8 Days Tanzania Southern Circuit: Selous| Ruaha| Mikumi
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On this 8 day wildlife safari, you will explore Tanzania’s southern tourism circuit. So you will browse the beautiful plains of Mikumi and Ruaha national parks plus Nyerere (formerly Selous Game reserve). They enrich Tanzania’s southern tourism circuit, and only outshined by the northern circuit wildlife encounters.
The size of 55,000sq.km makes Selous the largest wildlife reserve in Africa popular for its habitat diversity. It’s one of Tanzania’s seven UNESCO heritage sites because of its Miombo forest habitats, untamed ecological and biological process etc. Its wilderness area is composed of forest zones, open woodlands, grassy plains and mountain landscape.
There’s variety of wildlife, composed of thousands of mammals, of prey and predators like; Lions, Buffalos, Hartebeests, Hyenas, Leopards and Black Rhinos. There are primates like Black &White colobuses, the endangered Red Colobus and a prolific 400+ bird species. But more to the wildlife is River Rufiji which drains the park with its tributaries making it the lifeblood of the park.
During the safari, you visit Ruaha national park which covers 20’226 sq.km area in the southern-central part of Tanzania. Its eastern border is drained by river Ruaha and so hosts variety of wildlife species. These include mammals as well as birds and the park is a remarkable destination for the big game safaris in Africa.
Mikumi national park on the other hand covers 3’230 sq.km and known for its immense and impressive scenery. Its shrouded in open grassland and Baobabs coupled with imposing mountain ranges which border the two sides of the park.
Details
Note: Welcome to the Land of Adventures! Meet and Greet with the guide when you arrive at Julius Nyerere airport. He then transfers you to the overnight accommodation in Dar es Salaam.
Overnight (o/n): Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam (Luxury) /Mediterraneo Boutique Hotel (Mid-range); Bed & Breakfast
Package Itinerary
Today after breakfast, hit the road on a drive with your local driver guide heading southwards of the country to Selous Game Reserve. When you arrive in the park, you will check-in at the camp/lodge where you will have lunch and in the late afternoon hours, you will take on a remarkable introductory wildlife viewing activity within the great savannas of the reserve, this will lead you into a bewildering encounter with some of Africa’s finest wildlife.
O/night: Siwandu Safari Camp (Luxury) /Rufiji River Camp (Mid-range)
Meal Plan: Half Board (HB)
Set-off deep into the wilderness after breakfast, today you will explore the vast wilderness on a morning game drive and an afternoon to evening walking safari, with a ranger guide. These activities within Selous are the most perfect ways to watch and experience the grand diversity of wildlife in this divine sanctuary protected as a UNESCO heritage site. You will see and capture some of the finest Kodak moments in Africa due to the assortment of landscape and wildlife, some of the species to see include; Black Rhinos (rare), huge herd of African Elephants, Zebras, Lions, Leopards, African Hunting Dogs and Buffalos among many others.
O/night: Siwandu Safari Camp (Luxury) /Rufiji River Camp (Mid-range)
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
After an early breakfast at the camp/lodge, you will be transferred to the boat departure spot. Today you will take on a boat cruise safari on the main river Rufigi or on some of the beautiful lakes; Siwandu or Mzizima where you come into close encounter with the wildlife such as birds, Hippopotamuses, Crocodiles, Buffaloes, Elephants and Lions among others usually seen within the water and along the lake shores and/or the river banks. The region around the Lakes is a great area for passionate photographers, prepare to take some of the best shots. Spend the rest of the day at the camp enjoying views of the African wilderness.
O/night: Siwandu Safari Camp (Luxury) /Rufiji River Camp (Mid-range)
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Have an early breakfast and prepare for a relatively long drive through the countryside, northwestwards of the Selous Game reserve to Ruaha national park. On this drive you will have an awe-inspiring view of the remote and fine countryside characterized by rolling and folding landscape.
On arrival, you will check-in at the lodge where you will have your stay in the park.
O/night: Jongomero Camp (Luxury) /RuahaRiver lodge (Mid-range).
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Today, after breakfast, you will hit the golden plains of this, Tanzania’s ostentatious national park, browsing its plains on a full day wildlife and nature encounter. You will take on a remarkable wilderness expedition on a game drive and walking safari today and the latter presents opportune moments to see the wildlife at close range. On a sunny day, the thrill of watching the wildlife and the wilderness in the milieu of a sunset is a moment of untold African experiences. Lots of wildlife such as Lions, African Elephants, Buffalos, Giraffes, Elands, and others as well as Hippopotamuses and Crocodiles near River Ruaha will be encountered while in the park.
(Optional: For more wildlife experience, you may opt for a night game drive, which presents a great moment to see nocturnal species like Hyenas, Leopards etc.)
O/n: Jongomero Camp (Luxury) /Ruaha River lodge (Mid-range).
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Optional: Today, you may opt for a Balloon safari within Ruaha national park, which will mark the end of your safari visit in this great park. The balloon safaris start very early when you are picked from the lodge to the point of launch, and it is a remarkable experience to watch the plains dotted by wildlife from above and it is climaxed with a champagne toast and bush breakfast.
Depart the park early after breakfast, transfer eastwards to Mikumi national park on a journey lasting about 6 to 7 hours’ drive in the countryside of Tanzania, check-in at the accommodation for relaxation, it is here you will be for your stay while in the park.
O/n: Vuma Hills Tented Camp /Mikumi Safari lodge (Mid-range)
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
Today, after breakfast, you will browse the rich plains of Mikumi national park on a wildlife viewing safari experience. The Mikumi flood plain, with the open grasslands and mighty baobabs that dominate the park as well as the mountain range that run along the park sides form a great setting for wildlife adventures and photography. As part of your wildlife safari experience in the park, you will participate in a morning game drive and evening walking safari with a ranger guide for up-close encounters with nature. You will also take-on a night game drive to see some of the nocturnal species like Hyenas and Leopards.
O/n: Vuma Hills Tented Camp /Mikumi Safari lodge (Mid-range)
Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)
A hearty breakfast at the camp, will sign-off this wildlife safari in Tanzania, later checkout from the camp and depart Mikumi national park back to Dar es Salaam where you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight back home or at the hotel.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch. End of Safari.
Note: * Tour Starts and Ends in Dar Es Salaam || * Please book return flight departing after 1800hrs
Include
*Park entrance fees & All activity fees unless labeled as optional
*Professional English Speaking guide/driver
*Ground Transportation in 4X4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and Round trip airport or hotel transfers
*Drinking mineral water in the car & Meals as the itinerary details
*Accommodation during the tour & on the day of Arrival on Bed & Breakfast Basis
*Government VATs like on accommodation
*AMREF Air Evacuation cover
Exclude
*Tourist Visa fees (visa can be arranged on request)
*Accommodation on last day of Tour [can be arranged on request if necessary]
*Airline tickets [arranged on request]
*Tips, Gratuities and expenses of personal nature
*Travel insurance
*Any extras like meals outside the meal plan