Southern Tanzania Wilderness

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.