A budget-friendly private safari travelling to Tanzania's less-crowded Southern Game Parks in a 4x4 safari vehicle. Explore Mikumi National Park on a full-day wildlife safari crossing the open plains in search of elephants, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest and even lions, amongst other animals. Then go hiking in the dense forests of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, a biodiversity hotspot hosting rare and endemic primate, bird and plant species.
Enjoy an affordable, small group African safari staying at comfortable lodges while discovering Tanzania's less-visited southern game parks on private game drives.
Jambo and welcome to Tanzania! Your guide meets up with you in Dar es Salaam where your Southern Tanzania Private Safari adventure begins.
Leaving the big city behind this morning we drive west then south-west to reach Mikumi National Park in the Morogoro Region. This afternoon we reach our first lodge, just outside of Mikumi Park. Settle in and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the pool.
On day two we get up bright and early for a full day of game viewing in Mikumi National Park. We spend the day exploring Mikumi in our 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, spotting wildlife and taking photographs.
Mikumi is one of the largest game parks in Tanzania covering about 3 230 km² (1 247 mi²) of wilderness. Elephants, buffalos, zebras, and wildebeests are commonly sighted, along with various antelope species such as impala, kudu, hartebeest, and eland. Other animals to keep an eye out for in Mikumi are lion, giraffe, hippo, hyena, wild dogs, warthogs, baboons, and more.
Over 300 species of birds have also been recorded in Mikumi Park, making it an excellent birding destination. The protected area consists largely of seasonal floodplains covered with grasslands that are similar to the savannahs of the Serengeti, dotted with thorn trees and baobabs. The park also features Miombo woodlands on its low hills, as well as swamp and riverine forest areas. Mikumi borders on the massive Selous Game Reserve to the south and Udzungwa Mountains National Park to the east forming part of a larger ecosystem.
After an exciting day of wildlife viewing in Mikumi, we return to our lodge watching the sunset over the African bush along the way.
Today we take a short drive to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. This lesser-known southern Tanzanian game park is a biodiversity hotspot hosting numerous endemic birds, plants, and primates.
After settling in at our lodge bordering on the national park we take a hike up to the Sanje Waterfalls. This beautiful waterfall has three sections, falling 30m, 70m, and 170 meters. We walk through dense forests as much of the park features tropical and mountain forests along with some woodlands, grasslands, and steppe habitats. Udzungwa hosts over 400 bird species so keep your eyes open twitchers. We may also see primates including baboons, vervet monkeys, and rare species such as the endemic Iringa red colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey. Then there are endemic amphibians, reptiles, and butterflies that we may spot too. There are also about 2500 plant species in the 1990 km² (770 mi²) Udzungwa Mountains National Park with a quarter of these being endemic species.
After our walk in the lush mountains, we return to our forest lodge known locally as Hondo Hondo, the Swahili for 'hornbill'.
After breakfast on day four of our Southern Tanzania Safari we head out on a morning walk in the diverse forest.
Then it's time to pack up and hit the road, returning to coastal Dar es Salaam where our African adventure started.
You can add an optional beach holiday to Mafia Island and/or Zanzibar to this Private Tanzania Safari at an additional cost. Contact us for details about these reasonably-priced Tanzania beach trips.
If the preferred accommodation listed on this itinerary is not available, similar accommodation of the same quality is used, and we'll let you know.
This Private Tanzania Safari can be customized to suit your needs and preferences. Our travel experts can tailor this safari for you by changing the accommodation and adding destinations, extra days, activities, and more. To customize, contact us.
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
This tour does take children.
Children are welcome on this Private Tanzania Safari. For children's rates and tour details, please contact African Budget Safaris.
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