Southern Tanzania Safaris: Walking tour & Boat Tour

The adventure begins in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s coastal gateway and commercial capital. Upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport, guests are warmly welcomed and transferred privately to their hotel. This first day allows time to rest after international travel while receiving a comprehensive safari briefing. Guests are introduced to the itinerary, safety guidelines, and logistical arrangements, ensuring a smooth and well-prepared start to the journey.

From Dar es Salaam, the journey continues to Nyerere National Park, formerly known as the Selous Game Reserve and one of the largest protected wildlife areas in Africa. The scenic drive passes through rural landscapes before entering a vast wilderness of rivers, lakes, open plains, and riverine forests. Nyerere National Park is globally recognized for its ecological diversity and its reputation as one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas.

One of Nyerere National Park’s most distinctive experiences is the boat safari along the Rufiji River. This peaceful yet thrilling activity offers close encounters with wildlife from the water, including hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants drinking along the banks, and an impressive variety of birdlife. The river safari provides a unique photographic perspective and a slower-paced exploration that complements traditional game drives.

Game drives in Nyerere National Park reveal abundant wildlife, including large elephant herds, buffalo, giraffes, lions, and, with favorable conditions, African wild dogs. The park’s immense size and limited visitor numbers ensure a sense of exclusivity and solitude. A guided walking safari further enhances the experience, allowing guests to explore the bush on foot with a professional guide and armed ranger. This activity focuses on animal tracking, plant identification, and understanding the delicate balance of the ecosystem, offering a deeper connection to nature.

The itinerary continues to Mikumi National Park, a destination known for its open savannah landscapes and excellent wildlife concentrations. The Mkata Floodplain forms the heart of the park and attracts a wide range of species, including elephants, lions, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and large herds of buffalo. Mikumi offers a classic East African safari atmosphere with wide horizons and strong predator sightings, yet remains far less crowded than northern parks.

A change of scenery follows with a visit to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, part of the ancient Eastern Arc Mountains. This park is internationally recognized for its exceptional biodiversity and high number of endemic plant and animal species. Unlike traditional safari parks, Udzungwa is explored on foot. Guided hikes lead through dense rainforest to waterfalls and panoramic viewpoints, offering encounters with unique primates, birdlife, and lush vegetation. This segment highlights Tanzania’s conservation efforts and ecological diversity beyond wildlife safaris.

The journey then moves to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest national park and one of its most remote safari destinations. Characterized by rugged terrain, dramatic baobab trees, and the Great Ruaha River, the park supports one of East Africa’s largest elephant populations. Ruaha is also renowned for its high density of predators, including lions with dark manes, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. The limited number of lodges and visitors ensures an exclusive safari experience, ideal for experienced safari travelers and wildlife photographers seeking untouched wilderness.

After completing the safari circuit, guests return to Dar es Salaam, either by scenic overland transfer or domestic flight. This overnight stay serves as a comfortable transition point between the safari wilderness and the coastal island experience, ensuring smooth connections and relaxed travel.

A short domestic flight delivers guests to Mafia Island, a peaceful and unspoiled destination within the protected Mafia Island Marine Park. The island is celebrated for its healthy coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and sustainable tourism practices. Activities include snorkeling and scuba diving among vibrant coral gardens, encounters with tropical fish, sea turtles, and reef sharks, and seasonal opportunities to swim with whale sharks, one of the most remarkable marine experiences in the Indian Ocean.