Often overlooked by many safari operators in favour of the northern parks, the southern parks of Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park are worth serious consideration and are the preferred destination for most who are really keen on their safari. The benefits of heading to the south is that, where the very north of the Serengeti gives the numbers of game, along with some seclusion, the southern parks are still very much “frontier” parks and so are noticeably less busy (they also feature the same spread of species as the north, but more like a thousand, rather than 2 million).
Our first Tanzania safari destination is Tarangire National Park, known for its big herds of elephants. We explore the wildlife park in a customized 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for maximum visibility. During our game drive, we stop for a picnic lunch in the African bush.Tarangire hosts an array of wild animals, including lions and buffalos, as well as various antelopes, wildebeest, giraffes, and zebras. The national park covers some 2600km² of wilderness, characterized by undulating plains dotted with baobab and acacia trees. After our wildlife safari in Tarangire National Park, we head to our first overnight stay at a tented safari lodge a short drive from the park.
Overnight at your hotel.
After breakfast, you’ll meet with your expert guide and start a road tour to Mikumi National Park for a full day game drive and picnic lunch in the park. Mikumi is bordered to the south by Selous Game Reserve, the two areas forming a unique ecosystem. The vegetation of this area consists of a savannah dotted with acacia, baobab, tamarinds, and some rare palm.
Overnight at Stanley’s Kopje Full Board Basis
After an early breakfast, depart for the breathtaking Ruaha National Park for a full day game drive and picnic lunch in the Park. Ruaha National Park is the second largest park in Tanzania, covering an area of more than 13,000 km2. The main vegetation types in Ruaha are miombo woodland, acacia grasslands, and large baobab trees, all which attract a diverse number of animals species. Some of the major attractions include large populations of elephants, giraffes, impalas, buffalo, lions, leopards, and hunting dogs. The Great Ruaha River that borders the park in the east, provides habitation for hippopotamus and crocodiles. Ruaha is also a prime destination for birdwatchers, with 436 species that have been identified so far. In the evening, arrive at Tandla Safari Camp where you will settle in and enjoy a three-course candlelit dinner served under the stars in the courtyard, by the campfire.
Overnight at Tandala Safari Camp On full board basis.
Upon waking, step out on your private verandah and watch out for game along the Mdweka sand river. You can enjoy the diversity of animals such as warthog, giraffe, greater kudu, dikdik, mongoose, bushbuck, reedbuck, and baboon, perhaps even some African hunting dogs (if you are up early enough!). The biggest attraction at Tandala is without a doubt the abundance of elephants who come and go regularly, attracted by the water holes. Proceed to your breakfast feast and fuel up for another exhilarating day of game viewing with a picnic lunch in a spectacular setting. Return in the evening for dinner and sundowners.
Overnight at Serengeti Kati Kati on Full Board Basis.
After breakfast, depart for a scenic and enjoy a picnic lunch on your way down toward Selous Game Reserve, the largest fauna reserve in the world, spanning over 55,000 km², almost four times the size of the Serengeti! Selous is considered important enough to be a World Heritage Site in which the lucky few can experience a safari in an absolutely wild and unspoiled bush. The reserve was named after Englishman – Sir Frederick Selous, a famous big game hunter and an early conservationist, whose adventure books on Africa became best sellers in Victorian England and is currently named after the first president of Tanzania – the late Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Among its unique attractions, the reserve contains one-third of all the African hunting dog population in the world. Witness the majesty of large migrations of elephants and get up close with all the Big Five. Check in to Selous River Camp situated right along the border of the Selous where the views of the river are stunning and wildlife wander out of the reserve to visit the camp freely.
Dinner and overnight at Selous River Camp On Full Board Basis
After breakfast, depart for a full day boat safari exploring the Rufiji River and the Reserve’s lakes in an open-sided, canvas-roofed boat. The Selous is one of the very few game reserves in Africa where you can view game from the water, and after the dust and bumpy roads of a game drive, there’s nothing more relaxing than drifting along the river watching the wildlife. Boat safaris are the ideal way of enjoying the stunning scenery of the Rufiji River with its many hippos, crocodiles and beautiful birdlife. Definitely not to be missed is the sunset from the boat—there is nothing quite like the peacefulness of the river, hippos honking all around you, while the sun dips below the horizon! Return to camp for dinner and storytelling around the fire.
Overnight at Selous River Camp on Full Board Basis
After a hot breakfast, drive back to Dar es Salaam to connect with your international flight.
African Merit Safari is an experienced team of African travel specialists based in Arusha, Tanzania. Together our team of talented travel experts has well over a decade worth of experience in Tanzania travel industry.
