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This 9-day safari explores southern Tanzania, a quieter side of the country with far fewer vehicles than the north. From Dar es Salaam you travel to Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous), on to Ruaha National Park and back through Mikumi National Park. It suits travellers who want walking safaris, a river boat trip and a real chance of seeing African wild dogs.
Day one is a city tour of Dar es Salaam, taking in Kariakoo Market and the harbour, with seafood by the water. Next day you drive to Nyerere for an afternoon boat safari on the Rufiji River among hippos and crocodiles, then a full day with a morning walk led by an armed ranger and an afternoon game drive. On day four you transfer to Ruaha, ideally by internal flight, for three nights of drives through baobab country and along the Great Ruaha River, plus a guided walking safari. Days seven and eight are in Mikumi on the open Mkata Floodplain, before the drive of about five hours back to Dar es Salaam. Ask our Arusha team about lodges for each stop and any changes you would like.
Your 9-day adventure across Africa's most spectacular wilderness areas
Arrive in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city and commercial capital on the Indian Ocean coast. After settling into your hotel, enjoy an afternoon city tour taking in the bustling Kariakoo Market and the historic harbour. End the day with a fresh seafood dinner at a waterfront restaurant as dhows glide across the harbour.
Drive south-west to the vast Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), one of Africa's largest protected areas. After checking in to your riverside lodge, board a boat for an afternoon safari on the mighty Rufiji River. Glide past hippo pods, basking crocodiles, and a dazzling array of waterbirds as the golden light illuminates the riverbanks.
Experience the diversity of Nyerere National Park with a morning walking safari led by an armed ranger, bringing you face to face with the African bush on foot. The park is one of the best places in Africa to see endangered African wild dogs. In the afternoon, embark on a vehicle game drive focusing on hippo-filled lakes and the predator-rich woodland zones.
Transfer to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's largest national park covering over 20,000 km². An internal flight is recommended to cover the distance efficiently and enjoy aerial views of the miombo woodland below. After arrival, settle into your safari camp and enjoy an afternoon game drive along the Great Ruaha River, where elephants and predators concentrate.
Explore Ruaha's rugged wilderness on morning and afternoon game drives through baobab-studded landscapes. As the largest park in East Africa, Ruaha supports over 10,000 elephants and one of the continent's healthiest lion populations. The park's remote location means far fewer vehicles, offering an exclusive and intimate safari experience rarely found elsewhere.
Begin with a guided walking safari through the bush, learning to track animals by spoor and reading the signs of the wilderness. After lunch, drive along the Great Ruaha River where predators lie in wait for prey coming to drink — lion prides, leopards, and hyena clans are regularly seen here. The river is the lifeline of Ruaha and the stage for intense predator-prey drama.
Transfer to Mikumi National Park, which borders the northern edge of the Nyerere ecosystem. An internal flight or overland drive through remote southern Tanzania brings you to this accessible yet wildlife-rich park. Enjoy an afternoon game drive on the Mkata Floodplain, Mikumi's open grasslands where buffalo herds and lions are commonly spotted.
Spend a full day exploring Mikumi's open grasslands and woodland habitats. The Mkata Floodplain offers Serengeti-like scenery with large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra watched over by lions and wild dogs. Visit the hippo pools along the Mkata River and explore the miombo woodland fringes where elephants, giraffes, and sable antelope can be found.
Drive back to Dar es Salaam along the main highway through the Uluguru Mountains, enjoying views of rural Tanzania and lush agricultural landscapes. The journey takes approximately five hours and offers a window into everyday Tanzanian life. Connect with your onward travel from Julius Nyerere International Airport.
Ruaha National Park → Ruaha National Park → Ruaha National Park → Ruaha National Park
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Southern Tanzania is quieter, with far fewer vehicles than the north, and it offers activities that are harder to find there, such as walking safaris and river boat trips. This route combines Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park and Mikumi National Park, each with its own landscape. It suits travellers who want a wilder, more remote feel and a real chance of African wild dogs.
On the afternoon of day two you board a boat on the Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park. You glide past pods of hippos, basking Nile crocodiles and many waterbirds as the late light falls on the riverbanks. It is a calm, close-to-the-water way of watching wildlife that most northern safaris cannot offer.
Yes, there are two. On day three in Nyerere National Park you join a morning walking safari led by an armed ranger, and on day six in Ruaha a guided walk teaches you to track animals by their spoor and read signs in the bush. Walking is very different from a vehicle drive, and it slows you down to notice smaller details.
There is a real chance, but no sighting can be promised. Nyerere National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see endangered African wild dogs, and they also roam Mikumi's Mkata Floodplain. Your guide will plan drives around the areas where packs have been active.
Ruaha is Tanzania's largest national park and one of its most remote, with baobab-studded landscapes, large elephant herds and healthy lion prides. You spend three nights there, with game drives along the Great Ruaha River, where predators wait for animals coming to drink, and a guided walking safari. Its remoteness means far fewer vehicles at sightings.
The trip mixes road and air. You drive from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park, and an internal flight is recommended from Nyerere to Ruaha, with aerial views over the miombo woodland. From Ruaha to Mikumi you go by internal flight or overland, and the last day is a drive of about five hours back to Dar es Salaam through the Uluguru Mountains.
The safari starts and ends in Dar es Salaam. Day one is an afternoon city tour of Kariakoo Market and the historic harbour, finishing with a seafood dinner at a waterfront restaurant. On day nine you drive back from Mikumi and connect with your onward travel from Julius Nyerere International Airport.
Mikumi borders the northern edge of the Nyerere ecosystem and is known for the open grasslands of the Mkata Floodplain, which feel similar to the Serengeti. Herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra graze there, watched by lions and wild dogs. You also visit the hippo pools along the Mkata River and the miombo woodland edges, where elephants, giraffes and sable antelope can be found.
Accommodation is chosen with you, so ask our Arusha team about lodges for each stop. The itinerary uses a hotel in Dar es Salaam on the first night, a riverside lodge in Nyerere National Park, a safari camp in Ruaha and accommodation in Mikumi for the last two nights. We will suggest options that fit your budget and the style of stay you prefer.
Pack light, breathable, neutral-coloured clothing for the heat of the south, plus a warm layer for early mornings. For the walking safaris, bring comfortable closed shoes in muted colours. Add a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and binoculars, and use a soft duffel bag for internal flights. Malaria prophylaxis is advised for safari areas, and most visitors need a Tanzanian tourist visa, via the official eVisa portal or on arrival.
The Southern Tanzania Wilderness is 9 days and 8 nights. The day-by-day itinerary on this page shows where you go and stay each day.
This trip visits Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve.
It is rated moderate: a reasonable level of general fitness is enough.
It runs for groups of 2 to 12 travellers.
Included: Full board accommodation at handpicked lodges and camps, All game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs, Professional English-speaking safari guide, Park entry fees for all national parks and conservation areas, Bottled water during game drives, All transfers and transportation and Emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Not included: International flights, Visa fees, Travel insurance (recommended), Alcoholic beverages, Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff, Personal items and souvenirs, Optional activities not mentioned in itinerary and Additional meals and drinks outside of full board.
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