This 5-Day Southern Tanzania Safari combines classic wildlife game drives in Mikumi National Park with rainforest walking in the Udzungwa Mountains. It is an ideal package for travellers who want more than a standard vehicle safari and would like to experience animals, forest, waterfalls and mountain scenery in one journey.

Mikumi National Park offers open grasslands, acacia woodland, river habitats and wide views toward the surrounding mountains. It is a rewarding destination for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, antelope, hippos, crocodiles, lions and birdlife.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park offers a very different environment. Instead of open savannah, you will walk through forest with a park guide, listen to birds and monkeys and enjoy views from the mountain trails. The area is known for rainforest, waterfalls, butterflies and rich plant life.

This is a private Tanzania safari package that begins and ends in Dar es Salaam. It is suitable for couples, families with older children, photographers, hikers, birdwatchers and travellers looking for a quieter Southern Tanzania adventure.

EKO Tanzania Adventures can tailor this package as a budget, mid-range or luxury trip based on your preferred accommodation, group size and travel dates.

Package at a Glance

  • Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
  • Destinations: Mikumi National Park and Udzungwa Mountains National Park
  • Start and finish: Dar es Salaam
  • Safari type: Private road safari and guided hiking experience
  • Activities: Game drives, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, forest hiking and waterfall walk
  • Best for: Nature lovers, couples, families, hikers, birdwatchers and photographers
  • Accommodation: Budget, mid-range and luxury options available
  • Main highlights: Mikumi wildlife, open savannah, hippos, elephants, Udzungwa rainforest and Sanje Waterfalls

Why Choose Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains?

Mikumi and Udzungwa work very well together because they offer completely different experiences.

Mikumi gives you the traditional Tanzania safari feeling: a 4×4 vehicle, wide grasslands, wildlife viewing and distant mountain scenery. Udzungwa gives you an active forest experience, where you leave the vehicle behind and walk with a guide through a lush mountain environment.

5-Day Southern Tanzania Safari: 1 Wild Mikumi & Udzungwa Mountains Adventure

This package is ideal if you want to:

  • Enjoy wildlife game drives in Mikumi National Park
  • Search for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and lions
  • Visit hippo pools and river habitats
  • See Southern Tanzania’s open landscapes
  • Take a guided rainforest hike
  • Visit Sanje Waterfalls or another suitable waterfall trail
  • Look for monkeys, butterflies and forest birds
  • Experience Tanzania beyond Serengeti and Ngorongoro
  • Travel at a comfortable private pace
  • Combine safari, walking and scenery in one trip

Wildlife sightings depend on natural movement, weather, season and habitat conditions. No individual animal can be guaranteed, but your guide will choose the best possible routes based on the day’s conditions.

Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park

After breakfast in Dar es Salaam, meet your EKO Tanzania Adventures driver-guide and begin the journey to Mikumi National Park.

The route passes through coastal and inland landscapes, rural towns and changing scenery as you travel toward Southern Tanzania. The drive is long, but it is part of the experience and gives you a chance to see everyday life outside the city.

Arrive in the Mikumi area in the afternoon, check in at your lodge or camp and enjoy lunch if timing allows.

Later, enter Mikumi National Park for your first afternoon game drive.

Mikumi is known for its open plains, woodland and mountain backdrop. The park has a spacious feel, and the grassland areas can be good for spotting wildlife from a distance.

Possible animals during the first game drive may include:

  • Elephants
  • Giraffes
  • Zebras
  • Buffalo
  • Wildebeest
  • Impalas
  • Warthogs
  • Eland
  • Waterbuck
  • Lions
  • Hyenas
  • Jackals
  • Birds of prey and other birdlife

As the sun starts to set, return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Lodge or camp in Mikumi National Park area
Meals: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Full-Day Mikumi National Park Safari

Wake up early for breakfast before leaving for a full day of wildlife viewing in Mikumi National Park.

Early morning is often a good time for game drives because temperatures are cooler and many animals are active. Your guide will take you through different habitats, including grassland, bushland, woodland and river areas.

Mikumi is a great place to enjoy classic safari animals in a quieter setting. You may see elephants crossing the road, giraffes feeding from acacia trees, zebras grazing in open areas or buffalo moving through the bush.

Your guide will also look for predators. Lions may be seen resting in the grass or near shade during the hotter part of the day, while hyenas and jackals may be found in different areas. Leopard sightings are possible but cannot be guaranteed.

A packed lunch will be enjoyed at a suitable picnic point or you may return to the lodge for lunch depending on your preferred safari pace.

In the afternoon, continue the game drive and visit selected areas of the park. River and waterhole habitats can be especially interesting for birdwatching and wildlife observation.

Possible birdlife may include:

  • Fish eagles
  • Kingfishers
  • Storks
  • Herons
  • Egrets
  • Hornbills
  • Bee-eaters
  • Rollers
  • Vultures
  • Eagles
  • Weavers
  • Ostriches

Return to your lodge or camp in the evening for dinner and relaxation.

Overnight: Lodge or camp in Mikumi National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Mikumi to Udzungwa Mountains – From Savannah to Rainforest

After breakfast, enjoy a final short game drive in Mikumi National Park before leaving for Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

The drive to Udzungwa takes you from open savannah into greener, more mountainous scenery. The change in landscape is one of the reasons this package works so well.

On arrival in the Udzungwa area, check in at your lodge, camp or guesthouse and enjoy lunch.

The afternoon is free for relaxation, a village walk or a gentle nature activity, depending on your arrival time and local arrangements.

Udzungwa is known for forest, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, birds, butterflies and primates. It is not a traditional Big Five safari destination. Instead, it is a place to experience Tanzania’s biodiversity from a different perspective.

You may see or hear monkeys in the trees, birds calling in the forest and insects moving through the vegetation. Your guide can explain the local environment and prepare you for the next day’s hike.

Enjoy dinner and overnight near Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

Overnight: Lodge, camp or guesthouse near Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Udzungwa Mountains Guided Hike and Waterfall Experience

After an early breakfast, meet your park guide and begin your guided hike in Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

The exact route will depend on weather, trail conditions, park rules and your fitness level. One of the best-known experiences in the park is the walk toward Sanje Waterfalls, but the guide will confirm the most suitable activity for the day.

The trail passes through lush forest, where you can enjoy a completely different Tanzania experience from the open plains of Mikumi.

During the hike, you may see or hear:

  • Colobus monkeys
  • Blue monkeys
  • Forest birds
  • Butterflies
  • Small reptiles
  • Insects
  • Giant trees
  • Ferns
  • Wildflowers
  • Forest streams

The hike can be warm and physically demanding in places. Trails may be uneven, muddy after rain or steep on certain sections. Your guide will set a safe and comfortable pace.

When you reach the waterfall area or viewpoint, take time to enjoy the scenery, cool air and views across the forested landscape. Swimming may be possible at selected natural pools where permitted and considered safe by the guide.

Enjoy a packed lunch in a suitable location before beginning the walk back.

Return to your accommodation in the afternoon for rest, dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Lodge, camp or guesthouse near Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Udzungwa Mountains to Dar es Salaam – Departure

After breakfast, leave Udzungwa and begin the return journey to Dar es Salaam.

The route takes you through changing countryside, towns and rural landscapes before arriving back in the city.

Depending on your onward flight schedule, EKO Tanzania Adventures can arrange:

  • Transfer to Julius Nyerere International Airport
  • Additional accommodation in Dar es Salaam
  • A beach extension to Zanzibar
  • A safari extension to Nyerere National Park
  • A visit to another Southern Tanzania destination

This marks the end of your 5-Day Southern Tanzania Safari to Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

About Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park is one of the most accessible wildlife destinations in Southern Tanzania. It is a strong choice for travellers who want a classic safari experience from Dar es Salaam without travelling to the Northern Circuit.

The park offers:

  • Wildlife game drives
  • Open savannah and grassland
  • Elephants and giraffes
  • Zebras and buffalo
  • Hippo pools and river habitats
  • Birdwatching
  • Mountain scenery
  • Private safari experiences
  • A quieter atmosphere than some busier safari destinations

Mikumi is especially suitable for guests who have limited time but still want to experience Tanzania’s wildlife in a proper national park setting.

5-Day Southern Tanzania Safari: 1 Wild Mikumi & Udzungwa Mountains Adventure

About Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Udzungwa Mountains National Park is one of Tanzania’s best destinations for travellers who enjoy hiking and forest nature.

The park is known for its green mountain scenery, waterfalls, rainforest habitat, birdlife, butterflies and primates. It is ideal for guests who want to add an active walking experience to their safari.

Udzungwa is suitable for:

  • Nature walks
  • Guided forest hiking
  • Waterfall visits
  • Birdwatching
  • Butterfly watching
  • Photography
  • Primates and forest wildlife
  • Couples and families with older children
  • Travellers who enjoy mountains and greenery

Because the park is focused on walking, a guided visit is important. Always follow your ranger or guide’s instructions and remain on approved trails.

Accommodation Options

Budget Option

A practical option using clean, comfortable guesthouses, camps or basic lodges. It is suitable for travellers who want to focus their budget on the safari and hiking experience.

Mid-Range Option

Mid-range accommodation offers private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, good meals and a comfortable place to rest after game drives and forest walking.

Luxury Option

A luxury package uses selected lodges or tented camps with beautiful settings, premium service, more space and personalised attention.

Your accommodation will be selected according to availability, travel dates, route and preferred budget.

What Is Included?

Your final quotation can include:

  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle and professional driver-guide
  • Transfers from and back to Dar es Salaam
  • Mikumi National Park game drives
  • Udzungwa Mountains guided hike
  • Park entry fees and conservation fees where stated
  • Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
  • Meals as stated in the itinerary
  • Drinking water during game drives and transfers
  • Government taxes and levies where applicable

What Is Not Included?

Unless specifically stated in the final quotation, the following are normally excluded:

  • International flights
  • Tanzania visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips for guides, rangers and lodge staff
  • Laundry services
  • Personal hiking equipment
  • Extra accommodation before or after the safari
  • Optional activities not included in the itinerary

What to Pack

For the Mikumi safari and Udzungwa hike, bring practical outdoor clothing.

Useful items include:

  • Neutral-coloured safari clothes
  • Comfortable hiking shoes with good grip
  • Light jacket or fleece
  • Rain jacket
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Small daypack
  • Camera and binoculars
  • Swimming clothes if you plan to enter a permitted natural pool
  • Personal medication

Book Your Mikumi and Udzungwa Tanzania Safari

This 5-Day Southern Tanzania Safari is a great choice for travellers who want wildlife, forest, mountain scenery and an active outdoor experience in one private itinerary.

You will enjoy Mikumi’s elephants, giraffes and open plains before heading into the green and peaceful Udzungwa Mountains for a guided waterfall hike.

EKO Tanzania Adventures can tailor the accommodation, transport, safari pace and hiking difficulty around your group’s needs.

WhatsApp: +255 761 353 184
Call: +255 761 353 184
Email: info@ekotanzaniaadventures.com
Alternative email: ekotanzaniaadventure@gmail.com