9 Day Tanzania Southern Safari Nyerere Mikumi Udzungwa & Ruaha

Day 1: Dar es Salaam – Drive to Nyerere National Park (Selous)

Begining from Dar es Salaam, you will be driven to Nyerere National Park with a picnic lunch en route. The drive takes five to six hours. Mid-afternoon, you will embark on a boat safari along the mighty Rufiji River, bringing you into close contact with hippo, crocodile, and fantastic birdlife.

Crocodiles bask on the river banks or glide into the water as your boat approaches and hippo appear nearby, grunting and blowing water. Check in to your lodge/ camp.

Overnight at the Selous Tented Camp, Selous Mapumziko Lodge, or Selous Serena Camp

Meal Plan {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Explore Nyerere National Park (Selous)

Overnight at the Selous Tented Camp, Selous Mapumziko Lodge, or Selous Serena Camp

Meal Plan {Breakfast, lunch & Dinner}

Day 3: Nyerere – Drive to Mikumi Park

Today our extensive game drive takes us north where we exit Nyerere National Park and head to Mikumi National Park. Established in 1964, Mikumi National Park covers about 3 230 km² (1 247 mi²). On the open grasslands of the Mkata Plains, we are likely to see numerous herbivores including wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, and eland (Africa’s largest antelope), amongst other antelopes.

Elephants are also commonly sighted in Mikumi. We may be lucky enough to see lions and even leopards or wild dogs. Other carnivores found here include jackals, hyenas, and crocodiles. Mikumi hosts over 400 bird species too.

Bird sightings include yellow-throated long claws, bateleur, and African fish eagles, black-bellied bustards, lilac-breasted rollers, marabou storks, oxpeckers, straw-tailed whydahs, and Boehm’s bee-eaters.

Overnight in Camp Bastian Mikumi, Stanley Kopje Camp, or Tan-Swiss Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 4: Mikumi National Park

On day four we embark on 4×4 game drives in Mikumi, going in search of the abundant wildlife and birds found here. Established in 1964, Mikumi National Park covers about 3 230 km² (1 247 mi²).

On the open grasslands of the Mkata Plains, we are likely to see numerous herbivores including wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, and eland (Africa’s largest antelope), amongst other antelopes. Elephants are also commonly sighted in Mikumi.

We may be lucky enough to see lions and even leopards or wild dogs. Other carnivores found here include jackals, hyenas, and crocodiles. Mikumi hosts over 400 bird species too. Bird sightings include yellow-throated long claws, bateleur, and African fish eagles, black-bellied bustards, lilac-breasted rollers, marabou storks, oxpeckers, straw-tailed whydahs, and Boehm’s bee-eaters.

At around sunset, we leave Mikumi Park and return to the lodge for dinner.

Overnight in Camp Bastian Mikumi, Stanley Kopje Camp, or Tan-Swiss Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 5: Mikumi – Drive to Udzungwa Mountains National Park (Hiking in Udzungwa – Sanje Waterfalls)

Day five takes us from the open plains to the lush forests of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The mountainous Udzungwa Park is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and scenic forest hikes. Although this relatively small Tanzanian national park only covers about 1990 km² it incorporates diverse habitats, including tropical rainforest, mountain forest, miombo woodland, steppe, and grassland.

This afternoon we hike up to the impressive Sanje Waterfalls, the highest waterfall in the Udzungwa Mountains. Take a refreshing dip in the pools of the waterfalls and look out for birds and animals in this unique wild habitat. The Udzungwa Mountains are nicknamed the ‘Galapagos Islands of Africa’ given the high levels of endemism and rich biodiversity.

Udzungwa is home to about 10 primate species including three endemic species – the Iringa red colobus, the Matunda galago, and the Sanje crested mangabey. Baboons and vervet monkeys are often seen and we may also spot endemic butterflies, birds, amphibians, and reptiles in this less-visited park.

More than 2500 plant species have also been recorded in the Udzungwa Mountains Park, a quarter of which are only found here. Then there are about 400 species of birds, including several endemic species.

After our beautiful hike in the Udzungwas, we return to our lodge.

Overnight in Udgzungwa Mountain View Camp, Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp, or Udzungwa Falls Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 6: Udzungwa – Drive to Ruaha National Park

After breakfast, we leave the forests and mountains behind making our way further west to the more remote Ruaha National Park of southern Tanzania. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania yet it is known as one of the country’s best-kept secrets. This southern Tanzania national park remains one of the wildest and most unspoilt wilderness areas in Africa.

Reaching Ruaha we proceed to our fully-serviced mobile camp located inside the national park (in season) or a tented lodge bordering on the park. Keep an eye out for huge bull elephants, hunting lions, and leopards lazing in the trees as this is big game territory!

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

Overnight Accommodation Kwihala Camp, Jabali Ridge, Mwagusi Camp, Mdonya Old River, Kichaka Camp or Ruaha Hill Top Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 7 & 8: Explore Ruaha National Park

Today and tomorrow 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 fully-serviced canvased camp inside Ruaha National Park (in season), enjoying a secluded Tanzania safari experience.

Overnight Accommodation Kwihala Camp, Jabali Ridge, Mwagusi Camp, Mdonya Old River, Kichaka Camp or Ruaha Hill Top Lodge
Meal Plan: {Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner}

Day 9: Ruaha – Fly to Dar es Salaam – Depart

We have breakfast at the lodge before driving to the airstrip at Ruaha. Here you catch a flight back to Dar es Salaam taking a picnic lunch along for the journey. Our Southern Tanzania Safari comes to a close back in the big city of Dar es Salaam.

Meal Plan: {Breakfast & Lunch}