In the south of Tanzania, the national parks impress with their breathtaking natural diversity and wildlife. The Selous Game Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Africa, is home to an enormous population of elephants, buffalo and lions. The Ruaha National Park captivates with its picturesque landscape of rolling hills and the roaring Ruaha River, which attracts numerous cats of prey and rare antelope species. An unforgettable nature experience awaits you on our safaris in these fascinating nature reserves.
13 Days
participants: 1 – 8
Adventure and Nature in Southern Tanzania
highlights
Private trip in a 4×4 Landcruiser
Selous National Park
Ruaha National Park
Boat safari
fantastic wildlife
Safari off the beaten track
inclusive
all transfers and activities according to the itinerary
Safari in a 4×4 Landcruiser off-road vehicle with window seat
professional, English-speaking guide, German-speaking on request,
Guided safari with experienced, English-speaking driver
All national park and transfer fees
German-language instruction
3 liters of drinking water per safari day
Binoculars during the safari
exclusive
Flight
Visas
Tips
hints
• English-speaking driver on request
• We are happy to book international flights from Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin, Dresden, Vienna or Zurich.
Price per person:
• with 2 participants: 4.590,00Euro
• with 4 participants: 4.190,00Euro
• 6 participants: 3.890,00Euro
Trip starts: daily
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival day Dar es Salaam
You will be picked up from Dar es Salaam airport and driven to your hotel in Dar es Salaam. Depending on your arrival time, you have the option of relaxing by the pool, going on a city tour of Tanzania’s largest city or traveling to one of the two nearby islands of Mbudya or Bongoyo.
Day 2: Dar es Salaam – Mikumi National Park, game drive
In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel by your driver and drive to Mikumi National Park. On the way to the national park you will see giraffes, antelopes and the yellow baboons typical of the south. Enjoy the view of the Uluguru mountains. In the afternoon, you will experience your first game drive in Mikumi National Park, which was established in 1963.
Driving time: approx. 4-5h Distance: 230 km Game drive: 2-3h
Day 3: Mikumi National Park, game drive
As soon as the morning sun bathes the surroundings in vibrant colors, you set off on an early morning game drive. Hippos frolic in the waterhole and crocodiles wait for their prey at the edge of the bank. A few impressive elephants stand in the shade of the tamarind trees, and buffalo, antelopes and zebras can also be observed.
Game drive: 6-8h or 2x 3-4h
Day 4: Mikumi National Park – Udzungwa Mountains
Immediately after breakfast, drive to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The protected mountain range is known as the “Galapagos Islands of Africa” and is a unique, exciting wilderness paradise in the mountains, which can only be explored on foot. In the afternoon, you can take a hike of several hours to the Sanje waterfalls, which cascade down 330 meters over 3 cascades. Or you can take a walk to the nearby Mangùla village.
Day 5: Udzungwa Mountains
Today you will spend the day at the foot of the Udzungwa Mountains. You have the opportunity to decide the day’s program yourself. You can choose from the following excursions: a visit to a rubber plantation, hiking trip to the Magombero forest or a guided tour with bird watching A minimum of 2 participants per activity is required.
Day 6: Udzungwa Mountains – Ruaha National Park, game drive
After breakfast, drive to Ruaha National Park, which you will reach in the afternoon. Shortly after the park entrance there are an impressive number of hippos. Ruaha National Park is believed to have the highest concentration of elephants in East Africa. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, eland antelopes, impalas and jackals can also be seen in large numbers.
Travel time: approx. 6-7h Distance: 370 km Game drive: 2h
Day 7: Ruaha National Park, game drive
Today you will spend the day in the Ruaha National Park, which is rich in game. You can go on a full day game drive or return to the lodge around midday to enjoy lunch on the lodge terrace. The landscapes in the park range from semi-desert scrubland to the extensive Miombo woodlands and vast plains. The Ruaha River characterizes the landscape with a length of 160 km and is the lifeline for crocodiles, hippos, elephants and the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), among others, which cannot be found in any other national park.
Game drive: 6-8h or 2x 3-4h
Day 8: Ruaha National Park – Morogoro
With numerous new memories and breathtaking photos of the last few days, you set off on the next day’s stage. The journey for via Mikumi to Morogoro. You will reach your lodge in the evening.
Travel time: approx. 6-7h Distance: 380 km
Day 9: Morogoro, activities to choose from
Enjoy today in the relaxed surroundings of the farm. You can enjoy the view of the Uluguru Mountains from the pool, go on a mountain bike tour, play golf and tennis or take a guided tour of the chili farm. In addition to chili peppers, lemongrass is also grown for export. Those interested in birdwatching will enjoy the farm grounds – 230 different bird species have already been spotted there.
Day 10: Morogoro – Selous
The drive to the Selous begins in the early hours of the morning. Unlike other protected areas in Tanzania, the Selous is not a national park but a game reserve and is around three times the size of the Serengeti. Its remote location in the south has preserved the wildlife’s indomitable nature to this day. The route over the Uluguru Mountains is particularly scenic. Here you can see an unspoiled population along the slightly widened road, which is now passable even when it rains. You spend the night at the gates of the Selous.
Travel time: approx. 4-5h Distance: 180 km
Day 11: Selous, game drive
The game drive begins in the northern part of the Selous. Large herds of buffalo, elephant and eland can often be seen in the area, which is characterized by the Miombo woodland. Kudus and other antelope species can also be found here. Around midday you will reach the hot springs near Lake Tagalala. The surrounding lakes and the Rufiji River have an enormous concentration of hippos, crocodiles, lions, zebras and giraffes.
Game drive: 6-8h
Day 12: Selous, boat safari
The day begins with a game drive in the area surrounding the lodge. With a bit of luck you will see lions, leopards or wild dogs, for which the Selous is a last refuge. The density of animals is not only high on land, but there is also plenty of life in the water. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to observe animals from the boat. You will be able to see crocodiles and hippos. A boat safari is the best way to approach the colorful birds (e.g.: kingfisher and roseate) undisturbed.
Game drive: 4-5h Boat safari: 1h
Day 13: Selous – Dar es Salaam
After breakfast, you leave the impressive Selous Game Reserve and drive to Dar es Salam. In the coastal region, coconut palms, hardwood trees and sisal in particular are cultivated. On the way, you can buy hand-woven baskets and other decorative items. In the late afternoon, you will reach the bustling city of Dar es Salaam and board your flight to Zanzibar or back to Europe.
Travel time: approx. 4-5h Distance: 230 km
Accomodation
Hotel Slipway
stay: 1 night
Location: Hotel Slipway is located just 7 km from Dar es Salaam city centre, on the posh Msasani Peninsula, right on the Indian Ocean. Where to stay: Rooms at Slipway feature a fully equipped seating area, mosquito net, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, a private bathroom and a private veranda overlooking the Indian Ocean or garden. Restaurant: Slipway has both a restaurant and a waterfront restaurant. Enjoy a breathtaking sunset over the Indian Ocean. The restaurants offer seafood and around fresh fish and other miscellaneous foods from the menu, has ground play for kids, and hairdresser
Stanley’s Kopje
stay: 2 nights
Location: Stanley’s Kopje is the only camp in Mikumi National Park built on a rocky kopje on the Mkata Plateau. It has the perfect location to go on exciting game drives in the park around the Mwanamboga waterhole. Where to stay: The 12 spacious and airy Meru tents, generously spaced around the kopje, are each themed around the story of an explorer or slave trader. The tents have been set up on high wooden platforms with traditionally built thatched roofs that provide shade from the sun while you sit on your veranda and enjoy the animals around the camp. Restaurant: The main banda sits on the crest of the hill, with a 360-degree panoramic view. Built in typical Swahili style with a steep roof, the dining room surrounds a central bar with seating and dining area.
Hondo Hondo Udzungwa C
stay: 2 nights
Location: Hondo Hondo Tented Camp is situated on the forest edge of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park in the Kilombero Valley. The hornbill, which attracts attention with its loud, powerful flapping wings, is seen remarkably often. In Swahili, the bird is called “Hondo”, which is why the lodge is also known as Hondo Hondo. Facilities: Hondo Hondo Tented Camp offers six rooms in tents. The tents are simply equipped with a bed, mosquito net and an open bathroom with hot water. The proximity to the national park forest offers fresh air and plenty of peace and quiet. Restaurant: Breakfast and dinner are served in the open restaurant. The Swahili kitchen offers fresh dishes and cold drinks are available at the bar.
Ruaha Hilltop Lodge
stay: 2 nights
Location: Ruaha Hilltop Lodge is located just a few kilometers outside the Ruaha National Park and is therefore one of the most affordable lodges in the region. Facilities: The accommodation consists of different bungalows, which are comfortably furnished and have a bathroom with hot water, a kitchenette and mosquito nets. Each of the vacation homes has a balcony with a great view. WLAN is free of charge. The reception, dining room and bar are under one roof with an open front and terrace to enjoy the spectacular African sunrise and sunset. Restaurant: The kitchen offers both continental and Tanzanian cuisine with fresh products from the region.
Mbuyuni Farm Retreat
stay: 2 nights
Location: The small oasis Mbuyuni Farm Retreat is located in the middle of Tanzania and only 4 hours west of Dar es Salaam. Facilities: The accommodation consists of three spacious, elegant cottages surrounded by gardens of Kimango Farm, just outside Morogoro. The bungalows can accommodate up to four people. Two of them are equipped with kitchens, for guests who want to cater for themselves. Enjoy nature, go hiking in the nearby Uluguru Mountains, observe the numerous and diverse species of birds, stroll around the farm or relax by the swimming pool right in front of the cottages. Restaurant: In the morning, a balanced and varied breakfast is served. In the evening, the kitchen spoils you with hearty dishes made from fresh, local ingredients, most of which are produced on the farm itself.
Sable Mountain Lodge
stay: 1 night
Location: The small and sprawling Sable Mountain Lodge is located in the middle of the Miombo dry forest, just 9 km outside the Selous Game Reserve from the Matembe entrance. The stone huts and kanvas tents are located on a hill overlooking two waterholes that regularly attract zebras and baboons. Facilities: The lodge has a total of 13 accommodations in 3 different categories. The 8 stone bungalows are furnished as double rooms and have a separate bathroom with toilet and shower. The private veranda invites you to relax. Furthermore, there are 3 luxuriously furnished tents, as well as 2 honeymoon tents, which convey a typical safari feeling. For relaxation, there is a pool, as well as a small lounge with a small library near the bar. Restaurant: The small and open restaurant offers international cuisine in the middle of the African wilderness. To end the evening in a relaxed way, the bar invites you to enjoy a cold beer or a good red wine under candlelight.
Lake Manze Tented Camp
stay: 2 nights
Location: Lake Manze Camp is located in the middle of the Selous Game Reserve on the shores of the lake of the same name, which can extend directly to the camp during the rainy season. This area is one of the most wildlife-rich and scenic in the entire reserve. Equipment: The 12 tents in typical safari style, are furnished as double rooms and are located in the shade under palm trees and acacias. For families up to 4 people there is a tent annex with another 2 beds. The rooms have a separate bathroom with an open-air shower, as well as a private veranda. Restaurant: The open restaurant serves as a place to relax during the day, where breakfast and lunch are served. In the evening you can enjoy your international cuisine under a campfire atmosphere, watch the starry sky or listen to the wonderful soundscape of the bush.
