By Business Insider Reporter
Mikumi National Park is set to launch a new entrance gate in Kilosa District to improve accessibility for tourists using Tanzania’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) – a move expected to cut travel time, reduce transport costs and stimulate domestic tourism.
Confirming the development, Chief Park Warden Commissioner Augustine Masesa said the new gate will be located just 19 kilometres from the Kilosa SGR station, compared to the current 120-kilometre route from Morogoro.
“We’re developing a new tourist gate in Kilosa, only 19 kilometres from the park boundary,” Masesa said. “This will especially benefit local visitors, allowing easier access to Mikumi without long hours of road travel. It effectively eliminates 101 kilometres from the current journey.”
The decision follows a surge in tourist arrivals via the SGR, signalling Mikumi’s growing popularity – particularly among domestic travellers.
“By 2025, domestic visitors to Mikumi have reached 89,000, compared to 80,000 international tourists,” Masesa noted, underscoring the importance of making the park more accessible to Tanzanians. The project forms part of a broader Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) strategy to improve park infrastructure, expand entry points, and better align with national transportation systems like the SGR. It also reflects a wider national push to promote domestic tourism and deepen citizens’ connection with Tanzania’s wildlife and natural heritage.
