Morogoro lies about 190 km west of Dar es Salaam, where the coastal plain meets the Uluguru Mountains. It is a university and farming town with wide streets, a big market and a wall of green peaks rising straight behind it — an agreeable place to spend a night on the way to or from Mikumi, which is roughly another 100–120 km down the highway.
Its importance for safari-goers grew when the electric SGR railway started carrying passengers from Dar es Salaam. The train covers the distance in about two hours, against four or more by road on a bad day, and several Mikumi tours now use it for the first leg.
Top things to do: Morogoro
Take the train to the safari
Train to Morogoro, vehicle to the park: that is the pattern of the SGR day trips and overnight safaris from Dar. Independent travellers can do the same and pick up a day safari from Morogoro.
Hike to Choma Waterfalls
The best-known walk in the Ulugurus climbs from the edge of town through farms and banana groves to the Choma falls. It is a full day at a steady pace, with a guide — arrange one through a local cultural-tourism office or book a guided trek.
Walk up to Morningside
A shorter, classic hike leads to Morningside, an old colonial-era building on the mountainside with a wide view over the town and the plains. Fit walkers continue towards the higher peaks.
Explore the market
Morogoro is one of Tanzania’s fruit baskets. The central market is the place to see — and taste — what grows on the mountain: bananas, mangoes, pineapples, avocados and spices, depending on the season.
How to get to Morogoro
- The SGR train runs between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro several times a day in normal operation; journey time is about two hours. Timetables and fares change, tickets are sold by Tanzania Railways online and at stations, and you need ID to travel — check the current schedule before you plan around it.
- By road, buses and cars use the busy Dar–Morogoro highway: around four hours, more in heavy traffic. From Morogoro, buses and shared minibuses continue towards Mikumi town, or you can arrange a transfer.
Insider tips
- The SGR station is outside the town centre; allow for a taxi ride.
- Hiking in the Ulugurus needs a guide and sometimes a forest permit — do not set off alone.
- It is cooler and wetter on the mountain than in town; take a rain jacket even in the dry season.
- If you start a Mikumi day safari from here, you can be at the park gate well before travellers coming from Dar.
Best tours & safaris: Morogoro
These experiences are the easiest way to see Morogoro:
Day trip from €173 Morogoro – Mikumi National Park: Day Safari
If you are already in Morogoro — by train, by bus or on your way along the highway — this is the easy way into the park: a private day safari in an open jeep with a guide. The drive to the gate is a small part of what it is from Dar, which leaves far more of the day for wildlife. No reviews yet when we last checked.
- Private safari from Morogoro town
- Open safari jeep with a guide
- Short transfer compared with Dar
Hiking day trip from €89 Morogoro: Uluguru Mountains Trek & Choma Waterfalls
A guided day hike from Morogoro into the Uluguru Mountains to the Choma Waterfalls, learning about the ecology of the range and meeting local communities on the way. It pairs well with a Mikumi safari if you break the journey in Morogoro. No reviews yet.
- Guided trek from Morogoro town
- Choma Waterfalls
- Meeting the communities of the mountain slopes
Train day safari from €177 From Dar es Salaam: 1-Day Mikumi Adventure Safari by Train
The modern way to do Mikumi from Dar: the electric standard-gauge (SGR) train covers the stretch to Morogoro in a fraction of the time the highway takes, and a vehicle continues from there to the park for game drives and a picnic lunch. Train times are set by the railway and can change, so the operator fixes the exact schedule when you book.
- Electric SGR train from Dar to Morogoro
- Game drives and a picnic lunch in the park
- Among the lowest starting prices for a Dar day safari
Overnight safari from €444 2 Magical Days in Mikumi – SGR Train and Unforgettable Safari
Two days combining the SGR train with a full safari in Mikumi. As with every overnight, the value is in the extra time in the park at the right hours of the day. Only a couple of reviews so far, both excellent.
- Comfortable ride on the SGR train
- Full safari in the park
- Two days instead of one rushed one
