5 Remote places for crowd-free Tanzania & Kenya Safaris

Escape the crowds in these 5 remote places for secluded Tanzania & Kenya Safaris.

These remote wildlife parks are ideal places to get away from it all and experience an authentic African safari. They may not be renowned safari destinations but they are equally, if not more, unforgettable than the more famous national parks of Africa.

Each of them is a unique place to experience the pristine African wilderness and its extraordinary wild animals. Unique and truly wild. Raw and vast. These remote national parks and game reserves are perfect for slowing down and taking in the solitary wild places of Africa on Kenya and Tanzania Safaris.

Remote Places for Tanzania Safaris

1. Selous Game Reserve (now Nyerere National Park) in Tanzania

A truly vast and remote place. Nyerere (formerly Selous) is the largest game reserve in Africa and one of the largest protected areas in the world. It is a secluded and wild game park larger than Switzerland.

This massive Tanzanian game reserve is about 3 times the size of the famous Kruger Park in South Africa and 4 times the size of the legendary Serengeti Park in Tanzania. Yet, Nyerere National Park receives a small fraction of the visitors. It also hosts far fewer safari lodges and camps. All of which makes it ideal for remote Tanzania safaris without crowds. 

Selous Safari, Tanzania Secret Places by James Berridge

Where is Selous/Nyerere National Park?

Nyerere National Park is located in Southern Tanzania about a 5-6 hour drive south of Dar es Salaam.

Nyerere (Selous) is on the Southern Tanzania Safari Circuit, which includes Ruaha National Park, Mahale National Park, and Katavi National Park. This less-visited safari circuit is relatively unknown compared to the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit, which includes Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, and Lake Manyara National Park.

Nyerere Safari Highlights:

• One of the largest protected areas in Africa
• A secluded and crowd-free African safari destination
• Big populations of large mammals including globally significant species such as African elephants, black rhinoceros, and African wild dogs

Selous Safari, Remote Places in Africa

• Large populations of cheetahs, giraffes, hippopotami, buffalos, and crocodiles
• Guided walking safaris (one of the few wildlife parks in East Africa where walking safaris are permitted)
• UNESCO World Heritage Site for its '... undisturbed ecological and biological processes, including a diverse range of wildlife with significant predator/prey relationships' (Selous UNESCO listing). 
• Dramatic landscapes, varied habitats, and exceptional species diversity (animal and plant)
• Over 440 recorded bird species 

When to go to Selous/Nyerere

The best time to visit Selous Game Reserve is the dry, winter season - from June to September. This is when the game viewing is at its best and it is less humid. The malaria risk is also lowest at this time of year.

In the wet season, the roads can get very muddy and many of the lodges close - from March to May in this remote place.

Getting to Nyerere National Park

Flying to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is the best way to get to Selous. From Dar es Salaam it is under an hour's flight to Selous, or about a 5-6 hour drive.

Best Budget Nyerere (Selous) Safaris

• Private Tanzania Safari to Southern National Parks
• Southern Tanzania Fly-in Safari to Selous and Ruaha
• South Tanzania Safari to Nyerere, Ruaha, Mikumi & Udzungwas
• All Budget Selous Safaris 

2. Ruaha National Park in Tanzania

Ruaha is even wilder and less visited than Selous Game Reserve. A massive and very remote place, Ruaha is one of Tanzania's best-kept wildlife secrets.

The largest national park in Tanzania, Ruaha covers a huge swathe of untouched wilderness measuring 20 226 km² (compared to Serengeti's 14 750 km²). And, this vast wilderness area only features a small handful of safari lodges which makes for a more exclusive and secluded African wildlife experience.

Ruaha National Park, Tanzania Safari

Ruaha National Park receives far fewer visitors than both the famous northern parks of Tanzania and Selous. In the low season, you are almost guaranteed to encounter no other people on your Ruaha Safari.

Where is the Ruaha National Park?

Ruaha Park is in Southern Tanzania, some 625 km west of Dar es Salaam. Ruaha is on the Southern Tanzania Safari Circuit, along with Selous, Mahale, and Katavi. 

Ruaha Safari Highlights:

• Remote, wild and untouched wilderness, ideal for authentic and exclusive wildlife adventures
• A massive elephant population of over 10,000 elephants
• Exceptional predator viewing - lions, cheetahs, leopards - hosts 10% of the world's lion population and one of East Africa's four cheetah populations
• Home to the third-largest population of African wild dogs in the world
• Hot air balloon safaris and guided walking safaris

Balloon safari in Ruaha Park

• In a transition zone where southern miombo and eastern savannah ecoregions meet resulting in an exceptionally diverse and unique mix of plant and animal species
• Varied habitats and dramatic scenery, from gentle hills and baobab groves to the Great Ruaha River and open savannahs
• Both the greater and lesser kudu are found here
• Over 500 bird species recorded

When to go to Ruaha National Park

The best time to visit Ruaha is in the dry, winter season - from June to October. As the dry season progresses the animals become more concentrated around the ever-scarcer water sources and thus the game viewing improves. As with Selous, this is also when the malaria risk is lowest in Ruaha.

In the wet season, there are fewer visitors, so you are almost sure not to come across other people on your game drives. Plus, the best time to go to Ruaha for bird watching is from December to April.

Getting to Ruaha National Park

The best way to get to Ruaha is to fly from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, or Kigoma. 

It takes about 10 hours to drive from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha, depending on the condition of the roads and traffic. Overland safaris commonly stop off in Mikumi National Park en route to Ruaha to break this long drive.

Best Budget Ruaha Safaris 

• Southern Tanzania Private Safari to Mikumi & Ruaha Parks
• South Tanzania Safari to Nyerere, Ruaha, Mikumi & Udzungwas
• Southern Tanzania Fly-in Safari to Selous and Ruaha
• Private Tanzania Safari to Southern National Parks

3. Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania

Mahale Park is the best place to track chimpanzees in Africa. A remote and inaccessible national park where densely forested mountains rise up from the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Mahale is also home to the densest primate population in Tanzania.

Remote Mahale Mountains Chimpanzee by Richard Toller

Where is Mahale Mountains National Park?

Mahale Mountains Park is located in a remote region of western Tanzania. It lies in the far west, along the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika.

Mahale Mountains Safari Highlights

• The best place to go chimpanzee trekking in Africa
• An uncrowded wilderness area - a very remote place
• Spectacular mountain scenery with tropical forests along the shores of Lake Tanganyika
• The densest primate population in Tanzania including baboons and various monkeys
• Kayaking, snorkelling, and sunset boat cruises on Lake Tanganyika
• Hiking and camping safaris with armed game rangers
• Only accessible on foot and by boat (no roads or cars)

When to go to Mahale Mountains National Park

The best time to visit Mahale Mountains Park for chimpanzee trekking is during the dry season - from June to October.

If you want to go to Mahale at the quietest time of the year then the green season (November to March ) is best. There are fewer tourists in the rainy season. This is also the best time to visit Mahale on a budget as prices drop in the wet season.

Getting to Mahale Mountains National Park

The best way to get to Mahale Park is to fly from Dar es Salaam or Arusha. In the dry season, there are regularly scheduled flights available with the flights becoming more sporadic in the quiet, rainy season.

The Mahale Mountains can only be accessed by a small plane or boat. which makes getting to the park expensive. There are only a small handful of lodges in this very remote part of western Tanzania.     

Due to its remote and inaccessible location, getting to Mahale Park is generally expensive. African Budget Safaris does not feature any Mahale Safaris for that reason. For budget travelers, we recommend visiting the less remote, and therefore more affordable Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The Udzungwa Mountains Park is also a primate hotspot with beautiful forested mountains and it's a World Biodiversity Hotspot.

Remote Kenya Safari Destinations

4. Samburu National Reserve in Kenya

A pristine and remote African game reserve located in the sparsely-populated northern region of Kenya. This semi-arid wilderness area is home to the unique Samburu people and many rare African animals. Considered one of the best destinations for Kenya Safaris, Samburu's dramatic scenery is another drawcard. 

Samburu gerenuk, Kenya Safari by Ninara

Where is Samburu National Reserve?

Samburu National Reserve is located in northern Kenya, 355 km north of Nairobi. The reserve covers about 165 km² of Samburu County along the Ewaso Nyiro River bordering Buffalo Springs National Reserve to the south. It lies to the north of the Laikipia highlands and Mount Kenya.

Samburu Safari Highlights

• The Samburu Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Somali ostriches, reticulated giraffes, and Beisa oryx
• Camel safaris and walking safaris with Samburu guides, and mountain biking
• Big cats - lions, leopards, and cheetahs, and African wild dogs
• Experience the traditional African culture of the Samburu tribe

Samburu tribe, remote Kenya Safari by Davida De La Harpe

• Home of Elsa (lioness in Born Free by Joy and George Adamson) and Kamunyak (lioness that adopted Oryx calves)
• Elephant herds, buffalos, and hippos, as well as the rare Guenther's dik-dik
• The Ewaso Nyiro River, the largest river in northern Kenya flows almost year-round supporting an abundance of wildlife
• Over 450 bird species recorded

When to visit Samburu National Reserve

Samburu is a year-round safari destination but the best time for game viewing is in the dry seasons. The two dry seasons are from June to October and from December to March. June is the best month to visit in terms of the weather, game viewing, and low season rates.

The rainy seasons are from late March until May (peaking in April) and November. 

Getting to Samburu Reserve

Samburu National Park lies 355 km (220 miles) north of Nairobi, Kenya's capital. It takes about 6 hours to drive from Nairobi to Samburu. There are also daily scheduled flights from Nairobi to Samburu National Reserve so it is easy to fly there.

Best Budget Samburu Safaris 

• Budget Kenya Safaris to Samburu National Reserve (including affordable 4x4 Lodge and Camping Safaris)

Samburu Safari, Kenya, Lioness

5. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya

A leader in community-based wildlife conservation in Kenya. Home to endangered rhinos and Grevy's zebras, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a remote and exclusive safari destination.

Where is Lewa Conservancy?

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located in northern Kenya, a 5-hour drive north of Nairobi. You can fly from Nairobi to Lewa or drive overland.

The wildlife park, also known as Lewa Downs, covers 250 km² of pristine wilderness, north of Mount Kenya.

Lewa Safari Highlights

• Leader in community-based wildlife conservation advancing social and environmental sustainability
• Home to 14% of Kenya's rhino population
• UNESCO World Heritage Site for its high biodiversity, including the largest Grevy's zebra population, and its elephant migration corridor (Lewa UNESCO listing).
• The largest population of endangered Grevy’s zebra in the world
• Over 70 species of mammals including elephants, buffaloes, lions, giraffes, and wild dogs
• Guided horseback, camelback, and walking safaris
• A private and exclusive wildlife safari experience
• More than 440 bird species recorded
• Diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, and woodlands

When to go to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is best visited during the dry season, although the game viewing is good year-round.

During the wet seasons, March to May and October to November the roads become too muddy to use. For this reason, the lodges in and around Lewa tend to close in April and November.

Getting to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

There are both private chartered and scheduled domestic flights available from Nairobi to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Chartered private flights are also available from several other Kenyan safari parks. Alternatively, it takes about 5 hours to drive from Nairobi to Lewa Downs.

There is only one safari camp in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lewa Safari Camp. This is a luxury safari camp and as such African Budget Safaris does not feature any budget safaris to Lewa. We do however arrange bespoke safaris should you wish to visit Lewa on a customized, private tour.

Let us help you experience remote places in Africa

Whether it is Kenya and Tanzania you want to visit on safari or Botswana, South Africa, and beyond, we know the best ways to experience Africa on a budget. Talk to one of our friendly travel experts who knows where the best remote places in Africa are to escape the crowds.

Or view our Budget Kenya Safaris or our Budget Tanzania Safaris for more options.

Selous, Remote Place for Tanzania Safaris