Overview: Best Arusha - Ruaha - Selous Game reserve - Mikumi - Udzungwa mountains safaris
Discover the spectacular beauty of southern Tanzania on an unforgettable 9-day safari adventure combining incredible wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, exciting game drives, and beautiful mountain scenery. This remarkable journey takes travelers through Arusha, Ruaha National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park, and the magnificent Udzungwa Mountains, offering a unique opportunity to explore Tanzania’s diverse natural environments.
Arusha provides a wonderful starting point for this adventure, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and views of Mount Meru. The city is an important gateway to Tanzania’s safari destinations and offers an introduction to the country’s welcoming atmosphere, local culture, and natural beauty. Travelers can enjoy the surrounding scenery and prepare for an exciting exploration of southern Tanzania’s remarkable wildlife and wilderness areas.
Ruaha National Park is one of Tanzania’s most impressive wildlife destinations, celebrated for its vast wilderness, rugged landscapes, and remarkable biodiversity. The park features open savannahs, river systems, baobab trees, and beautiful rocky hills. Ruaha is particularly famous for its large elephant populations and excellent opportunities to encounter lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and various antelope species. The Great Ruaha River provides an important source of water, attracting wildlife and creating rewarding opportunities for game viewing, especially during the dry season. Its remote atmosphere and expansive landscapes make Ruaha an excellent destination for travelers seeking an authentic African safari experience.
Selous Game Reserve, now largely protected within Nyerere National Park, offers another extraordinary wildlife experience in southern Tanzania. This vast wilderness is known for its riverine habitats, woodland landscapes, open plains, and impressive wildlife diversity. Visitors may encounter elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions, wild dogs, and numerous bird species. The Rufiji River is one of the region’s major attractions, providing opportunities for scenic boat safaris where available and under suitable conditions. Exploring this remarkable ecosystem allows travelers to appreciate Tanzania’s natural heritage from different perspectives, including wildlife viewing along the river and through the surrounding wilderness.
Mikumi National Park offers beautiful open grasslands, scattered acacia trees, and diverse wildlife habitats. Its landscape is often compared to the African savannah, creating excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and game drives. Visitors may see elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, and other antelope species. Lions and other predators may also be encountered during safari activities. The park’s varied scenery and wildlife make it an appealing destination for travelers exploring Tanzania’s southern safari circuit.
The adventure continues into the Udzungwa Mountains, a spectacular region known for its lush forests, dramatic mountain scenery, rich biodiversity, and beautiful waterfalls. Unlike the open savannahs of the national parks, Udzungwa offers a refreshing experience surrounded by tropical vegetation, forest trails, and impressive natural landscapes. Guided hiking opportunities allow visitors to explore the forest, discover unique plant species, observe birds and monkeys, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the mountains. The region is particularly attractive to nature lovers, hikers, and travelers interested in Tanzania’s remarkable ecological diversity.
This combination of destinations creates a safari experience that goes beyond traditional wildlife viewing. From the expansive landscapes of Ruaha and the river ecosystems of Selous to the open plains of Mikumi and the tropical forests of Udzungwa, travelers can experience the extraordinary contrasts of Tanzania’s natural environment. Each destination offers its own distinctive scenery, wildlife, and opportunities for adventure.
Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast, a nature photographer, a couple seeking a memorable holiday, or an adventurous traveler looking to explore Tanzania’s less crowded safari destinations, this journey offers an exciting combination of wildlife encounters, scenic exploration, and outdoor activities.
Experience the beauty of Tanzania’s southern wilderness, discover remarkable wildlife, explore magnificent landscapes, and enjoy the unforgettable atmosphere of the African bush on this extraordinary 9-day safari adventure.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha
Upon arrival in Arusha, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel. Arusha is a popular starting point for Tanzania safaris and offers beautiful views of Mount Meru and the surrounding landscapes.
Depending on your arrival time, you may explore the town, visit local markets or relax at your accommodation. Later, your guide will brief you about the upcoming safari, including the destinations, wildlife experiences and travel arrangements.
Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Arusha as you prepare for your adventure through Tanzania's southern wilderness.
Accommodation: Arusha hotel or lodge
Meals: Depending on arrival time
Day 2: Arusha to Ruaha National Park
After breakfast, depart Arusha for Ruaha National Park, one of Tanzania's largest and most remarkable wildlife destinations. Due to the long distance, a pre-arranged domestic flight is recommended to make the journey more comfortable and allow more time for wildlife viewing.
Upon arrival, transfer to your lodge or tented camp and enjoy lunch, depending on your arrival schedule. In the afternoon, head out for your first game drive through Ruaha's beautiful landscapes of baobab trees, open plains and woodland.
Look out for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and antelopes, while your experienced guide helps you search for predators such as lions and leopards.
Return to your accommodation for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Ruaha lodge or tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Ruaha National Park
Start your day with an early breakfast before heading into Ruaha National Park for an exciting wildlife safari. The park is famous for its large elephant populations, impressive baobab landscapes and diverse wildlife.
Explore different habitats in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, greater kudu and other antelope species. You may also encounter leopards and a wide variety of birdlife.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in a designated area or return to camp, depending on the planned route. Continue your afternoon game drive, taking advantage of opportunities to photograph wildlife and admire the changing scenery.
In the evening, return to your lodge or tented camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Ruaha lodge or tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Ruaha National Park to Selous/Nyerere Area
After breakfast, leave Ruaha and travel towards the Selous wilderness, largely protected today within Nyerere National Park. This destination is known for its extensive wilderness, river systems, woodlands and exceptional wildlife diversity.
The transfer should be arranged in advance, preferably using a suitable domestic flight connection where available, or a carefully planned road transfer.
Upon arrival, check in at your lodge or tented camp and enjoy lunch according to your schedule. Depending on your arrival time and the camp's location, you may have an opportunity for an afternoon wildlife activity or time to relax surrounded by nature.
Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in the Selous/Nyerere area.
Accommodation: Nyerere-area lodge or tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Wildlife Safari and Rufiji River Boat Experience
After breakfast, enjoy an exciting day exploring the natural beauty of the Selous/Nyerere wilderness. Depending on the permitted activities and your accommodation's location, begin with a guided boat safari along the Rufiji River.
During the boat excursion, look for hippos, crocodiles and numerous waterbirds along the riverbanks. The peaceful river scenery offers wonderful opportunities for wildlife photography and observing animals in their natural environment.
Later, enjoy a game drive through the surrounding wilderness in search of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and predators. Your guide will explain the area's ecosystems and the importance of wildlife conservation.
Return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Nyerere-area lodge or tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Selous/Nyerere Area to Mikumi National Park
After breakfast, depart for Mikumi National Park, travelling through the scenic countryside of southern Tanzania. Along the way, enjoy views of rural settlements, green hills and agricultural landscapes.
Upon arrival, check in at your lodge or tented camp and have lunch, depending on your travel schedule. If time permits, enjoy an afternoon game drive across Mikumi's open savannah plains.
The park is home to elephants, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, buffaloes, impalas and lions. Its open landscapes provide excellent opportunities to observe wildlife and capture memorable photographs.
Return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Mikumi lodge or tented camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Mikumi Safari and Transfer to Udzungwa Mountains
Rise early for a morning game drive in Mikumi National Park, when wildlife may be active across the grasslands. Explore the Mkata Floodplain and surrounding habitats while searching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes and other wildlife.
After your morning safari, return for breakfast or enjoy a packed meal, depending on the lodge arrangements. Continue with a short additional wildlife drive if time allows, then travel towards Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
Upon arrival near Udzungwa, settle into your accommodation and prepare for the following day's rainforest adventure. Enjoy dinner and a peaceful evening surrounded by the natural beauty of the area.
Accommodation: Lodge or guesthouse near Udzungwa Mountains
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Udzungwa Mountains Hiking and Sanje Waterfalls
After an early breakfast, meet your local guide and begin a guided hike through Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The park is famous for its tropical rainforest, remarkable biodiversity, endemic primates and spectacular waterfalls.
Follow forest trails through lush vegetation while listening to birds and watching for wildlife, including the endemic Udzungwa red colobus and Sanje mangabey, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Continue towards the beautiful Sanje Waterfalls, where cascading water and scenic viewpoints create an unforgettable nature experience. Take time to enjoy the surroundings, capture photographs and rest before returning along the trail.
After the hike, return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Lodge or guesthouse near Udzungwa Mountains
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Udzungwa Mountains to Dar es Salaam
Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation before departing for Dar es Salaam. During the journey, admire the beautiful countryside, rural communities and changing landscapes of southern Tanzania.
Upon arrival in Dar es Salaam, you will be transferred to your hotel or Julius Nyerere International Airport, depending on your travel arrangements and flight schedule.
Your nine-day Tanzania Southern Circuit Safari comes to an end after an unforgettable journey through Ruaha's wildlife-rich wilderness, the Selous/Nyerere river ecosystem, Mikumi's open savannah and the lush rainforest of Udzungwa Mountains.
Accommodation: Not included unless requested
Meals: Breakfast
Book This Safari
Included services in itinerary
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Included in itinerary
- Game drive included
- Accommodation services
- Drinks & Refreshments
- Photography Opportunities
- Entrance Fees Included
- Itinerary Planning
- Professional English-speaking safari guides
- Full Communication Equipment in Safari Vehicles
Excluded
- Tips and Gratuities not included