Southern Tanzania Game Parks Safari

This tour takes you to the Southern parts of Tanzania, an outstanding, unspoilt travel destination.

Leaving from Dar es Salaam your first destination is Udzungwa National Park renowned for its widespread bio-diversity and oasis-like waterfalls which you get to explore during a hike though the lush rain forests.

Ruaha National Park is the home of roan and sable antelope as well as wild dogs, which have became an endangered species.

The safari continues in Mikumi National Park, boasting game such as lions and leopards. Extra-ordinary sightings of pythons are not a rarity in the area. The last few days are spent in Selous Game Reserve the largest in Africa -famous for another endangered species, the black rhino, with volcanic springs and sporadic lakes!

The Southern Tanzania Game Parks Safari ends back in Dar es Salaam.

Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Udzungwa National Park – Tanzania

Depart from Dar es Salaam early in the morning for Mikumi National Park, where we enjoy a half-day game drive on arrival. This park is famous for its open grasslands and the mountain ranges that border the park. A full spectrum of wildlife can be viewed here including wild dog and over 300 species of bird. We later depart for Udzungwa National Park, where we spend our first evening.

Accommodation: Udzungwa National Park Campsite (tents with basic ablution facilities)
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Hiking in Udzungwa National Park  – Tanzania

After breakfast we depart with a packed lunch for an optional guided walk in Udzungwa Mountain National Park. Depending on the group’s fitness level the walk will last between 3 to 6 hours.

Udzungwa National Park is one of Tanzania’s newest parks, opened to the public in 1992, and one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in Tanzania. Covering an area of 1900 sq km, the uniqueness of this park lies in its biodiversity, in hosting a variety of animals and plant species not found anywhere else in the world. The red colubus and the Sanje crested manabrey, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and sable antelopes are some of the residents of this park. A good range of birdlife is present which includes Rufous winged sunbird, Iringa akalat, Lagden’s bush shrike and Udzungwa partridge. Activities include a hike to the Sanje waterfalls or a climb to the top of the Luhombereo, Udzungwa’s highest peak.

Walk in the lush rain forest and relax at waterfalls and enjoy spectacular views of the southwest plateau (Guide fees to be paid direct on arrival at the gate at approximately U$20 per group). Return to the overnight campsite for dinner and relaxation after an active day two on the Southern Tanzania Game Parks Safari.

Accommodation: Udzungwa National Park Campsite (tents with basic ablution facilities)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Udzungwa National Park to Ruaha National Park – Tanzania

We depart Udzungwa National Park in the morning after breakfast, heading for Ruaha National Park with packed lunch. We take a game drive on arrival at Ruaha en-route to our overnight campsite for day three of the Southern Tanzania Game Parks Safari.

Accommodation: Ruaha National Park Campsite (tents with basic ablution facilities)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 & 5: Ruaha National Park – Tanzania

The next two days are spent in Ruaha National Park, on morning and afternoon game drives. Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's second largest park and hosts a number of wild animals which are rare or absent in the North. The rare animals include the African wild dog, roan and sable antelope and the greater kudu. The Great Ruaha River, which brings life to the park, flows through the eastern side of the park and is home to hippos, crocodiles and a variety of water birds

Accommodation: Ruaha National Park Campsite (tents with basic ablution facilities)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Ruaha National Park to Mikumi National Park – Tanzania

After breakfast we take a morning game drive and depart for Mikumi town, taking a packed lunch for along the way. In the afternoon we visit Mikumi National Park.

Mikumi National Park lies between the Uluguru and Udzungwa Mountains. and is home to buffalos, giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras and leopards. The park is famous for its wild dogs and 6 m long pythons.

Accommodation: Mikumi Campsite (in Mikumi town) (tents with basic ablution facilities)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Mikumi National Park to Selous Game Reserve – Tanzania

After breakfast on day seven we head for Selous Game Reserve, with a packed lunch. This is a long day on the road, but the journey offers interesting views, of African villages and the Rufiji River.

Accommodation: Tagalala Campsite in Selous Game Reserve. (tents with basic ablution facilities)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 & 9: Selous Game Reserve – Tanzania

The next two days are spent game viewing in Selous Game Reserve.

After an early breakfast on day eight of the Southern Tanzania Game Parks Safari, we head into the bush on a walking safari. This game-viewing walk will be accompanied by an armed ranger and takes approximately one to two hours, followed by an afternoon game drive.

After breakfast on day nine, we explore the Rufiji River by boat. On this exciting trip we spot hippos up close, as they emerge from the water snorting. You will also get the opportunity to see crocodiles on the sunning on the riverbanks and watch animals drinking along the river’s edge. We have lunch back at the campsite.

Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest game reserve, covering 55,000 sq km’s – about four times the size of the Serengeti. The reserve hosts over 2,000 species of plants and a great variety of wildlife. Selous is home to between 50,000 and 60,000 elephants and has the highest buffalo population in Africa.

In addition to Africa’s Big Five you can spot zebras, giraffe, cheetah, monkeys, different species of gnu and antelopes, as well as wild dogs. The park is sanctuary to over 350 bird species and reptiles such as crocodiles, snakes and lizards.

Day 8 Accommodation:     Tagalala Campsite in Selous Game Reserve.
Day 9 Accommodation:     Mloka or Mbega Campsite – just outside of     Selous Game Reserve (tents with basic ablution facilities)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Selous Game Reserve to Dar es Salaam – Tanzania

After breakfast at our Selous Game Reserve campsite, you will be transferred back to Dar es Salaam. The Southern Tanzania Game Parks Safari comes to a close with lunch in Dar es Salaam. We hope to see you back on safari in Africa soon!

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

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