Days 1-2: Arrival in Dar es Salaam – Coastal Welcome

Your Southern Tanzania private safari begins in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s bustling coastal metropolis and economic heart. Our representative welcomes you at Julius Nyerere International Airport, providing seamless transfer to your comfortable beach hotel.

Day 1: Arrive, settle into your accommodation, and decompress after international travel. Depending on arrival time, explore nearby areas or simply relax by the pool.

Day 2: Enjoy a full day of leisure to acclimatize and recover from jet lag. Lounge by the hotel pool, stroll along Indian Ocean beaches, explore local markets, or visit historical sites in Dar es Salaam. This rest day ensures you’re refreshed and ready for the wilderness adventures ahead.

Overnight: Dar es Salaam beach hotel (2 nights) | Meals: Breakfast included (Day 2: Breakfast & Dinner)

Days 3-4: Selous Game Reserve – Africa’s Largest Protected Area

Early morning departure at 8:00 AM marks the beginning of your wilderness adventure. Journey south through rural Tanzania to the legendary Selous Game Reserve, with game viewing beginning as you approach the park—approximately 7-9 hours total travel time through changing landscapes.

Alternative Option: For those preferring to minimize driving, charter flights directly to Selous are available, allowing you to begin safari activities immediately upon arrival.

About Selous Game Reserve:

Covering more than 55,000 square kilometers—nearly twice Belgium’s size and four times larger than the Serengeti—Selous Game Reserve represents one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas. This UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses over 5% of Tanzania’s total land area yet remains remarkably unspoiled and lightly visited.

The magnificent Rufiji River and its intricate network of tributaries form the reserve’s lifeblood, creating lush forests, woodlands, lagoons, sandbanks, and lakes fringed with towering doum palms. This diverse aquatic ecosystem supports extraordinary wildlife concentrations.

Wildlife Abundance:

Selous harbors approximately 60,000 elephants—one of Africa’s largest populations—plus 108,000 buffalos, substantial lion and leopard populations, and an estimated 1,300 African wild dogs (roughly one-third of the remaining global population of this critically endangered species).

Over 2,100 plant species and 350 bird species add botanical and avian richness. Hippos and crocodiles dominate the waterways, while sable antelope, greater kudu, and various other species inhabit the woodlands.

Safari Activities:

Beyond traditional game drives, Selous offers diverse safari experiences:

• Boat Safaris: Glide along the Rufiji River at sunset, watching hippos, crocodiles, elephants drinking at riverbanks, and diverse birdlife
• Walking Safaris: Track wildlife on foot with armed rangers—an authentic, adrenaline-filled experience
• Fly Camping: Optional overnight bush camping under the stars (can be arranged)

Spend two full days thoroughly exploring this vast wilderness, each drive and boat trip revealing new landscapes and wildlife encounters.

Overnight: Selous safari camp (2 nights) | Meals: All meals included

Days 5-6: Udzungwa Mountains National Park – Tropical Forest Paradise

Depart Selous for a scenic 7-hour journey westward through rural Tanzania to Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The drive itself offers cultural immersion, passing traditional villages, agricultural landscapes, and authentic Tanzanian life far from tourist areas.

About Udzungwa Mountains:

Part of the ancient Eastern Arc Mountains chain—often called the “African Galapagos” due to extraordinary endemic species—Udzungwa protects pristine tropical and montane forests, miombo woodlands, grasslands, and alpine heath zones.

This biodiversity hotspot harbors over 400 animal species, including several found nowhere else on Earth. Eleven primate species inhabit the forests, including the endemic Iringa red colobus monkey and Sanje crested mangabey.

Forest Trekking Adventures:

Udzungwa offers hiking rather than traditional game drives. Well-maintained trails lead through cathedral-like forests where giant trees tower overhead, vines cascade downward, and sunlight filters through the emerald canopy.

Sanje Waterfalls Trek: The most popular route leads to spectacular Sanje Falls, plunging 170 meters down rocky cliffs. The approximately 4-hour round-trip hike traverses varied forest zones, offering primate sightings, colorful birds (over 400 species recorded), and stunning viewpoints over the Kilombero Valley.

Other Activities:

• Shorter nature walks for less strenuous exploration
• Multi-day treks to higher elevations (can be arranged)
• Birdwatching expeditions
• Village cultural visits

The change of pace from savannah game drives to forest trekking adds wonderful variety to your Southern Tanzania safari experience.

Overnight: Udzungwa lodge (2 nights) | Meals: All meals included

Days 7-8: Ruaha National Park – Tanzania’s Elephant Kingdom

Journey to Ruaha National Park, your next spectacular wilderness destination. Following significant expansion, Ruaha now ranks as East Africa’s largest national park and Africa’s second-largest, covering approximately 20,226 square kilometers.

About Ruaha National Park:

Ruaha remains one of Tanzania’s best-kept secrets—remote, wild, and dramatically beautiful. The Great Ruaha River provides the park’s centerpiece, creating a lifeline for wildlife during dry season when animals concentrate along its shrinking pools and remaining channels.

Wildlife Highlights:

Elephant Capital: Ruaha protects Tanzania’s largest elephant population—estimated at over 10,000 individuals. Watch family herds gathering at the river, dust bathing, and moving through rugged terrain.

Predator Paradise: The park supports exceptional predator diversity. Lions (including some prides that have learned to hunt giraffes), leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and striped hyenas all thrive here. African wild dogs occasionally range through the park.

Unique Species: Ruaha lies at the convergence of East and Southern African fauna zones, creating unique species overlaps. Both greater and lesser kudu occur here, alongside roan and sable antelope—species rarely seen in northern Tanzania parks.

Birdlife: Over 570 recorded bird species make Ruaha a birdwatcher’s paradise. Expect kingfishers, plovers, egrets, various hornbill species, sunbirds, and countless others.

Landscape Diversity:

Ruaha’s topography ranges from river valleys to rocky escarpments, miombo woodlands to open plains, baobab groves to acacia savannahs. This habitat diversity supports remarkable species richness.

Spend two full days exploring different park sectors, tracking predators, photographing elephants against dramatic backdrops, and soaking in the raw wilderness atmosphere of this underrated gem.

Overnight: Ruaha safari camp (2 nights) | Meals: All meals included

Days 9-10: Mikumi National Park – Accessible Wildlife Haven

Travel to Mikumi National Park, located just 300 kilometers from Dar es Salaam along the main Tanzania-Zambia highway. While perhaps less dramatic than the vast wilderness of Selous or Ruaha, Mikumi offers its own distinctive charm and excellent wildlife viewing.

About Mikumi National Park:

Mikumi’s landscape centers on the Mkata Floodplain, bordered by mountain ranges on both sides—the Uluguru Mountains to the northeast and the Rubeho Mountains to the northwest. This natural amphitheater creates scenic backdrops and concentrated wildlife viewing.

Wildlife Viewing:

The Mkata Floodplain often draws comparisons to the Serengeti due to its open grasslands dotted with acacia trees. Elephants, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, and giraffes commonly graze these plains.

Lions frequently patrol the area, while leopards inhabit the surrounding woodlands (though sightings remain challenging). Hippo pools host resident pods, and crocodiles bask on riverbanks.

The park’s accessibility and relatively compact size (3,230 sq km) make it easy to cover substantial territory, maximizing wildlife encounters during your two-day stay.

Birdwatching: Over 400 bird species have been recorded, with particular concentrations around water sources and in miombo woodlands.

Mikumi provides a fitting conclusion to your Southern Tanzania safari—while more developed than Selous or Ruaha, it still offers authentic wildlife experiences with the advantage of easier logistics before returning to Dar es Salaam.

Overnight: Mikumi safari lodge (2 nights) | Meals: All meals included

Day 11: Return to Dar es Salaam – Journey’s End

Your unforgettable Southern Tanzania private safari concludes with the drive back to Dar es Salaam. Your driver-guide ensures timely arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport for international departures or your hotel if extending your stay.

Depart with camera rolls filled with unique wildlife photographs, memories of pristine wilderness areas few travelers experience, and perhaps plans already forming for future Tanzania adventures.

Meals: Breakfast included