10 Days Tanzania Southern Safari Circuit
This incredible Tanzania Safari will take you on an unforgettable adventure through Tanzania’s southern wildlife hotspots of Nyerere, Mikumi, Ruaha, and the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Experience thrilling adventures on full-day and half-day wildlife drives, boat safaris, and walking safaris, all with breathtaking views of wildlife, birds, and incredible ecosystems. Travel from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere (Selous) Game Reserve, which is home to elephants, wild dogs, massive crocodiles, and an abundance of bird life, before continuing to Mikumi National Park.
Then head to Ruaha National Park, where you can go on a walking safari and see the big four and large cats, as well as crocodiles, zebras, impalas, and a variety of other animals. Udzungwa Mountains National Park, on the other hand, provides exciting trekking trails as well as bird and primate viewing. This 10 Days Tanzania Southern Safari Circuit begins and ends in Dar es Salaam. Aside from fantastic game-viewing adventures, enjoy affordable and comfortable lodgings tailored to your preferences in prime wildlife viewing areas.
10 Days Tanzania Southern Safari Circuit Itinerary
Day 1: Dar-es-Salaam to Nyerere (Selous) National Park.
Meet and greet with our company representative at Dar-es-Salaam Airport before driving to Nyerere National Park, which will take approximately 3 hours. Arrive in the afternoon and check into your campsite, followed by lunch and some relaxation time. Later, take a boat cruise along the Rufigi River and see hippos, crocodiles, and other land mammals on the riverbanks. Nyerere National Park is one of the world’s largest animal sanctuaries, spanning 30,893 square kilometres. The park is more remote and pristine, allowing for some spectacular game viewing and wildlife photography without the intrusion of a large number of safari vehicles. The Rufigi River, which flows into the Indian Ocean, runs through the park and serves as the primary source of survival for both the park and its thriving wildlife. You will also see a variety of aquatic birds while on the cruise. Return to your campsite afterward. Dinner and overnight at Rufigi River Camp (meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Day 2 : Nyerere National Park
Start your day with a cup of coffee or tea at 6:30 a.m., followed by a full-day 4×4 game drive through Nyerere National Park. Nyerere National Park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 after being recognised as one of Africa’s most intact wilderness areas, with few signs of human intervention. This vast reserve includes a variety of terrains and ecosystems, such as mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and plains, which provide habitat for hundreds of animal and bird species. The park is home to several large animals, including Africa’s Big 5: elephants, buffaloes, lions, and the more elusive leopards. The rhinos, on the other hand, can be found in the park’s southern area. Giraffes, zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, kudus, hippos, crocodiles, spotted hyenas, jackals, bushbucks, oryx, duikers, and elands are just a few of the animals you might see on your game drive. After the morning game drive, you will return to your camp for some relaxation and lunch while watching animals drink by the banks.
In the evening, enjoy dinner and an African bonfire under the stars. Overnight stay at Rufigi River Camp. (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.)
Day 3: Nyerere National Park.
After breakfast, you will depart for another day of wildlife viewing, beginning with a morning game drive with a good chance of seeing many more predators. Return to your lodge and eat lunch. You can spend the afternoon at leisure, relaxing by the riverbanks, or return for another game drive. Overnight stay at Rufigi River Camp. (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.)
Day 4: Nyerere to Mikumi National Park.
After breakfast, depart for Mikumi National Park in Tanzania’s Morogoro Region, located east of Dar es Salaam. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and eat lunch. In the afternoon, start your adventure in Mikumi with an afternoon game drive. During a safari, you will see a variety of bird species, zebras, hippos, hartebeests, wildebeests, impalas, warthogs, elands, antelopes, giraffes, buffalo, and elephants. If you’re lucky, you might even spot lions, leopards, and African wild dogs. The game drive will last approximately three hours, and you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Overnight stay at Mikumi Adventure Lodge. (Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.)
Day 5 : Mikumi National Park
Enjoy a full day of game viewing at Mikumi National Park, including a picnic lunch at midday and the opportunity to see more of the park’s wildlife. Mikumi Park is home to elephants, buffaloes, and lions (three of Africa’s five largest animals), as well as wildebeests, crocodiles, jackals, hippos, elands, giraffes, bushbucks, and other antelope. Mikumi National Park also offers excellent birding opportunities, with over 400 recorded bird species. Among many others, look for the lilac-breasted roller, marabou storks, oxpeckers, bateleur eagles, guinea fowls, black-bellied bustards, African fish eagles, straw-tailed whydahs, and more. Overnight stay at Mikumi Adventure Lodge (meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Day 6: Mikumi to Ruaha National Park
Today, after breakfast, we leave for the remote Ruaha National Park. This is approximately 320 kilometres from Mikumi (5 to 6 hours drive). You will drive through the countryside, passing through beautiful valleys and mountains. Following your arrival, you will proceed to your lodge for lunch before embarking on an afternoon wildlife drive. The game drive will last approximately 3 hours before returning to your lodge for dinner. Overnight stay at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge (meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Day 7: Ruaha National Park.
Wake up early at 6:30 a.m. and embark on a full day of game viewing with an early morning game drive, which is the best time to see wildlife. Ruaha is one of Tanzania’s largest national parks, covering approximately 20 226 km2 of pristine wilderness. Although the park sees fewer visitors throughout the year, Ruaha is naturally endowed with a diverse range of wildlife. The park is home to large populations of lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, and elusive leopards, among other big cats and predators. You will also see large herds of elephants and buffaloes, as well as a variety of giraffes, zebras, impalas, hippos, greater and lesser kudus, sable and roan antelopes, and so on. After the morning game drive, enjoy your packed breakfast in the bush and relax. Later, enjoy a picnic lunch and continue your game viewing. You will return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay. Overnight stay at Ruaha Hilltop Loge (meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Day 8: Ruaha to Udzungwa Mountains National Park
From Ruaha, we will travel east to the alpine forests of Udzungwa Mountains National Park in Tanzania, which will take approximately 4 hours. When you arrive, check into your camp, which is set in beautiful green grounds of virgin rainforest with spectacular views of the forest canopy. Udzungwa Mountains National Park, located in the Eastern Arc Mountains, is well-known for its diverse monkey population, which includes the rare Udzungwa Red Colobus, the amazing Sanje Crested Mangabey, and the Black and White Colobus, among others. After lunch, you can choose to spend the afternoon relaxing or going on a short trek. Overnight stay at Udzungwa Forest Camp (meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Day 9: Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
After an early breakfast, we embark on a full-day walk to the Sanje Waterfalls. The trail is 6 kilometres long with a 450-meter elevation gain, making for a 6-hour round trip. Sanje Waterfall is divided into three sections that are 30 metres, 70 metres, and 170 metres tall. The waterfall is surrounded by stunning scenery, including forest cover and the Kilombero floodplain. The hike will take you through dense forests, with breathtaking views of the park’s unique primates, birds, reptiles, and other animals. Baboons and vervet monkeys are common sightings, and two of the six primate species found here are unique to Udzungwa Mountains National Park. These include the Iringa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey. Udzungwa is also home to approximately 400 bird species, including six that are unique to the Eastern Arc Mountains and four that are unique to Udzungwa. Crowned eagles, malachite and woodland kingfishers, Marabou storks, Ruppell’s vultures, the African hoppy, Rufous-winged Sunbird, and both silvery-cheeked and trumpeter hornbills are among the species you’ll see.
Day 10: Udzungwa back to Dar-es-salaam
Today marks the end of your 10-day Tanzania safari. After breakfast at your lodge, set out on a 6- to 7-hour journey back to Dar-es-Salaam, with lunch en route.
End of 10 Days Tanzania Southern Safari Circuit
