Tanzania Safari: Remote and Wild South Itinerary

Tanzania safari: Escape the crowds on Tanzania’s southern circuit

Tanzania’s southern parks tend to be overshadowed by iconic destinations to the north such as the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, resulting in vast swathes of untouched wilderness that the adventurous traveler will find irresistible on this Tanzania safari.

This itinerary includes superb game viewing, including a fascinating cross-over between eastern and southern African species, and a boat safari that allows you to get thrillingly close to crocodile and hippo. Round off your trip with a walking safari, perhaps spending a night fly-camping along the riverbank – this is the very definition of off-the-beaten track Africa.

Tanzania safari: 9 days/8 nights

DAY 1:

Arrival Dar Es Salaam, overnight at the Serena Hotel

DAYS 2, 3 & 4:

Fly to Ruaha National Park, Ikuka Safari Camp

DAYS 5, 6, 7 & 8:

Fly to Nyerere Game Reserve, Sand River Nyerere

DAY 9:

Fly back to Dar Es Salaam and your international flight home

deck with two chairs and trees at sunset seen on Tanzania safari

Watch wildlife on your deck at Ikuka

Tanzania safari views of baobab trees in Ruaha

Savor breakfast in the bush

walking safari through the golden grass and palm trees at sunset in Ruaha on Tanzania safari

Explore the bush on foot in Ruaha

bedroom and lounge area with deck and views in the background

Bedroom at Ikuka

elephant with safari vehicle in the background

Finding elephant on game drive in the Nyerere

boat on a river in a large gorge with rocks and trees

Boat Safari, Sand River Nyerere

woman enjoying the sunset overlooking the river in the Selous on Tanzania safari

Sundowners beside the Rufiji River

two buildings with a small pool and two women

barefoot luxury at Sand River Nyerere

Highlights of our Tanzania safari

This 9-day fly-in Tanzania safari starts with an overnight stay at the Serena Hotel in Dar Es Salaam

From here, fly to Ikuka Safari Camp in Ruaha, Africa’s largest national park and one of the least visited. The exceptional wildlife found here includes large elephant and buffalo herds, as well as big cats, wild dog, and hyena, plus nearly 600 species of bird

Fly next to Sand River Nyerere in Nyerere Game Reserve, where elephant, black rhino, lion, cheetah, wild dog, and giraffe flourish in a vast wilderness that’s been relatively undisturbed by human impact

Nyerere is bisected by the Great Rifiji River which, together with its tributaries, creates a network of forests and woodlands around lagoons, sandbanks, and lakes. This allows for incredible boat safaris – there are few other places in Africa where you can get so close to hippos and crocodiles

Activities here are tailored to suit each guest and include game drives, walking safaris, fishing, or boating. For a true adventure, spend one of your nights fly-camping along the river with your own private guide and chef

Price

$7,900-$9,800 per person sharing in 2023

Easy Extensions

From Dar Es Salaam, start or end your trip in Zanzibar for some time on the beach, or head onward to cosmopolitan Cape Town in South Africa. For a different adventure entirely, trek with chimps in the Mahale Mountains in Western Tanzania