5-Day Nyerere & Mikumi Safari from Dar es Salaam
A private 5-day road safari from Dar es Salaam to two very different southern parks: the open floodplain of Mikumi, then the river, lakes and woodland of Nyerere, the former northern Selous, with a boat safari on the Rufiji.
The South's Two Classic Parks by Road
Mikumi is the most accessible park from Dar es Salaam, a wide plain where elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and lions are easy to see. Nyerere, Tanzania's largest park, feels wilder: palm-fringed lakes and river channels where you watch hippos and crocodiles from a boat, and woodland that is home to African wild dogs.
Combining the two gives you the best of the south in five days without flights. The drives between Dar es Salaam, Mikumi and Nyerere are long, but your own vehicle and driver-guide stay with you throughout, so you can stop when you like.
Only want Nyerere? See the 3-Day Nyerere Safari from Dar es Salaam →
Highlights
- Two nights near Mikumi and game drives on its floodplain
- Two nights in Nyerere with game drives and a Rufiji boat safari
- Private 4x4 vehicle and driver-guide from Dar es Salaam
- Mid-range lodges and camps, full board
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Dar es Salaam
What to bring
- Neutral-coloured clothes and a light warm layer
- Sun hat, sun cream and insect repellent
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom
- Your passport
Read our park guides: Mikumi National Park, Nyerere National Park
Route Map
- By road
- Day of the trip
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
We collect you from your hotel in Dar es Salaam in the morning. The drive west is about 320 kilometres, around 5 hours with a lunch stop in Morogoro below the Uluguru Mountains. In the afternoon you have your first game drive in Mikumi.
Overnight: Mid-range lodge near Mikumi National Park
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Morning and afternoon game drives on the Mkata floodplain, with a picnic lunch in the park. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest and impalas are common, and lions are seen fairly often.
Overnight: Mid-range lodge near Mikumi National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
An early game drive, then the long drive east and south to Nyerere, most of the day on mixed roads, arriving at your camp in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Mid-range camp in or near Nyerere National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A morning game drive through Nyerere's woodland and around its lakes, then in the afternoon a boat trip on the Rufiji River among hippos, crocodiles and water birds until sunset. Wild dog sightings are possible but never certain.
Overnight: Mid-range camp in or near Nyerere National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short game drive on the way out of the park and the drive back to Dar es Salaam, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Price Per Person — Private Safari
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $2,425 |
| 2 People | $1,875 |
| 3 People | $1,695 |
| 4 People | $1,600 |
| 5 People | $1,545 |
| 6 People | $1,510 |
Price per person in US dollars, by the number of people sharing the vehicle and rooms. Groups of more than 6: price on request.
Trip Notes
- Start & end: your hotel in Dar es Salaam
- Private safari: your group only, on the dates you choose
- Long drives on days 1, 3 and 5
- Lodges and camps named when we confirm availability
- Prices may change if park fees change
Includes
- Private 4x4 vehicle with a professional driver-guide
- Mikumi and Nyerere national park entry fees
- Game drives and a boat safari
- 4 nights in mid-range lodges and camps, full board
- Drinking water
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Dar es Salaam
Excludes
- International flights and visa fees
- Accommodation in Dar es Salaam
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Tips for your guides
- Drinks other than drinking water
- Walking safari in Nyerere (optional, ask us)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
Why combine Mikumi and Nyerere?
They are very different: Mikumi is open plain where animals are easy to see, Nyerere is river, lakes and woodland where you also explore by boat. Together they give a full picture of southern Tanzania.
How long are the drives?
Dar es Salaam to Mikumi is about 5 hours. Mikumi to Nyerere takes most of a day, and Nyerere back to Dar es Salaam about 6 to 7 hours. Your guide plans stops along the way.
Could we fly part of the way?
Yes. You can fly back from Nyerere to Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar to save the last long drive, at extra cost. Ask us for a price.
When is the best time?
June to October is the best season for game viewing. Many Nyerere camps close in about April and May.
Is this trip private?
Yes. You have your own vehicle and driver-guide for the whole trip, on the dates you choose.
