8-Day Southern Tanzania
Safari Itinerary
Mikumi • Udzungwa • Ruaha
This carefully curated 8-day safari showcases the very best of Southern Tanzania, combining classic savannah wildlife, pristine mountain forests, and the remote wilderness of Ruaha. Perfect for travellers who seek a more exclusive safari experience away from the northern circuit crowds.
Southern Tanzania offers a wilder, more remote safari experience compared to the popular Northern Circuit. This region is home to vast, unspoiled reserves where visitor numbers are low, wildlife sightings feel intimate, and the sense of adventure is palpable. From the immense plains of Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) to the dramatic landscapes of Ruaha National Park, Southern Tanzania is the place to go for those seeking an authentic, off-the-beaten-track safari.
Here, you’ll find diverse habitats, fewer crowds, and some of the best opportunities to spot predators and large herds of elephants. Southern Tanzania combines river safaris, walking safaris, and traditional game drives—giving you a richer variety of ways to encounter wildlife than anywhere else in the country.
- Untouched Wilderness: Southern parks cover enormous areas but see far fewer visitors than Serengeti or Ngorongoro, meaning wildlife encounters feel private and exclusive.
- Variety of Activities: Unlike many other Tanzanian parks, here you can enjoy boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walking safaris, and classic game drives.
- Superb Game Viewing: Ruaha is renowned for large prides of lion and significant leopard populations, while Nyerere is famous for wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, and elephants.
- Authentic Adventure: Lodges and camps here are smaller, more intimate, and blend seamlessly into their natural surroundings, enhancing the feeling of being in untouched wilderness.
- Ideal for Repeat Visitors: Perfect for travellers who have already experienced Northern Tanzania and want something more off-grid, or for those seeking a quieter, less commercialised safari.
Itinerary
Arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport where you’ll be welcomed and transferred to your city hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a relaxed evening preparing for the safari ahead.
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This morning, board a scenic flight to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest and wildest safari destination. After settling into your lodge or camp, head out for your first game drive across baobab-dotted landscapes alive with elephants, giraffes, and big cats.
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Spend two full days exploring Ruaha’s diverse habitats. The park is home to the largest elephant population in Tanzania and one of Africa’s highest concentrations of lions. With luck, you may also spot African wild dogs and other rarities. Game drives are complemented by the sense of true wilderness – very few other vehicles are ever in sight.
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Today you fly east to Nyerere National Park, part of one of the largest protected wilderness areas in Africa. After arrival, embark on an afternoon boat safari along the Rufiji River, where crocodiles bask on the banks and hippos wallow in lagoons.
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Enjoy two full days in Nyerere with a mix of safari activities. Game drives reveal lions, wild dogs, and vast herds of buffalo. Boat safaris allow close encounters with aquatic wildlife and birds, while guided walks provide an intimate connection with the bush. This diversity makes Nyerere one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations.
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After a final morning activity, transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Dar es Salaam. Connect with your international flight or extend your holiday with time on Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches.
- Explore the vast wilderness of Nyerere National Park (Selous) and Ruaha National Park
- River safaris on the Rufiji River, spotting hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife
- Game drives with chances to see lion, elephant, wild dogs, and leopard
- Walking safaris for a closer connection to nature
- Intimate tented camps in remote, crowd-free locations
Southern Tanzania offers a range of intimate safari camps and lodges designed to immerse you in the wilderness while still offering comfort and style.
– Nyerere National Park: Riverside tented camps and lodges with boat safari access, such as Roho ya Selous or Siwandu.
– Ruaha National Park: Authentic safari camps like Kigelia Ruaha, or lodges overlooking the Great Ruaha River, offering rustic elegance and superb game viewing right from camp.
Most accommodations here are smaller than their Northern counterparts, with fewer rooms and a more personalised feel. They blend natural materials and open-air designs to make you feel truly part of the wilderness.
The best time to visit Southern Tanzania is during the dry season from June to October, when wildlife is easier to spot as animals gather around rivers and waterholes. This is also the ideal time for boat safaris along the Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park.
– June – October: Peak game viewing, cooler weather, little to no rain, and great predator sightings.
– November – March: Green season with lush landscapes, fewer visitors, and excellent birdwatching. Game is still present but more dispersed.
– April – May: Heavy rains can make travel more difficult, and some camps close during this period.
For the best balance of game viewing and comfort, most travellers choose July through October.
A Southern Tanzania safari pairs perfectly with a beach escape, offering both adventure and relaxation in one journey. After days of exploring the wild landscapes of Ruaha and Nyerere, many travellers choose to unwind on the white sands of Zanzibar, just a short flight away.
For those seeking something more exclusive, Mafia Island offers pristine coral reefs, incredible diving, and seasonal whale shark encounters. This combination of remote wilderness and idyllic Indian Ocean beaches makes Southern Tanzania an unforgettable holiday experience.
Itinerary:
Upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, you’ll be met by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to relax after your flight or explore Tanzania’s bustling port city, a vibrant blend of Swahili culture, markets, and Indian Ocean views.
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Your safari begins with a scenic drive inland to Mikumi National Park, often referred to as the “mini-Serengeti” for its open plains and rich wildlife. On your first game drive, you may encounter elephants, giraffes, lions, wildebeest, and zebras grazing across the floodplains. The backdrop of the Uluguru Mountains makes Mikumi especially photogenic.
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Spend a full day exploring Mikumi’s varied habitats, from acacia woodlands to seasonal wetlands. The Mkata floodplain is a prime location for predator sightings, while birdwatchers can enjoy over 400 recorded species. With fewer visitors compared to the northern parks, game drives here feel wonderfully private and authentic.
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Today you journey to the lush Udzungwa Mountains National Park, part of the Eastern Arc “African Galapagos” for its extraordinary biodiversity and endemic species. Accompanied by a park ranger, hike through tropical rainforest to the majestic Sanje Waterfalls, cascading 170 metres into the valley below. Along the way, look out for rare primates like the Udzungwa red colobus and the Sanje mangabey.
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Travel westward to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest and one of its wildest. The park’s remote landscapes of baobab-studded hills and the Great Ruaha River provide sanctuary for an abundance of wildlife, including the largest elephant population of any Tanzanian park. Afternoon game drive en route to your camp or lodge.
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Immerse yourself in Ruaha’s untamed wilderness with a full day of game drives. This vast park is renowned for its predator populations, particularly lions and leopards, as well as rarer species like wild dogs, sable, and roan antelope. With few other vehicles in sight, Ruaha offers an intimate and adventurous safari experience.
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After a final morning game drive, transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Dar es Salaam. Spend the afternoon at leisure in the city, enjoying seaside views or shopping for crafts.
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Depending on your international flight schedule, you may have time to explore Dar es Salaam further before being transferred to the airport for your journey home.
