Mikumi Day Trip from Dar es Salaam by SGR Train
A safari day from Dar es Salaam without the long drive: the electric SGR train takes you to Morogoro, where your guide meets you for the drive to Mikumi National Park, a private game drive and lunch, before you take the train back later in the day.
The standard gauge railway (SGR) has run between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro since 2024, and the express train covers the distance in under two hours. From Morogoro it is about 1½ to 2 hours by road to the park, where the open Mkata plains are home to elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and many kinds of antelope.
It is a long day, starting before dawn and ending late in the evening, but it is an affordable way to see a Tanzanian national park from Dar es Salaam in a single day.
Highlights
- SGR train tickets from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and back
- Your own vehicle and guide from Morogoro to Mikumi
- A private game drive on the Mkata plains
- Lunch in the park
- Park fees included
What to bring
- Your passport
- A small daypack
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
- A light jacket for the early morning
- Binoculars and a camera
Moments from Mikumi
Route Map
- By road
- By train
- Day of the trip
- Dar es Salaam
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
Our driver collects you from your hotel before dawn and takes you to the SGR station in Dar es Salaam for the early morning train. On the express train the ride to Morogoro takes about two hours, and the Uluguru Mountains come into view as you arrive.
About 1½–2 hours by road each way
Your guide meets you at Morogoro station with the safari vehicle and drives you to Mikumi National Park. You spend the middle of the day on a game drive across the plains and past the waterholes and hippo pools, looking for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and antelope.
Lunch is served in the park, at a picnic site or a lodge, depending on where the game drive takes you.
Meals: Lunch
In the afternoon you drive back to Morogoro for the train to Dar es Salaam. Our driver meets you at the station and takes you back to your hotel, usually late in the evening.
Price Per Person, By Group Size
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $390 |
| 2 People | $275 |
| 3 People | $245 |
| 4 People | $225 |
| 5 People | $215 |
| 6 People | $205 |
Price per person in US dollars, based on the number of people travelling together. Groups of 7 or more: price on request.
Please note: this is a long day, with an early start and a late return. Trains can be delayed, and seats can sell out on busy days, so book early. If a train is delayed, we adjust the day.
Includes
- Transfers between your Dar es Salaam hotel and the SGR station
- SGR train tickets from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and back
- Vehicle and professional guide from Morogoro to Mikumi and back
- Game drive in Mikumi National Park
- Mikumi National Park entry fees
- Lunch
- Drinking water
Excludes
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Drinks other than water
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
What time does the train leave?
Early in the morning. Train times are set by TRC and change from time to time, so we confirm the exact times when we book your tickets.
How long is the day?
Long. You leave your hotel before dawn and are usually back late in the evening. The train takes about two hours each way and the drive between Morogoro and the park about 1½ to 2 hours each way, which leaves several hours for the game drive and lunch.
Why not drive all the way from Dar es Salaam?
The road from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi is about 300 km and can take five hours or more each way, which leaves little time in the park. The train is faster and more comfortable for the first part of the journey.
What animals can we see in Mikumi?
Elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, impalas, wildebeest and hippos are common. Lions are seen often and leopards more rarely. Wild animals move freely, so no sighting can be guaranteed.
Are park fees included?
Yes. The Mikumi National Park entry fees, the train tickets, the vehicle and guide, lunch and water are all included. Tanzania's compulsory travel insurance for foreign visitors is not included.
