Southern Tanzania
The Southern Circuit embodied Tanzania in her most virgin form off the compacted pathway, away from the crowds of tourists and the sound of other safari vehicles where you will find abundant wildlife untouched by human interaction, where the night sky astonishes with millions of stars, and a part of the continent which is safe and sound by time
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is one of the few Tanzania’s famous wilderness areas where one can have a rare experience of game viewing spiced up by the attractive landscape. The Park is rich of plants and animals such as Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), which cannot be found in any other national park. The Park boasts of her almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem, making visitors’ safari experience very unique.
Ruaha National is the biggest National Park in Tanzania, the name Great Ruaha River as other rivers like Mwagusi, Jongomero and Mzombe save as the life line of the park. During dry season, these rivers become mostly the main source of water for wildlife. There are few natural springs saving the same purpose.
Situated right in the heart of Tanzania Ruaha National Park is one of Tanzania’s best-kept secrets covering more than 20,226km² Ruaha National Park is one of the largest parks of the country. The name of the park came from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its south-eastern margin at the Ruaha Region, which is surrounded by many reserved areas and National Park
It’s one of the few places where you can see greater and lesser kudu together, as a less crowded and has a staggering amount of unspoiled wilderness, with more than 10% of the world’s remaining lion population. The Park is considered as the “heaven of the predators” which is home to a good population of lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, jackal, spotted hyena and other smaller predators. And the diverse number of animals ‘wild bull, reedbuck, and waterbuckare spotted in the Parks. The crocodile, hippo and clawless otter can be found in the water and on the banks of the Ruaha
Diversified habitats and landscapes make the park an iconic attraction of Tanzania. A large number of lions and over 10,000 elephants can be spotted at the national park.
Incredible birdwatching with over 500 species
The Park has two (2) airstrips Msembe, and Jongomeru Airstrip,
BEST TIME TO VISIT
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May to October, wildlife viewing is easier since the bush thins out and animals gather around rivers and waterholes, skies are bright with almost no rain
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January to April, The scenery is green and full, it’s time for migrating birds means bird-watching is at its finest and it fewer crowds
WHAT TO DO!
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Wildlife Safari
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Birding Safari
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Walking Safari
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Culture tour around village
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Budget and Luxury Safari
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Historical and culture sites
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Hot air Balloon Safari Experience
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Night game drive
GETTING THERE
Safaris to Ruaha usually start from Dar es Salaam, and your point of entry for the country will be Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ) or Kilimanjaro international airport (JRO). The Park is accessible by
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By road from Dar es Salaam airport to Ruaha which takes about 10 hours in a dusty and bumpy road. Also from near regional Dodoma, Iringa, Mbeya
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By chartered or scheduled flight from Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Zanzibar to the park's airstrip or Iringa airport. There are also flights connecting all parks of the southern circuit safari. Direct flight from Serengeti
ACCOMMODATIONS
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There are quite a good number of accommodations available inside and outside of the national park for both the luxury traveller and budget travellers. There are park and privately owned facilities
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Park facilities includes, RuahaSelf catering tourist bandas, Special and public camping sites, Rest house, Hostel for school groups, Family cottage
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Private facilities. Inside the parkthere several semi- luxury and luxury tented camps and lodge. And also several budget to semi-luxury lodge and camps just outside the Ruaha National Park.
Nyerere National Park
Nyerere National Park was established in November 2019 from part of the Selous Game Reserve Selous game reserve is one of Africa’s largest parks, but most of it has been set aside for hunting. The animal viewing area that is open to the public is relatively small but very rewarding, with many predator sightings and superb boat safaris on the Rufiji River
The Selous Game Reserve was established in 1922 and named after Sir Frederick Courtney Selous, a famous big game hunter, British officer, conservationist, and explorer. In 1982, it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Game Reserve is the largest faunal reserves in the world, covering 50,000 Km2.
The Selous Game Reserve is one of the few places that can combine both land and river safaris along the Rufiji River and is teeming with hippo and crocodile and the birdlife is fantastic.
It’s now called Nyerere National Park
The game drive allows you to go off-road to have a better game view, but the off-road driving is monitored by the authorities and done in a responsible manner.
It the home of more over 580 bird species can be spotted in the national park. And its best place to meet the highest concentration of Africa wild dogs left in the world, the number of concentrations elephants, giraffe, buffalo, black rhinoceros, zebra, wildebeest, and impala can always be spotted as well as lions, leopards, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, are widely spotted.
The Park has the highest density of Lions in Africa, which tend to laze around the lakes waiting for animals coming to drink. Also, the Africa’s oldest and largest protected wildlife areas. The Park has relatively undisturbed ecological and biological processes as well as showcase a significant predator/prey relationship and a great diversity of vegetation, including groundwater forests, swamps, and lowland rain forests.
WHAT TO DO!
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Boat Safari
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Walking Safari
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Wildlife Safari
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Birding Safari
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Culture tourism
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Fly-camping Safari
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Sundowner, Bush lunch and Dinner
GETTING THERE!
Most safaris to Selous are fly –in packages from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar Island, also as a part of a bigger package from Dar es Salaam, including a visit to the Mikumi National Park, RuahaNational Park and Udzungwa National Park.
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By scheduled or chartered flight from Dar es Salaam International Airport (DAR) or Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ). But also schedule flight from other Parks to reach the Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve).
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By road from Dar es Salaam to Selous Game Reserve
BEST TIME TO VISIT
There are broadly 2 seasons that can be experienced at Selous Game Reserve like all other places of Tanzania.
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Dry season (June to October),best time to visit Selous as the wildlife gathers near waterholes and rivers due to the less vegetation, also elephants andlions are quite easy to spot as they come out of the bush.
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Wet season (End of November to May) which makes the wildlife viewing really hard; however, this season attracts birders as there are a lot of migrating birds that can be spotted in the wet season.
ACCOMMODATION
Offers a superb and an extremely high standard of accommodation, personal service ranged from budget, mid-range and luxury lodges located on the back of Rufiji River Inside and outside the Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve).
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park, is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national parkestablished in 1964, covers an area of 3,240Km2. It’s also the most accessible by road from Dar es Salaam airport, Dodoma city, Morogoro city and by flight from Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. With almost guaranteed wildlife sightings, it makes an ideal safari destination for those without much time.
The Mikumi National Park located near MorogoroTanzania, borders the Selous Game Reserve, Uluguru Mountain and Udzungwa National Park, and the three locations make a varied and pleasant safari circuit.
Mikumi National Park is one of the most popular parks in Tanzania for researchers on ecology and conservation. The frequently observed animals include lion, leopard, civet, eland, impala, kudu, reedbuck, buffalo, warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest, giraffe, elephant, zebra, crocodiles, monitor lizard, baboon, hippos, and python and it’s a homeland of more than 400 bird species include hartebeest and ostriches. The vegetation of the area consists of some of the rare palm, acacia, baobab, and tamarinds trees.
The Park contains a subspecies of giraffe that is often linked between the Maasai giraffe and the reticulated or Somali giraffe. It a homeland to 30-40% of endemic, rare and endangered species of plants and animals. Spotting rare antelope like eland, more prominent kudu and sable
Mikumi National Park often gets compared with Serengeti National Park due to the similar landscapes
WHAT TO DO
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Wildlife Safari
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Culture tour and Walking Safari,
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Camping Safari, Bird watching Safari
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Visit nearby Udzungwa or travel on to Selous or Ruaha.
GETTING THERE
A good surfaced road connects Mikumi to Dar es Salaam international airport via Morogoro, Also Road connections to Udzungwa, Ruaha, and Dodoma and to Selous.
Scheduled or Charter flight from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha or Selous.
ACCOMMODATION
Amazing budget, friendly and mid-range accommodation
Few lodges, camps, Mikumi Bandas and three campsites located inside the park. Lodge, Guest houses, campsite located in Mikumi town on the park border.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Accessible all year round. However, the dry season is an excellent time to visit the park
Udzungwa Mountain National Park
Udzungwa National Park is a Paradise for hikers and travelers alike, it is the largest and with most biodiversity and a chain of a dozen large forest-swathed mountains that rise wonderfully from the flat coastal scrub of eastern Tanzania. Known collectively as the Eastern Arc Mountains which is believed to be formed around approximately 200 million years ago, this archipelago of remote-chains has also been named as the African Galapagos for its treasure-trove of endemic plants and animals, most familiarly being the delicate African violet
Brooding and primeval, the forests of Udzungwa seem positively enchanted: a verdant refuge of sunshine-dappled glades enclosed by 30-metre (100 foot) high trees, their protections layered with fungi, lichens, mosses and ferns.
Udzungwa national park in Tanzania covering up an area of 1,990 Km2, forests range from 250m to 2,576m and with numerous forest trails, offering different kinds of activities, from great view of prairies, shakes, streams fall, and an astonishing mountains scene as among the ancient ranges of the Eastern Arc.
Home to 2,500 plant species and for more than 400 bird species, and more than 6 species of primates, 2 rarest species of primates red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey spotted on the park
The trail allows the travelers access to the stunning 170 m waterfall and offers swimming in the waterfall as part of the activity. The park is bordered by the Great Ruaha River to the north, Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve located further to the north and east.
WHAT TO DO
Mountain Climbing (trekking)
Birding Safari, Walking and culture safari
Camping Safari, Biking Safari, Home stay Safari
GETTING THERE.
The Park is easier accessible by road from Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Mikumi town and Morogoro.
The flight option is also available from Dar es Salaam Airport or Zanzibar fly to Mikumi National Park, and then transfer to Udzungwa
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Possible all year round although slippery during rainy seasons. The dry season is June-October before the short rains however be prepared for rain anytime.
ACCOMMODATION
The Park offer limits number of lodges and camps, and only camping inside the park
With only two modest but comfortable lodges with en-suite rooms within 1km of the park entrance
Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park, is the only national park of East Africa that boasts an Indian Ocean beachfront. The national park is perfect for a beach holiday as well as offers a unique game drive. Saadani is home to a wide range of grazers and primates that includes Lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalo, warthogs, customary waterbucks, reedbucks, hartebeests, wildebeests, red duikers, increasingly important kudus, elands, sable pronghorns, yellow mandrills, and vervet monkeys as well as you can spot a good number of water animals like hippos, crocodiles, and sea dolphins.
The Park is situated between Dar es Salaam and Tanga alongside India ocean, which was a game reserve since 1969, covers up an area of 1,062Km2, The Park is the only wildlife sanctuary of Tanzania that combines the grassland and shoreline. The land is home to a wide range of grazers and primates that includes Kudu, eland, sable antelope, yellow baboon, and vervet monkey. And a home for spectacular bird view including flamingos and pelicans
Unique vegetation of the park includes mangrove forests around the Wami River and Ocean, Palm trees, Coral reefs of Indian Ocean, short-tall grass savannah, and cultural tours to the main ethnic Waswahili, Wazigua and Wadoe tribes who are residing in the region are one of the unique attractions the park has to offer.
The closest wildlife destination to Zanzibar hence can be connected by daily flights
There are some whales that can be spotted though that is very rare.
GETTING THERE
By Chartered or scheduled flight from Arusha, Moshi, Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam
By road from Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Pangani, Mikumi National Park. But no road access from Dar es Salaam along the Coast.
WHAT TO DO
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Boat safari and Walk Safari
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Special Bush and Beach Safari
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Wedding and anniversary Experience
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Wildlife Safari and bird watching Safari
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Camping, Outdoor services, Sandbathing, Swimming
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The destination is good to visit all year round as it combines the beach and grassland, although the access roads are sometimes impassable
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April and May. Scenery is beautiful and green, peak for birds watching but road become muddy and hard to travel
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January to February and June to August, wildlife viewing there is plenty of water available in the plain after the rain where the wild animals gather to drink water.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Park offers a good range of accommodation from friendly budget to semi- luxury which includes tented Saadani bandas, camps and lodge which are quite comfortable beds, stylish furnishing, modern bathrooms, and outdoor hot and cold showers and most are on the beachside.
