Review: Mikumi & Udzungwa 4-Day Tour – Is it Worth it?

Okay, so you’re thinking of escaping into the wild, specifically Mikumi National Park and Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania, huh? That sounds like a pretty fantastic getaway! Very recently, I went on a four-day tour hopping around the two, and I wanted to break down exactly what that trip was like and if it is truly a good option for the adventure you have dreamed about. It’s almost a big decision that will determine how you enjoy nature. That said, I’m going to run through everything that’s good, things you might want to watch out for, and other helpful info, is that cool?

What’s the Big Deal About Mikumi & Udzungwa Anyway?

Before we jump into how the whole tour shook out, let’s understand these two great destinations! Mikumi National Park, often talked about quite a bit, forms a bit of a natural ecosystem that stretches all the way to Selous Game Reserve, making it pretty darn massive. So, picture sprawling plains kind of like those classic safari photos we’ve all seen, and you get the picture of the landscape around Mikumi. What sets Mikumi apart, as a matter of fact, is how easy it is to get a really good view of the wildlife there! With luck, very soon you’re very close to lions lounging around after lunch or seeing giraffes stretching their necks to munch on the higher tree leaves. In a way, it’s kind of a microcosm of what you expect in a safari, packed into a nice, accessible spot.

Udzungwa Mountains, as I was saying, is another kettle of fish. Udzungwa feels completely different; unlike the open plains, Udzungwa calls for hikers because Udzungwa is a densely forested, wildly biodiverse, mountain range, pretty fantastic, right? That has some truly remarkable hiking and waterfall views to enjoy! That said, hiking through these forests is just like stepping into another environment, very lush and vibrant! What I will say, by the way, is bird watchers will think they’ve struck gold with the amount of bird species to be seen there, with primates and unique flora around every corner.

Day 1: From the Hustle to the Bush

Okay, let me set the scene. Very often, the whole thing kicks off in Dar es Salaam (or maybe Zanzibar, if you chose the islands as the starting point). After a busy morning of packing your stuff, you’re hitting the road quite early in the morning. You see, getting to Mikumi means driving around 4-6 hours to the west! Very, very long!

The drive there can really open your eyes since the view outside your window slowly shifts as the city turns into open areas. Very, very nice scenery to soak up on the way to the safari location, I will say! When I got to Mikumi, it felt like this barrier had broken where immediately it was pure excitement seeing my home for the night. Anyway, once settled, we usually got right into it—an afternoon game drive! That said, nothing beats your first peek at zebras, elephants, and maybe even a sneaky leopard before night fell.

Day 2: Safari Dreams Come True

Get set for a full day immersed deep in the animal life! So picture you, starting the day very early! It tends to be at dawn when the creatures are very active. The advantage is that, this way, you greatly raise your chances of encountering animal activity! Most tours drive around for many hours! They’re kind of following where predators might be hunting, to waterholes where animals usually gather, or other animal filled habitats! Bring some binoculars so you have an advantage because with luck you’ll get great views of everything you have always wished for, maybe even lions.

You kind of understand that they call it ‘safari’ now—a slow meander that lets you see some parts of the circle of existence as you creep through Mikumi. Also, lunch can often be another event too, almost! I found myself often having my lunch served out in the bush to keep me from losing any daylight! You might expect even more exploration after you get back to your lodge! With the sky ablaze as the sun plunges down on the day, you might just have one more sweep before relaxing and dinner.

Day 3: Hello Udzungwa, Hello Waterfalls!

Now comes a slight gear shift. Get ready to leave behind the plains as it gets replaced with the greenery that coats the Udzungwa Mountains. The journey isn’t super short, around a couple hours of driving from Mikumi, actually. Don’t stress though since that can sometimes lead to some lovely scenic drives across the rural part of Tanzania! I saw things I otherwise wouldn’t have gotten to see had it not been on the way to a waterfall location, seriously!

As you approach Udzungwa, so you’ll notice everything changes—from plains to thick forest cover and mountains. Then, typically what’s next, is the hike! The Sanje Waterfalls, usually a focal point, are not that easy! In some respects, that sounds pretty tough, I guess, but the prize is stunning with these high waterfalls thundering into pools at the bottom. Not only that, there’s lots of wildlife viewing to take in here! You see different types of monkeys plus many other species. Very beautiful stuff indeed!

Day 4: More Hikes and Heading Out

A number of tours can give you another shot at some trekking that day, if you are into it! Some might suggest another route or some lesser traveled part of the park so you get the maximum exposure in Udzungwa before the day closes! Basically, if it didn’t happen before, there are tours that help introduce and bring some awareness on regional plants/animals as it affects nature. Alright, after spending some time and truly experiencing Udzungwa fully, so the transport back to Dar is next! Or maybe, potentially it is time for your next step if you want to go somewhere different?

Creature Comforts: Where Do You Sleep and What Do You Eat?

In some respects when it comes to accommodations, think about a scope of options from lodges with just the necessities to more premium camps that come stocked. Obviously, the expense will usually drive the degree of conveniences out there. Even the food you are going to eat typically has an affect that touches on a variety of western dishes with locally acquired ingredients and food! The lodging out in places similar to this always includes meals that, honestly, I believe are an part of it, even, when you choose somewhere!

What to Pack for Safari

When gearing up for Mikumi and Udzungwa, so planning smartly can do a lot in making your outing really successful! Basically, you’ll want lighter materials of clothing in browns and other non conspicuous colors. The thing about those colors are the fact that those keep from scaring distant species off. Besides, bringing strong footwear makes those hikes truly doable and very comfortable! Then obviously there’s the basics for protection. Get those big sprays that take down bugs like it’s nothing! Last but not least, having your camera for pictures for memories should probably stay near you, arguably!

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went

Is that sometimes, photographs of safaris kind of create expectations that end up skewed on social media, frankly! Mikumi is great, that’s definitely worth restating, yet I suggest managing assumptions that can sometimes be overblown from viewing places such as Serengeti, very known for a reason. Next would have to be that at different times the forest could tend to be tough trekking sometimes. Therefore getting somewhat able bodied should assist the amount of appreciation you can enjoy, clearly! Is that planning to go during a dry period helps to enhance animals gathering in certain locations? You bet, naturally!

So, Is This Tour Really Worth It?

Right, to conclude all this, you might think of what truly my experience became on this 4-day tour near Mikumi and Udzungwa, right? I mean I kind of went hoping to truly encounter a mix of untamed wildlife coupled with some great out door experience and literally, in a huge way that became satisfied for what I went for! Basically that transition between that flat safari area near Mikumi and going hiking into the jungle was just super different that gave so much enjoyment through many viewpoints! With luck there, should probably arise that for somebody on a time and money spending budget while wanting to get literally some of the southern circuits in Tanzania, alright, there lies something with having these two very great parks kind of rolled up to work with and truly benefit! It just works really amazingly!

• Pro Tip #1: Early Bird Gets the Worm Arrive early and be the first to make view points.
• Pro Tip #2: Keep Cool: Dress smart with lightweight clothing for safaris during heat temperatures
• Pro Tip #3: Don’t Underestimate Footwear Solid hiking footwear enables any trekking to have you enjoying what’s in your path

#MikumiNationalPark #UdzungwaMountains #TanzaniaSafari #WildlifeTour #WaterfallHike #AdventureTravel #Tanzania