8 Day Tanzania Luxury Fly-in Safari Nyerere National Park & Ruaha

8 Day Tanzania Luxury Fly-in Safari Nyerere National Park & Ruaha | Southern Tanzania Fly-in Safari Nyerere & Ruaha  | 7 Nights Tanzania Luxury Safari Ruaha & Nyerere National Park | Ruaha & Nyerere By Air  8 Day Flying Safari | 8 Days Nyerere (Selous) & Ruaha Parks Fly-in Safari | Luxury Tanzania Safari & Tours, Trips, Travel & Vacations | Southern Circuit Safaris in Tanzania | Tanzania Luxury Safari Holidays & Tours

This 8 day Southern Tanzania Luxury Fly-in Safari combines two of Tanzania’s largest and most untouched National Parks, Nyerere (Selous), and Ruaha. Your thrilling safari adventure begins when you fly from Dar Es Salaam Airport to Nyerere National Park, your home for the next three nights. 

Spend the coming days going on game drives to see the great elephant herds, wild dogs, big cats like lions and leopards, hippos, endangered wild dogs, wildebeest, along with plenty of plains game such as zebras, giraffes, and a variety of antelopes. 

You will also visit the Rufiji River, the largest river in East Africa and home to the largest crocodile and hippo populations on the continent.

Next, you take a bush flight to Ruaha National Park and spend your time going on game drives, exploring the river, and identifying the many different bird species. Experience a delicious bush dinner or picnic lunch while observing the magnificent hippos frolicking in the river.

In Ruaha, we are almost sure to encounter elephants, buffalos, and lions (three of Africa’s Big Five), and possibly leopards too. Other commonly sighted animals in Ruaha include wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, and antelopes of various kinds. Ruaha National Park is also known for its large elephant and buffalo populations as well as the exceptionally high number of predators.

After 4 nights in Ruaha, transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Dar es Salaam Airport where your safari adventure will come to an end.

Day 1: Dar es Salaam – Fly to Nyerere National Park

On day one of our Southern Tanzania Safari you fly from the metropolis of Dar es Salaam to the wild Nyerere National Park. Touching down at the airstrip of Nyerere your guide is there to collect you and transfer you to our first camp in an open-sided 4×4 safari vehicle.

Arriving at the riverside camp your guide will brief you on the safari adventures ahead. Then it’s time for a delectable lunch, followed by a leisurely boat cruise in the afternoon. Then, return to the safari camp nestled in the trees along the Rufiji River and watch for hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birds. After dinner you can relax around the campfire enjoying the unspoilt setting at this unique camp, bordering on Selous Game Reserve.

Accommodation: Selous River Camp (or similar)
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner

Days 2 & 3: Explore Nyerere National Park

Spend days two and three exploring Nyerere National Park on 4×4 game drives in an open-sided safari vehicle. Nyerere National Park (formerly the northern part of Selous Game Reserve, pronunciation: “Seluu”) is the largest national park in Tanzania (a staggering size of 30,893km2).

Nyerere National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 for its exceptional value as one of the largest undisturbed wilderness areas in Africa. This massive game reserve incorporates unspoilt mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and plains. Nyerere National Park is also noted for its high plant and wildlife diversity.

On our game drives, we get to experience the diverse habitats of Selous, from grassland plains and wetlands to woodlands and riverine forests. We stop to watch animals and birds, take photos and have picnic lunches at scenic spots overlooking the lakes.

What animals will we see in Nyerere National Park? Common wildlife sightings include hippos, endangered wild dogs, wildebeest, and lions, along with plenty of plains game such as zebras, giraffes, and a variety of antelopes. Selous game reserve is home to the Big Five of Africa.

In addition to lions, buffalos and elephants are commonly sighted. Leopards are occasionally seen but rhinos are only found in the southern part of Selous. There are plenty of crocodiles and spotted hyenas so chances of spotting these carnivores are high. Antelope species include sable, puku, greater kudu, eland, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, bushbuck, duiker, klipspringer, oryx, waterbuck, and an abundance of impalas.

At the end of our exciting days of game viewing in Nyerere National Park, we return to the lodge for a refreshing dip in the pool and sundowners next to the Rufiji River. The Selous River Camp is located in a natural woodland area on the border of the Nyerere National Park, making it an ideal base.

Accommodation: Selous River Camp (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Nyerere – Fly to Ruaha National Park

This morning we return to the airstrip near Nyerere National Park and catch a flight directly to Ruaha National Park. Landing at Ruaha you are collected from the airstrip and transferred to our next camp. Upon arrival, your guide provides a short brief on what to expect, followed by a tasty lunch.

In the afternoon you embark on your first open 4×4 game drive in the wild Ruaha National Park. This lesser-known safari destination is considered one of East Africa’s hidden gems, hosting diverse wildlife, birds, and flora. It offers a far more remote safari experience than the often-crowded, famous game parks of northern Tanzania.

In Ruaha, we are almost sure to encounter elephants, buffalos, and lions (three of Africa’s Big Five), and possibly leopards too. Other commonly sighted animals in Ruaha include wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, and antelopes of various kinds.

We stay at a Kwihala Camp, Jabali Ridge, Mwagusi Camp, Mdonya Old River
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5, 6 & 7: Ruaha National Park

The next few days are dedicated to wildlife viewing in Ruaha, Tanzania’s best-kept safari secret. The game viewing program is flexible allowing you to choose the timing and type of safari activities that suit you best. Pick between full-day or half-day game drives (included cost) and picnic lunches in the bush or hot lunches back at camp.

Optional activities available at an extra cost include walking safaris in Ruaha, night game drives, and even hot-air balloon safaris!

The Ruaha National Park is known for its large elephant and buffalo populations as well as the exceptionally high number of predators found here. Lions are especially abundant in Ruaha, which is said to host the second largest lion population on the planet. This is also a stronghold for endangered African wild dogs, as well as hosting impressive cheetah populations and numerous leopards.

Ruaha is situated in a transitional zone where eastern and southern ecosystems overlap resulting in an unusual mix of habitats and accompanying inhabitants, hence its remarkable diversity of plants, animals, and birds.

It is one of the few parks where both greater and lesser kudu can be found, as well as rare sable and roan antelopes. Ruaha also offers outstanding bird watching opportunities given the diversity and abundance of species. Over 580 bird species have been recorded, rare and endangered species included.

We stay at a Kwihala Camp, Jabali Ridge, Mwagusi Camp, Mdonya Old River
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8: Ruaha – Fly to Dar es Salaam

Wake up in the heart of the untamed African bush one last time and tuck into a hearty breakfast. Then, we set off on our final game drive in Ruaha as we exit the park and return to the airstrip. Leaving Ruaha we fly back to Dar es Salaam where our Southern Tanzania Safari adventure comes to a close.

Meals included: Breakfast

8 Day Tanzania Luxury Fly-in Safari Nyerere National Park & Ruaha includes;

All logistics starting and ending at Dar es Salaam International Airport + All light-aircraft flights (Dar es Salaam – Nyerere National Park – Ruaha National Park – Dar es Salaam) + Private road transfers from airport to hotel in Dar es Salaam + Qualified resident guides + All park fees and taxes +Shared safari activities + All meals and house drinks, soft drinks, tea, coffee, bottled water, local beer and house wine on safari and medical evacuation insurance

* Our 8 day Ruaha & Selous combined Safari by Air package is available year-round, subject to availability of accommodation and internal flights

Optional Extras and Excursions