Frequently Asked Questions

A fly-in safari means you travel by light aircraft from Zanzibar International Airport directly to a national park airstrip — rather than driving overland. For Mikumi, the flight takes 45 minutes each way. This means you maximise time in the park and arrive fresh, without spending 5–7 hours in a vehicle each way. All our Mikumi and Selous packages are fly-in safaris.

Light aircraft have strict weight limits. Each passenger is allowed a maximum of 15 kg of luggage in a soft-sided bag only — no hard-shell suitcases or rigid frames. Excess weight can be left securely at your hotel. We advise booking your safari before packing so you know what to leave behind.

Most nationalities require a Tanzania tourist visa, which covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Visas cost USD 50 for most nationalities (US passport holders pay about USD 100 for the multiple-entry visa) and are available on arrival at Zanzibar International Airport or in advance online at tanzaniaimmigration.go.tz. Citizens of EAC member states (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo) do not require a visa.

Wear neutral colours — khaki, olive, tan, or grey. Avoid bright colours (especially red) and white. Long sleeves and trousers offer better sun and insect protection. Bring a light layer for the early morning flight and game drive (it can be cool before 8am). Comfortable closed-toe shoes are recommended. Do not wear camouflage or military-style clothing in Tanzania — this is illegal.

Tanzania is one of Africa's safest safari destinations. Our guides are TALA-certified and trained in all aspects of bush safety. You remain in the vehicle at all times during game drives (unless on a designated walking safari). We follow park rules and our guides' safety briefing on every trip.

Yes — children of all ages are welcome. Children aged 3–15 pay a child rate (on the 1-day safari: $400 sharing, $500 private), under-3s are free, and the adult rate applies from 16. Our guides are experienced at making safari engaging for children. We recommend a minimum age of 5 for a day-trip fly-in safari, and the experience is genuinely wonderful for older children.

Mikumi is not a Big Five park: rhino have been absent for decades. You can expect lion, elephant and buffalo; leopard is seen occasionally. Regular sightings also include giraffe (very common), hippos (near-certain at the hippo pool), zebra, wildebeest, wild dogs (occasional), and 400+ bird species. We cannot guarantee specific sightings, but lion and elephant sightings are near-daily occurrences.

Yes — this is one of our specialities. We can often arrange a safari with as little as 12–24 hours notice, subject to flight availability. WhatsApp us at any time and we will confirm availability within 1 hour. Last-minute bookings are particularly common for our 1-day sharing safari.

In rare cases of extreme weather closing the airstrip, we will offer a full refund or free rescheduling. We do not charge cancellation fees for weather-related cancellations. If weather threatens, we communicate proactively — usually the night before your safari.

Mikumi is open year-round and game viewing is excellent throughout. The dry season (June–October) is considered peak — vegetation is thinner, animals concentrate around water, and visibility is excellent. January–February is also very good (short dry season). March–May (long rains) is quieter and prices are lower.

Yes — we offer overnight packages of 2 or 3 days. These include our 2-Day Mikumi Fly-In Safari, 2-Day Mikumi & Nyerere (Selous) Comfort Safari, 3-Day Mikumi & Udzungwa Waterfall Hike, and 2- and 3-day Northern Circuit safaris (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Lake Eyasi). Longer Serengeti safaris are run by our sister site, Serengeti Safari from Zanzibar. See our packages page for full details.

We accept USD cash (at time of safari), bank transfer (advance), and major credit/debit cards. A deposit is required to secure overnight safari bookings. Day-trip bookings can be paid in full on the day of departure.