Dar es Salaam, Mikumi, Nyerere and Mafia Island Journey
Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park: Depart Dar es Salaam at 8:00 am and travel by 4x4 safari jeep toward Mikumi National Park. The drive takes approximately 3-4 hours, depending on highway traffic. Enjoy lunch in Morogoro Town before continuing into the park. In the afternoon, embark on exciting game drives until late evening, with excellent chances to spot elephants, giraffes, lions, antelopes, and a wide variety of other wildlife. Mikumi National Park offers rewarding wildlife viewing within a compact area, allowing you to see many animals and birds without extensive driving. Later, drive to your lodge located inside the park. Dinner and overnight will be at the Mikumi Wildlife Lodge.
- Main destination: Mikumi National Park
- Accommodation: Mikumi Wildlife Lodge, luxury lodge located inside Mikumi NP
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water (other drinks not included)
Day 2: Mikumi National Park - Full Day Game Drive: After breakfast, enjoy a full-day game drive in the park and experience the beauty of Mikumi National Park. Wildlife viewing begins right upon entering the park, where you may encounter baboons, zebras, and impalas, just to mention a few. You will also have the opportunity to see the unique Mikumi giraffes, which naturalists say seem to be a cross between reticulated and Maasai giraffes. Lions can be easily spotted in this park. Your game drive follows park trails leading to the hippo pool, best visited during the late afternoon when the distant setting sun and the bobbing heads of hippos create perfect pictures. After spotting wallowing buffaloes on the Mkata flood plains and elephants congregating near the waterhole, drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Mikumi Wildlife Lodge.
- Main destination: Mikumi National Park
- Accommodation: Mikumi Wildlife Lodge, luxury lodge located inside Mikumi NP
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water included (other drinks not included)
Day 3: Mikumi National Park to Nyerere National Park: After breakfast, with packed lunch boxes, enjoy a game drive in Mikumi before continuing to Nyerere NP. The drive passes through farms along the Uluguru Mountains and villages through Matambwe Gate. Arrive in the afternoon and continue with a game drive in the park until evening, with chances to see hippos, crocodiles, fantastic birdlife, elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, waterbuck, and other game along the lake banks within just a few meters. Crocodiles glide into the water as your jeep approaches the lake, while hippos appear in frightening proximity, grunting and blowing steam. Then drive to your camp. Dinner and overnight will be at Selous Impala Safari Camp.
- Main destination: Nyerere National Park
- Accommodation: Selous Impala Safari Camp, luxury camp located inside the park
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water included (other drinks not included)
Day 4: Nyerere National Park - Full Day Game Drive: After an early breakfast, with your lunch box, proceed for a full-day game drive in Nyerere NP. Due to the diversity of its wildlife and its undisturbed nature, the reserve is home to typical savannah animals such as large numbers of elephants, black rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and the rare African wild dog. This immense sanctuary measures 50,000 sq. km and remains practically undisturbed by human impact. The park has a variety of vegetation zones, ranging from dense thickets to open wooded grasslands. Continue your game drive until late afternoon, then return to the camp for dinner and overnight at Selous Impala Safari Camp.
- Main destination: Nyerere National Park
- Accommodation: Selous Impala Safari Camp, luxury camp located inside the park
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water included (other drinks not included)
Day 5: Nyerere NP Game Drive & Boat Safari: After breakfast, enjoy a half-day exploration of Nyerere National Park by 4x4 safari vehicle, offering excellent photographic opportunities and the chance to explore different sections of this vast wilderness. Formerly part of the Nyerere National Park, it is the largest national park in Africa, covering approximately 54,600 square kilometers. The park is renowned for its large elephant populations and is also home to lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, bushbuck, impalas, elands, baboons, zebras, and greater kudus. Originally designated as a hunting area, wildlife here is abundant yet more elusive than in the northern parks. Enjoy game drives until midday, then return to the lodge for a hot lunch and time to relax. In the afternoon, set out on a scenic boat safari of about two hours on Lake Manze, where animals gather along the shores to drink. Get close to nature as you observe hippos surfacing in the water, crocodiles basking in the sun, and a variety of wildlife, all set against a breathtaking African savannah sunset. Thereafter, dinner and overnight will be at Selous Impala Safari Camp.
- Main destination: Nyerere National Park
- Accommodation: Selous Impala Safari Camp, luxury camp located inside the park
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water included (other drinks not included)
Day 6: Nyerere Walking Safari, Dar es Salaam & Mafia Island Escape: After breakfast, enjoy a walking safari, one of the most exciting and unique experiences in Tanzania, accompanied by armed rangers for 2 hours. Then transfer from Nyerere to Dar es Salaam, arriving in the afternoon in time for your 1500 hours flight to Mafia Island, arriving at 1530 hours. Upon arrival, transfer from the airstrip to your hotel and relax at leisure. You may also choose an optional excursion. Mafia Island is blessed with abundant marine life. Mafia Island Marine Park is an ideal place to visit if you are a lover of marine life and underwater coral gardens. Moreover, there is a beautiful mangrove forest packed with many sea creatures and birds of different colours. Diving and deep-sea fishing can also be organized from the hotel. Dinner and overnight will be at Kinasi Lodge Mafia Island.
- Main destination: Mafia Island
- Accommodation: Kinasi Lodge Mafia Island, located on Mafia Island
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water included (other drinks not included)
Days 7-8: Full Days to Explore Mafia Island's Marine Life: A full stay is dedicated to exploring Mafia Island's rich and unspoiled marine environment. Guests may relax at leisure at the hotel or choose from a variety of optional excursions. Mafia Island Marine Park is a paradise for marine life lovers, renowned for its pristine coral gardens, crystal-clear waters, and abundant sea life. The island is also home to beautiful mangrove forests that shelter a wide variety of sea creatures and colorful bird species. Activities such as snorkeling, diving, and deep-sea fishing can be arranged through the hotel, offering unforgettable underwater and ocean experiences. Throughout the stay, guests enjoy full-board accommodation at Kinasi Lodge Mafia Island, one of the island's finest retreats. Evenings are spent at leisure, followed by dinner and overnight stays at the lodge, allowing time to unwind and fully appreciate the tranquil island atmosphere.
- Main destination: Mafia Island
- Accommodation: Kinasi Lodge Mafia Island, located on Mafia Island
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water included (other drinks not included)
Day 9: Marine Park Adventures & Whale Shark Tour in Mafia Island: Mafia Island Marine Park is world-renowned for its whale shark encounters, offering one of the best places in East Africa to experience these gentle giants in their natural habitat. During the seasonal whale shark tour, visitors have the rare opportunity to snorkel alongside whale sharks as they feed calmly in the warm, shallow waters of the Indian Ocean. This unforgettable experience is conducted responsibly with expert local guides to ensure both guest safety and marine conservation. Beyond whale sharks, the marine park features pristine coral reefs, abundant tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkeling and diving. Mangrove channels and quiet beaches add to the island's unspoiled charm. Centered around the iconic whale shark experience, Mafia Island delivers a once-in-a-lifetime marine adventure combined with tranquility and natural beauty.
- Main destination: Mafia Island
- Accommodation: Kinasi Lodge Mafia Island, located on Mafia Island
- Meals & drinks: All meals & drinking water included (other drinks not included)
Day 10: Mafia Island to Dar es Salaam: Relax at leisure at your hotel or choose an optional excursion. Mafia Island is blessed with abundant marine life, and Mafia Island Marine Park is an ideal place to visit if you are a lover of marine life and underwater coral gardens. Moreover, there is a beautiful mangrove forest packed with many sea creatures and birds of different colours. Diving and deep-sea fishing can also be organized from the hotel. In the afternoon, transfer to the airstrip for your 1630 hours flight to Dar es Salaam, arriving at 1700 hours.
- Main destination: Dar es Salaam
- Accommodation: No accommodation - end of the safari
- Meals & drinks: Breakfast only & drinking water included (lunch, dinner, and other drinks not included)
