Tan Swiss Lodge Mikumi is a well-regarded accommodation situated near Mikumi National Park in Tanzania, offering a blend of comfort and accessibility for travelers seeking both relaxation and adventure. Located approximately 1.2 miles from the park’s boundary and about 11 miles from its main entrance, the lodge serves as a convenient base for exploring the rich biodiversity of the region.
The lodge provides a variety of lodging options, including air-conditioned bungalows, guest rooms, and a campsite. Each room is equipped with modern amenities such as satellite TV, private bathrooms, and balconies or verandas, ensuring a comfortable stay for guests . The bungalows offer additional space with separate sitting areas, catering to families and groups. For those preferring an outdoor experience, the campsite features clean ablution facilities with hot showers and shaded areas under large trees.
Dining at Tan-Swiss Lodge is a culinary journey, with the on-site restaurant serving a diverse menu that includes Tanzanian, Swiss, Chinese, Indian, and Italian cuisines. Guests have praised the quality of food, highlighting the vegetarian options and breakfast offerings as outstanding . The lodge also features a bar and offers pizza takeaway, providing a range of choices to satisfy different palates.
Recreational facilities at the lodge include a year-round outdoor swimming pool, a garden, and a children’s playground, making it suitable for families . Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, allowing guests to stay connected during their stay.
Tan-Swiss Lodge also offers assistance in organizing safari excursions to Mikumi National Park, visits to the Udzungwa Waterfalls, and cultural tours to nearby Maasai villages, enhancing the overall experience for guests . The staff has been commended for their friendliness and helpfulness, contributing to the lodge’s welcoming atmosphere.
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Breakfast at Tan Swiss Lodge Mikumi
Breakfast included homemade bread (think: pain de campagne), espresso, bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, and believe it or not, when my friend asked if they had any feta cheese (which we both love), surely enough, they gave us complimentary feta cheese.
My travel companions and I had dinner, took advantage of the very well-stocked bar, and then decided to call it a night.
The next morning we would be up at the crack of dawn for a full-day safari.
Visiting Mikumi National Park in Earnest
The following day for me began with a very hot shower in the neat, clean, spacious bathrooms at Tan-Swiss Lodge (something else that stood out for me), and after a hearty breakfast, off we went in the lodge’s gisty open-air safari vehicle with our guide in tow.
In minutes, we were at the gate of Mikumi National Park. There, we paid the required Mikumi National Park fees.
Mikumi National Park Fees
The Tanzanians in our group paid Tsh. 10,000 each (this was pre-COVID-19), while the non-East Africans paid US$30 per person.
We had all assumed we would be able to pay our park entrance fees in cash. This was not the case. Instead, we had to pay by credit or debit card.
Luckily, I had my debit card on me so with that quickly sorted, we entered the park.
Our Mikumi Safari
September is dry season in Mikumi National Park, so everything was shades of brown.
Some of the grass had been burned to help it grow better once the rainy season began.
The scenery was beautiful and reminded me a lot of the Serengeti plains.
Although many travel guides say that you can only see lions occasionally in Mikumi National Park, we were lucky! Our first interesting animal sighting of the day was a full-maned lion hiding in the brush.