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In short
The Mikumi day trip flies you from Zanzibar to an airstrip inside the park in under an hour, gives you about six hours of shared game drives with a bush lunch, and has you back at your hotel by early evening. It is the most-booked safari from Zanzibar and the simplest way to see elephants, giraffes and lions without a night away.
How the day runs
Hotel pickup (if booked with transfer) and drive to Zanzibar airport, ≈ 1 h
Mikumi NP concession fee (overnight stay), adultnon-resident adult, per person per night in a lodge/camp inside the park; tariff dated 2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30
Nyerere NP and Selous. Nyerere National Park is a TANAPA national park, carved from the northern sector of the Selous Game Reserve.4
What the entry fee covers. TANAPA conservation (entry) fees are per person and valid for 24 hours from the time of entry.5
Children. Children under 5 enter TANAPA parks free; child rates apply to ages 5–15.6
How to pay. Visa and MasterCard are accepted at TANAPA park gates; TANAPA also lists mobile money (M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money) and payment through its online reservation system.7
Payment system. TANAPA fees are paid through the Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG).8
VAT. TANAPA's tariff page says all fees are inclusive of 18% VAT where applicable (the per-row tariff data does not mark VAT).9
Zanzibar–Nyerere (Selous), Auric Air. Auric Air publishes a daily scheduled flight Zanzibar → Selous (Nyerere NP) airstrips at 07:00, arriving 08:15. The route is closed for the wet season, 15 March to 31 May.10
Second Auric departure. Auric Air has a second daily Zanzibar → Selous (Nyerere NP) departure at 15:05, arriving 16:25 (on inducement of 4 seats).18
Zanzibar–Nyerere (Selous), Coastal Aviation. Coastal Aviation publishes a daily Zanzibar → Selous flight at 07:50, arriving 09:15 via Dar es Salaam, on inducement of 2 seats from Dar.14
Rainy season. Coastal Aviation suspends its starred routes, including Selous, during the long rains (mid March – end May).19
"On inducement" flights. Both timetables mark the Zanzibar–Selous and Zanzibar–Seronera flights "on inducement" of 2 (some 4) seats: the flight operates only when a booking has that minimum number of passengers.20
Baggage, Auric Air. Auric Air allows 20 kg per passenger in total, including hand baggage, cameras and other personal items.21
Baggage, Coastal Aviation. Coastal Aviation allows 15 kg per person including carry-on luggage; soft bags are strongly recommended but not obligatory.22
Children on Coastal flights. Coastal child fares apply from age 2 to 12; infants under 2 fly free.23
Checked 3 November 2026 on Auric Air and Coastal Aviation (airline websites).
Where the time goes
The flight is short, but the day is long. Count about an hour from a north- or east-coast hotel to the airport, under an hour in the air, and the same back. That leaves about six hours in the park on the most-booked trip, with lunch in the middle. The pickup can be around 05:00 or earlier if you stay far from the airport; the exact time comes the day before.
Some versions meet you at the airport instead of collecting you. They cost less, but you then arrange a taxi both ways and meet the team at a café on the airport grounds early in the morning.
What you see in Mikumi
Most game drives cover the open grassland of the Mkata floodplain, the centre of the park, with waterholes and woodland edges around it. Drives look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, impala, hippos and lions; sightings are never guaranteed. There is no boat safari in Mikumi; for that you need Nyerere. Compared with the Nyerere day, you get about six hours in the park instead of eight, but the trip is usually cheaper, partly because Mikumi's park entry fee is less than half of Nyerere's.
What the price includes
On the main listings the price covers:
return flights between Zanzibar and Mikumi
Mikumi entry and landing fees
a shared game drive in a 4x4 with a driver-guide
bush lunch, drinks and water
hotel pickup only if you choose that option
Not included: Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance, tips, and a French- or German-speaking guide, which is an add-on. The official entry fee is on the fee card on this page.
How the Mikumi listings differ
Version
What changes
Shared, flights and lunch
the standard day; jeep shared with other guests
Without hotel pickup
meet at Zanzibar airport; you arrange your own transport
Twin-engine plane
earlier flight, lunch at a restaurant in the park, longer day overall
Private
your own jeep and guide; stop as long as you like
Ferry and road
no flight, but 2–3 days with long travel days
Reviews matter most on this trip, because the guide decides how much you see. The top listings have thousands of reviews; newer copies with a handful of reviews often cost more and are harder to judge.
What to bring
your passport, which must match the name on the flight booking
a hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen for the open vehicle
neutral, comfortable clothes and closed shoes
a light layer for the early flight
cash or a card for tips
Guiding is in English as standard; the main listing also offers German, Spanish and French guides as an add-on.
Before you book
After booking you are asked for passport details for the flight, and the tickets arrive the day before. Bring the passport itself on the day. The operator asks you to return to Zanzibar at least two nights before your international flight, in case weather delays the safari. If you want two game drives and a night in the bush, compare the 2–3 day safaris; for Mikumi against Nyerere side by side, see 1-day safari from Zanzibar.
Questions people ask
How long is the flight from Zanzibar to Mikumi?
About 45–60 minutes. The most-booked trip departs around 07:45 and starts the game drive around 08:30; the twin-engine version leaves at 07:00 and lands at Kikoboga airstrip at 08:00.
Is the Mikumi day trip worth the price?
It is the most-reviewed safari from Zanzibar, and reviewers mostly praise the guides and the number of animals seen. You pay mainly for the flights; if you have more time and less budget, a 3-day trip by ferry and train can cost less but spends most of a day travelling each way.
Are Mikumi park fees included?
On the main listings, yes: Mikumi entry and landing fees are listed as included, with the flights, guide, jeep, lunch and water. Zanzibar's mandatory travel insurance and tips are not included.
What animals can I see in Mikumi?
Game drives look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, impala, hippos and lions. Sightings are never guaranteed, and leopards are rare.
Can children and older travellers go?
Children are welcome on most listings, though one excludes children under 4. The listings say the day is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back, heart or mobility problems, because the game drives are long and bumpy.
What happens if it rains?
Raincoats are provided on the main listings. Between 1 April and 1 June, the operator says weather or airstrip conditions may move the safari to another day, so keep a spare day in your plans.
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “"Park":"Mikumi National Park","Category":"Entrance","RevenueCode":"REV0001","ProductName":"Entrance Adults (NR)","Season":"ALL","FromDate":"2026-07-01","ToDate":"2027-06-30","Currency":"TZS","Amount":76650,"createdAt":"2026-07-26” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “"Park":"Mikumi National Park","Category":"Entrance","RevenueCode":"REV0002","ProductName":"Entrance Children 5 - 15 Years (NR)","Season":"ALL","FromDate":"2026-07-01","ToDate":"2027-06-30","Currency":"TZS","Amount":25550,"createdAt":"2026-07-26” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “"Park":"Mikumi National Park","Category":"Concession","RevenueCode":"REV0305","ProductName":"Concession Fee Adult (NR)","Season":"ALL","FromDate":"2026-07-01","ToDate":"2027-06-30","Currency":"TZS","Amount":63875,"createdAt":"2026-07-26” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Carved from the northern sector of the Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park protects a colossal landscape of rivers, wetlands, open plains and woodlands.” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Conservation fees are valid for 24 hours from time of entry” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Children under 5 years of age enter FREE of charge” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Visa, MasterCard accepted at park gates” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “Payments are made using Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG)” (checked 3 November 2026)
tanzaniaparks.go.tz — “All fees are inclusive of 18% VAT where applicable” (checked 3 November 2026)
storage.aerocrs.com — “Zanzibar Selous (Nyerere NP) All Airstrips Daily 07:00 08:15 250.00 187.50 22.00 272.00 209.50 On inducement 2 seats, Closed for wet season: 15 March to 31 May” (checked 3 November 2026)
storage.aerocrs.com — “Selous (Nyerere NP) All Airstrips Zanzibar Daily 12:35 14:20 250.00 187.50 15.00 265.00 202.50 On inducement 2 seats, Closed for wet season: 15 March to 31 May” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Selous* Daily 7:50 9:15 Via Dar. On inducement of 2 seats from Dar 248 198 52 317 254” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Zanzibar Daily 12:50 14:50 Via Dar. On inducement of 2 seats 248 198 42 317 254” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Serengeti / Seronera Daily 8:40 12:15 Via Arusha and Manyara. 517 414 93 661 529” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Zanzibar Daily 10:45 14:20 Via Arusha 568 454 90 727 581” (checked 3 November 2026)
storage.aerocrs.com — “Zanzibar Selous (Nyerere NP) All Airstrips Daily 15:05 16:25 250.00 187.50 22.00 272.00 209.50 On inducement 4 seats, Closed for wet-season 15 March to 31 May” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Rainy season: Flights marked with a star (*) are suspended during the long rains (mid March - end May) for exact dates please contact us.” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Inducement flights: Coastal is operating a few pioneer routes for which the demand is still not high enough to allow a regular daily operation. These routes therefore require the incentive of a minimum number of passengers per booking” (checked 3 November 2026)
auricair.com — “The total baggage allowance is 20kgs (44lbs) per passenger. This includes hand baggage‚ cameras‚ filming equipment‚ and any other personal items.” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Passengers are permitted a maximum luggage allowance of 15kgs (33lbs) per person including carry-on luggage. Soft bags are strongly recommended but are not obligatory.” (checked 3 November 2026)
coastal.co.tz — “Child Price: The child rates apply for children from the age of 2 to 12. Infants under the age of 2 fly at no charge.” (checked 3 November 2026)
getyourguide.com — Itinerary times, inclusions (entry and landing fees, lunch, water, raincoats), insurance excluded, April–June note, two nights before departure
getyourguide.com — Twin-engine flight 07:00–08:00 to Kikoboga airstrip, jeeps of up to six, lunch at a restaurant in the park, no children under 4
headout.com — Version without hotel pickup; return flight at 15:00; private upgrade
getyourguide.com — 3-day Mikumi trip by ferry and SGR train
