Best of South Tanzania

11 days Selous, Udzungwa, Mikumi and Ruaha Safari

Day 1 : Dar to Selous (By Air)
Depart Dar es Salaam by air, arrival at Selous. Afternoon boat safari along the mighty Rufiji River. One can see plenty of hippos, crocodiles and bird life is prolific. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp which is a tented camp situated in the north-eastern part of the Selous Game Reserve on a high bank overlooking the mighty Rufiji River and the plain beyond. The camp accommodates guests in 20 comfortable tents. Each tent has twin beds with mosquito nets, en-suite bathroom and a veranda facing the river. The central restaurant provides excellent cuisine. The camp makes maximum use of local materials, retaining an intimate relationship with the surrounding eco-system. Lunch and dinner.

Day 2: Selous
Full-day game drive of Selous Game Reserve, Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary, with an area of 54.600kms. Selous is bigger than Denmark and 4 times the size of Serengeti. It has the world’s largest number of big game – elephant, buffalo, rhino. It also contains wildebeest, eland, giraffe, waterbuck, zebra, impala, hippo, leopard and lion. There are about 350 species of bird life. Dinner and overnight at the Rufiji River Camp. All meals included.

Day 3: Selous
Morning walking safari. This allows an intimate impression of the African bush and wildlife, which is unforgettable, and brings you closest to pristine nature. After lunch, another boat safari. Dinner and overnight at the Camp. All meals included.

Day 4: Selous
Breakfast at Rufiji and rest at the camp till lunch. Evening Boat Safari from 15:30 to 18:00hrs dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp. All meals included.

Day 5: Selous – Mikumi
In the morning departure to Mikumi National Park while crossing the Northern Selous. There is a rich variety bird species as well as large numbers of giraffes, buffaloes and elephants and close to the water holes also lions, leopards and hippos. Furthermore you can see zebras, lions, wild dogs, pythons, hartebeest, wildebeest, elephants, impala, warthog, eland and antelope. Several observation towers enable you to overview the park in its entirety. Overnight in Vuma Hill Lodge. All meals included.

Day 6: Mikumi
Full day of game drives in the Mikumi National Park. Overnight in Vuma Hill Lodge. All meals included.

Day 7: Udzungwa
Departure for Udzungwa Mountain National Park. Afternoon arrival at the park, half day of hiking and bird-watching in the pristine rain forest: hiking towards the Sanje waterfalls for spectacular views of the wide Kilombero Valley. Overnight in the Udzungwa Mountain Lodge. All meals included.

Day 8: Ruaha
After breakfast, depart for Ruaha. Lunch en-route. In the afternoon we reach the lodge, which is constructed on and around a rocky kopje overlooking the Great Ruaha River. The Camp provide comfortable accommodation and good food while blending into its surroundings to enable visitors to feel themselves a part of the wild. Both the dining “Banda” and the bar, in elevated position above the river combine comfort and coolness together with the most spectacular views. Dinner and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge. All meals included.

Day 9 + 10: Ruaha
Two full day game drives at Ruaha National Park with picnic lunch.
Ruaha, with an area of 10,300sq.km. Is the second largest park, and second largest elephant sanctuary in Tanzania. The great Ruaha River that flows along its entire eastern border, creating spectacular gorges and scenery, features a large number of hippos and crocodiles. The wide variety of animals include Greater and Lesser Kudu, roan and sable antelope. Bird life is rich, with over 370 species recorded. Dinner and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge. All meals included.

Day 11
departure to Dar es Salaam by flight, arriving late afternoon. Breakfast and lunch box.