mount Meru with him.
- ★★★★★
Gipson led a group of friends to the top of Kilimanjaro. The trip was well organised and his passion for it showed.
- ★★★★★
Rain turned to snow on the climb, but the team kept everyone fed, monitored oxygen levels, and got them to the summit.
- ★★★★★
Felt safe on every day of the Kilimanjaro hike and was confident of summiting in Gipson’s care. Found him funny and knowledgeable.
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