10 Days / 9 Nights – Southern Tanzania Safari Adventure

Day 1: Dar es Salaam – Selous (Nyerere National Park)
Depart from Dar es Salaam in the morning, traveling to Selous Game Reserve either by road or a short flight. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge or tented camp and enjoy a freshly prepared lunch. Later in the afternoon, embark on a relaxing boat safari along the Rufiji River, where hippos, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife can be spotted in abundance. As the sun sets over the water, return to camp for dinner and your first night in the heart of the bush.

Day 2: Selous – Full-Day Game Drive
Begin your day with an early breakfast before heading out on a full-day game drive across the vast landscapes of Selous. The park’s open woodlands and grasslands are home to elephants, lions, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and the elusive African wild dogs. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in a scenic location inside the reserve before continuing your game viewing into the afternoon. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Selous – Walking Safari & Cultural Visit
Start the morning with a guided walking safari led by an experienced ranger, allowing you to discover the smaller details of the bush, from animal tracks and insects to medicinal plants. After returning to camp for breakfast, you may choose to visit a nearby local village for an insightful cultural interaction, or simply enjoy leisure time at camp. Dinner and overnight stay in Selous.

Day 4: Selous – Mikumi National Park
After breakfast, you’ll depart Selous and enjoy a scenic drive through southern Tanzania toward Mikumi National Park. You’ll arrive in the afternoon and check into your lodge, followed by an optional evening game drive where you might spot elephants, antelope, and big cats in the golden hour. Enjoy dinner and settle in for the night near the park.

Day 5: Mikumi – Full-Day Game Drive
Today you will explore the wide open plains of Mikumi on a full-day game drive. Often compared to the Serengeti due to its landscape, Mikumi offers sightings of giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, lions, and even rare sable antelope. A packed lunch will be served within the park to maximize your time in the wild. After a rewarding day, return to the lodge for relaxation and dinner.

Day 6: Mikumi – Udzungwa Mountains National Park
After breakfast, depart for the lush Udzungwa Mountains, known for their tropical forests and rich biodiversity. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and enjoy a leisurely afternoon nature walk to get a feel for the region’s natural beauty. Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for the next day’s hike.

Day 7: Udzungwa – Sanje Waterfalls Hike
After an early breakfast, you’ll set out for a guided hike through Udzungwa Mountains National Park to the spectacular Sanje Waterfalls. Along the trail, you’ll encounter endemic flora and fauna, butterflies, monkeys, and incredible views over the Kilombero Valley. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch by the falls before trekking back down to your lodge for a well-earned rest and dinner.

Day 8: Udzungwa – Iringa – Ruaha National Park
Leave Udzungwa after breakfast and begin your journey toward Ruaha National Park, passing through the town of Iringa. This is a long but scenic drive through Tanzania’s southern highlands, offering a glimpse of rural life. Upon arrival in Ruaha, check into your camp and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this remote wilderness. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 9: Ruaha – Full-Day Game Drive
Today is dedicated to a full-day game drive through Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest and one of its most untouched wildlife havens. With fewer visitors and dramatic landscapes, Ruaha is home to large herds of elephants, prides of lions, rare antelope species, leopards, cheetahs, and a great variety of birds. You’ll have a packed lunch in the park and continue exploring until late afternoon. Return to camp for your final dinner in the wild.

Day 10: Ruaha – Dar es Salaam
Enjoy a morning game drive or breakfast at leisure before checking out. You’ll be transferred to the local airstrip or begin the drive back to Dar es Salaam, bringing your Southern Tanzania safari to an end with memories of extraordinary landscapes, rich wildlife encounters, and quiet, untouched wilderness.