Tanzania Safaris – South / West
Tanzania Safaris
The wild South
Still largely undeveloped, southern Tanzania offers a dreamlike combination of African picture book landscapes and romantic camps in the middle of the wilderness.
The huge Selous Game Reserve is part of the UNESCO Natural World Heritage, houses a large elephant population and rare animals like the African wild dog. The wild Ruaha National Park is the big brother of the Tarangire National Park in the north and impresses with its gigantic baobab trees and is home to numerous wild animals. In the small Mikumi National Park you will find a large lion population in a savannah landscape similar to the Serengeti.
The mountain forests of the Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains offer excellent hiking opportunities and are far from the known routes. Visit Isimila Gorge, a cultural monument and important archaeological site of numerous stone tools. There is a lot to discover.
The unknown West
The national parks in the west are relatively rarely visited due to their distance and remoteness. Mahale National Park is located at Lake Tanganyika, mysterious and deep in the green heart of Africa. As in Gombe Stream National Park, made famous by the scientist Jane Goodall, its main attraction are its chimpanzees and can only be reached by boat. Another highlight in the west is the Katavi National Park with its biological diversity and enormous number of wild animals.
A visit to the western national parks can be combined with a safari in the north or south and with Zanzibar. We would be pleased to make you an offer.
Tour suggestions
Tour Secrets of the South (driving safari)
13 Days Safari
Highlights of the Tour:
Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Walking Safari, Boot Safari
The south still offers untouched wilderness with varied landscapes such as savannahs and mountain forests, naturally winding rivers and a multitude of wildlife. A must for every lover of the African wilderness and still a real insider tip. On the east coast, in the south of Tanzania, is the tropical Zanzibar archipelago with countless small islands surrounded by the turquoise blue Indian Ocean.
![](https://www.isimila-tanzania-adventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSC_0179-1024x683.jpg)
Tour Trilogy of the South (flight safari)
12 Days Safari
Highlights of the tour:
Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park, Walking Safari, Boot Safari, Lazy Lagoon Island
The south still offers untouched wilderness with varied landscapes such as savannah and mountain forests, naturally winding rivers and a variety of wildlife. A must for every lover of the African wilderness and still a real insider tip. On the east coast of Tanzania you will find lonely, kilometre-long sandy beaches, which invite you to extensive walks. Lazy Lagoon is a peninsula and still a real insider tip.
![](https://www.isimila-tanzania-adventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSC_0584-1024x683.jpg)
Details Secrets of the South (flight safari)
13 Days Safari
Tour description
Discover the still largely unknown national parks of the south. On the way to the national parks you will get many more impressions about people and culture than on a pure flying safari. Drive through villages, cities, mountains and different landscapes. In the national parks you will encounter with a little luck the rare African wild dogs, lions and large herds of buffalo and elephants. Afterwards the small pearl Lazy Lagoon, a private peninsula, offers relaxation and recreation. Look forward to the white picture book beach in a turquoise blue lagoon.
Private guided tour with multilingual driver/guide in a 4 × 4 safari vehicle.
Day 1: Dar es Salaam
Your friendly driver/guide is already waiting for you at the airport and will take you to your hotel in Dar es Salaam. Smell the fresh sea air and relax in a cosy atmosphere.
(B/-/- | Transfer Airport Dar es Salaam (approx. 45 minutes) | Overnight stay: Slipway Hotel)
Day 2: Selous Game Reserve
After an extensive breakfast on the beautiful terrace of your hotel you will leave the coast and the sea behind you. The landscape slowly becomes hilly and you pass many small villages and settlements on your way to the big wilderness. Around noon you reach the Selous Game Reserve, the largest controlled game reserve in Africa. On the way to the lodge you will pass through Miombo forests, which shed their leaves in the dry season, and through open grasslands littered with trees, where wildlife can be easily observed. In the late afternoon you move into your comfortable tent chalet with beautiful views of the legendary Rufiji River.
(B/L/D | Drive Dar es Salaam – Selous Game Reserve (approx. 5 hours | Overnight: Rufiji River Camp))
Day 3: Selous Game Reserve
Spend a whole day game viewing in the safari vehicle. Relax and explore the bush at a leisurely pace. Enjoy the silence and peaceful atmosphere of the wilderness. Once again you will have the opportunity to observe many wild animals and with a little luck you will see an exciting hunt. Extensive umbrella acacias provide shade and are the main food for the many giraffes, which stroll gracefully through the forests in small groups. Large antelopes, gazelles and elephants love this typical African terrain as much as the great hunters of the savannah. With luck you will meet the rare and endangered African wild dogs. After all, the park is home to the largest remaining number in all of Africa. After many impressions you return to your beautiful camp at the Rufiji River.
(B/L/D | Game drive Selous Game Reserve | Overnight stay: Rufiji River Camp)
Day 4: Selous Game Reserve
Early in the morning you will go on a walking safari with a guide and an armed ranger from the National Park Authority. On foot you are very close to nature and your guide will reveal all the secrets of the wilderness and answer your questions competently. In the afternoon you explore the Rufiji River on a boat safari. Watch grunting hippos romping in the water and grazing on the sandbanks. Marvel at the countless crocodiles basking on the banks from the safety of the boat. Observe the colourful bird life in the water and on land. Very often you can see the pretty blue kingfishers here. Also buffalos, elephants and giraffes love to stay on the shore. Enjoy the magic of an African sunset and listen to the animal sounds of the river at night.
(B/L/D | 1x game drive | 1x walking safari | 1x boat safari | Overnight stay: Rufiji River Camp)
Day 5: Mikumi Nationalpark
The Mikumi National Park is home to large herds of buffalo and elephants. Be enchanted by the typical African landscape with acacias and the beautiful Borassus palms. The chances to meet many lions here are high. Enjoy a whole day in this still unspoilt and little visited African wilderness. Spend the night on a hill in the middle of a forest at Vuma Hill Tented Camp. A pool invites you to take a refreshing dip before a delicious dinner is served on the rustic wooden veranda. Listen to the voices of the bush babies while you enjoy your meal.
(B/L/D | drive Selous – Mikumi National Park (approx. 6 hours) | game drive Mikumi National Park | overnight stay: Vuma Hills)
Day 6: Ruaha National Park
The tour continues to the west, passing small villages and settlements. The beautiful Ruaha National Park, where countless giant baobab trees grow, is the big brother of the Tarangire National Park in the classic north. With its romantic African landscape it reminds us of the legendary film “Beyond Africa”. Spend the night in the Ruaha River Lodge, the only one directly on the Ruaha River. From the terrace of your comfortable tent chalet as well as from the restaurant and lounge, you can enjoy the view of the river landscape with its large rocks. Watch hippos, elephants and many other animals along the river.
(B/L/D | drive Mikumi National Park – Ruaha National Park (approx. 5 hours) | game drive en-route | overnight stay: Ruaha River Lodge)
Day 7: Ruaha National Park
Another day with exciting game viewing awaits you. The special features of this impressive national park are large rare antelopes and gazelles as well as the endangered African wild dogs. They live in small packs of about 10 adult animals. Have your camera ready! This part of the park has a relatively high animal density and offers you unforgettable days in the African wilderness. Different landscapes like savannah with scattered acacia and baobab trees as well as the Ruaha River with its numerous side arms offer variety and very nice photo opportunities. In the late afternoon you return to your comfortable lodge. Tell your experiences over a romantic campfire at the riverbed and listen to the voices of nature.
(B/L/D | Game drive Ruaha National Park | Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge)
Day 8: Ruaha National Park
Take another game drive in the safari vehicle. Looking back on an eventful day, your way will lead you back to your accommodation. On your last evening in Tanzania enjoy a delicious dinner in a cosy atmosphere.
(B/L/D | Game drive Ruaha National Park | Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge)
Day 9-13: Lazy Lagoon Island
Now it is time to say goodbye to the wild nature of the south. After a short flight with a bush plane you will reach the tropical coast near Bagamoyo. A small boat will take you to the private peninsula in a few minutes. This dreamlike place with only 12 bungalows with sea view offers 9 km of white sandy beach. Swimming is also possible during the tides. Let your soul dangle and enjoy the peace and seclusion. The turquoise blue crystal clear water invites you to snorkel and dive. The bungalows are built from natural materials and are very comfortably furnished. Enjoy the sunset on your own terrace or balcony.
(B/L/D | Flight to Bagamoyo | Boat Transfer Lazy Lagoon | Overnight: 4 nights Lazy Lagoon Island Lodge | Boat Transfer Dar es Salaam and drive to the airport (approx. 2 hrs.)
The safari is a private driving safari with a multilingual driver/guide, combined with a flight from the mainland to the Lazy Lagoon Peninsula. Walking Safaris require a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 6 people.
Change requests:
This trip is a proposal. The accommodations must be checked for availability. If they are not available, alternative accommodations will be offered. We can adapt the route, content and accommodation to your wishes. We are happy to arrange activities according to your wishes. Please contact us for an appropriate offer. We are happy to arrange a pre- or post-program for you, e.g. an extension of the safari in the classic north (Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park…).
B = Breakfast
L = lunch / picnic with lunch box
D = dinner
Details Tour Trilogy of the South (flight safari)
12 Days Safari
Tour description:
Discover the originality of the south. Enjoy the views of the country from a bird’s eye view. Look at villages, towns, mountains and various landscapes. Concentrate your time on the national parks. Once there, with a little luck you will encounter rare African wild dogs, lions and large herds of buffalo and elephants. Afterwards the private island Lazy Lagoon Island offers relaxation and recreation on the white picture book beach in a turquoise blue lagoon.
Day 1: Dar es Salaam
Your friendly driver is already waiting for you at the airport and will take you to your hotel in Dar es Salaam. Smell the fresh sea air and relax in a cosy atmosphere.
(B/-/- | Transfer Airport Dar es Salam (approx. 45 minutes) | Overnight stay: Slipway Hotel)
Tag 2: Selous Game Reserve
After an extensive breakfast on the beautiful terrace of your hotel you will be driven to the airport of Dar es Salaam. With the bush plane you will now fly over the beautiful landscapes of the south to the Selous Game Reserve. Your driver/guide is already waiting for you at the airstrip. Today you will make your first game drive. Overnight in your comfortable tent chalet with a beautiful view of the legendary Rufiji River.
(B/L/D | Transfer Hotel – Airport Dar es Salaam (approx. 45 minutes) | Flight Dar es Salaam – Selous Game Reserve approx. 30 min. | game drive en-route/afternoon 1 boat or 1 walking safari) | Overnight: Rufiji River Camp)
Day 3: Selous Game Reserve
Go on a game drive in an open safari vehicle. Additionally, a walking or boat safari can be undertaken in the morning and evening. Relax and explore the bush at a leisurely pace. Enjoy the silence and peaceful atmosphere of the wilderness. Once again you will have the opportunity to observe many wild animals and with a little luck you will experience an exciting hunt. Extensive umbrella acacias provide shade and are the main food for the many giraffes, which stroll gracefully through the woods in small groups. Big antelopes, gazelles and elephants love this typical African terrain as much as the big hunters of the savannah. With luck you will meet the rare and endangered African wild dogs. After all, the park is home to the largest remaining number in all of Africa. After many impressions you return to your beautiful camp at the Rufiji River.
(B/L/D | game drive/1x walking safari/1x boat safari | overnight stay: Rufiji River Camp)
Day 4: Selous Game Reserve
On a walking safari you explore the bush with a guide and an armed ranger from the National Park Authority. On foot they are very close to nature and your guide will tell you all the secrets of the wilderness and answer your questions competently. In the afternoon you might explore the Rufiji River on a boat safari. Observe grunting hippos romping in the water and grazing on the sandbanks. Marvel at the countless crocodiles that can be seen basking on the riverbank from the safety of the boat. Observe the colourful bird life in the water and on land. Very often you can see the pretty blue kingfishers here. Also buffalos, elephants and giraffes love to stay on the riverbank. Enjoy the magic of an African sunset and listen to the animal sounds of the river at night.
(B/L/D | game drive/1x walking safari/1x boat safari) | Overnight stay: Rufiji River Camp)
Day 5: Ruaha National Park
This morning you will fly to Ruaha National Park. The journey continues westwards, passing small villages and settlements. The beautiful Ruaha National Park where countless giant baobab trees grow is the big brother of the Tarangire National Park in the classic north. With its romantic African landscape, it may remind you of the movie “Out of Africa”. Spend the night in the Ruaha River Lodge, the only one directly on the Ruaha River. From the terrace of your comfortable tent chalet as well as from the restaurant and lounge you can enjoy the river scenery with its large rocks. Watch hippos, elephants and many other animals along the river.
(B/L/D | Flight Selous Game Reserve – Ruaha National Park (approx. 1 3/4 hours) | game drive | overnight stay: Ruaha River Lodge)
Day 6: Ruaha National Park
Another day with exciting game viewing awaits you. The special features of this impressive national park are large rare antelopes and gazelles as well as the endangered African wild dogs. They live in small packs of about 10 adult dogs. Have your camera ready! This part of the park has a relatively high animal density and offers you unforgettable days in the African wilderness. Different landscapes like savannah with scattered acacia and baobab trees as well as the Ruaha River with its numerous side arms offer variety and very nice photo opportunities. In the late afternoon you return to your comfortable lodge. Share your experiences by the romantic campfire at the riverbed and listen to the voices of nature.
(F/M/A | game drive | overnight stay: Ruaha River Lodge)
Day 7: Ruaha National Park
Today you experience another day with exciting game viewing. Looking back on an eventful day, your way will lead you back to your quarters. On your last evening in the wilderness enjoy a delicious dinner in a cosy atmosphere.
(B/L/D | game drive) | Overnight stay: Ruaha River Lodge)
Day 8-12: Lazy Lagoon Island
Now it is time to say goodbye to the wild nature of the south. A bush plane will take you to the tropical coast near Bagamoyo. A small boat will take you to the private peninsula in a few minutes. This dreamlike place with only 12 bungalows with sea view offers 9 km of white sandy beach and swimming is possible at all tides. Let your soul dangle and enjoy the peace and seclusion. The turquoise blue and crystal clear water invites you to snorkel and dive. The bungalows are built from natural materials and are very comfortably furnished. Enjoy the sunset on your own terrace or balcony.
(B/L/D | flight to Bagamoyo (approx. 2,5 hrs.) | boat transfer Lazy Lagoon | overnight stay: 4 nights Lazy Lagoon Island Lodge) | boat transfer Dar es Salaam and drive to the airport (approx. 2 hrs.)
The safari is a flight safari with an English speaking driver/guide and open safari vehicles together with other guests. Walking Safaris require a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 6 people.
Change requests:
This trip is a proposal. The accommodations must be checked for availability. If they are not available, alternative accommodations will be offered. We can adapt the route, content and accommodation to your wishes. We are happy to arrange activities according to your wishes. Please contact us for an appropriate offer. We are happy to arrange a pre- or post-program for you, e.g. an extension of the safari in the classic north (Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park…).
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner