8 days Mikumi ,Nyerere and Ruaha National Park Wildlife Safaris
The 8 days mikumi ,Nyerere and Ruaha national park Wildlife safaris Tanzania is an exceptional package tailored for anyone seeking to engage with wildlife in less populated areas, offering an authentic wilderness experience away from home. This all-inclusive 8 days mikumi ,Nyerere and Ruaha national park Wildlife safaris trip is ideal for both seasoned safari enthusiasts and first-time travelers seeking to discover unspoiled wildlife locations, while circumventing the congested northern circuit parks during high season.
This Tanzania safari itinerary commences and concludes in Dar es Salaam, and may be undertaken independently or as an extension following a visit to Northern Tanzania. You may also consider commencing from Zanzibar Island. The optimal period for this 8 days mikumi ,Nyerere and Ruaha national park Wildlife safaris Tanzania is during the dry seasons, while the rainy seasons typically occur between April and May. The optimal period occurs throughout the dry season from January to March and from July to September. Nevertheless, other milder months, such as June and the period from October to December, are equally opportune for travel, and with the exquisite landscapes, you are guaranteed a remarkable safari experience in southern Tanzania.
The 8 days mikumi ,Nyerere and Ruaha national park Wildlife safaris in Tanzania encompasses a tour of the Nyerere National Park for game drives, boat safaris, and walking safaris, as well as visits to Mikumi National Park and Ruaha National Park. You anticipate observing substantial herds of elephants, impalas, topis, wildebeests, zebras, and uncommon species such as kudus and African wild dogs.
Day 1: Depart to Selous Game Reserve
Day 2: Excursion at Safari Selous Game Reserve
Day 3: community Tour and Transfer Mikumi Township
Day 4: Game drive and Transfer to Ruaha National Park
Day 5: Whole Day Ruaha National Park full day
Day 6: Transfer Mikumi National Park
Day 7: Whole Day Safari Mikumi National Park
Day 8: Transfer to Dar Es Salaam
Day 1: Depart to Nyerere National Park
Commence journey to Nyerere National Park, Following breakfast, you will be collected from the hotel for your journey to Nyerere National Park, which will take approximately 5 to 7 hours. Flights are also available from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. Upon lunchtime, you arrive at your opulent tented camp, situated just on the banks of the Rufiji River. Following lunch and acclimatization, your activities commence with a boat excursion on the renowned Rufiji River in Selous for a sunset safari. You anticipate experiencing magnificent landscapes and observing wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, and both aquatic and terrestrial birds in flight. Evening meal and overnight accommodation at the lodge adjacent to the Rufiji River.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Explore at Nyerere National Park
The entire day of game drives occurred at Nyerere National Park named after the British military officer and explorer, Frederick Selous. The Selous Game Reserve, located on the Southern Tanzania safari circuit, is the largest designated wildlife reserve. The game reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site, encompassing a pristine, desolate expanse of huge grasslands and woodlands that exceeds the size of Switzerland. The park’s exquisite geography include rolling savannah woodlands, grassland plains, and rocky outcrops, intersected by the renowned Rufiji River and its several tributaries. Selous possesses the highest population of large game, including elephants, buffalo, and infrequently, black rhinos. The Selous is inhabited by wildebeest, eland, giraffe, waterbuck, zebra, impala, hippo, leopard, and lion, but is particularly renowned for its wild dogs, who are more readily observable in this game reserve than in any other natural habitat in Tanzania. Approximately 350 avian species exist.
Dietary Schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: community Tour and Transfer Mikumi Township
Following breakfast at the lodge, you will go on a walking safari, which may include a village tour with a local guide and your driver, subsequently proceeding via the Selous wildlife Reserve via a wildlife drive en route to Mikumi Township. Upon arrival in the late afternoon at your campsite adjacent to Mikumi National Park, you will check in for leisure, supper, and overnight accommodation.
Dietary Schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Game drive and Transfer to Ruaha National Park
Game drive and transfer to Ruaha National Park
After breakfast, proceed to Ruaha National Park via Iringa. We arrive in time for a picnic lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive until 6:00 PM, when you will be transported to your lodge near the park for supper and overnight accommodations. Similar to the Selous, one anticipates encountering significant wildlife in Ruaha National Park; but, unlike the northern parks, the fauna in Ruaha remains ‘really wild’ and thus very skittish. It requires patience and keen anticipation, and upon sighting the animals, it is only you and the wildlife in the authentic African safari environment.
Dietary Schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Entire Day Full day at Ruaha National Park
Following breakfast, you re-enter the park for an entire day of game drives at Ruaha National Park, accompanied by a picnic lunch. Ruaha, encompassing an area of 20,226 sq. km, is presently the largest park in Tanzania following the incorporation of the Usangu Game Reserve and other significant wetlands that were adjacent to the park before their designation as part of the Great Ruaha. Ruaha is notably the second largest elephant sanctuary in Tanzania. The magnificent Ruaha River, which traverses its entire eastern boundary, forms stunning gorges and landscapes, and is home to numerous hippos and crocodiles. The diverse array of fauna encompasses Greater and Lesser Kudu, roan and sable antelope, along with numerous more uncommon species exclusive to this ‘true wilderness.’ Ruaha boasts a diverse avifauna, with more than 370 species documented.
Dietary Schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6: Transfer Mikumi National Park
Your safari vehicle will collect you from Ruaha, and you will commence your journey to Mikumi National Park, passing via Iringa town once more. The park is situated between the Uluguru Mountains of the Ancient Eastern Arc Mountains to the east and the Great Rift Valley Escarpments to the southwest. The travel from Ruaha to Mikumi, located not far from Ruaha and accessible via a well-maintained tarmac road, takes approximately 4 to 4.5 hours. You will arrive at approximately midday and proceed directly to game drives within the park, with a packed lunch at a designated picnic location. In the afternoon, we proceed to the camp/lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Dietary Schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Full-Day Safari Mikumi National Park
Engage in a full day of game drives in Mikumi National Park with a packed lunch, or partake in morning and afternoon game drives with a lunch intermission at the lodge or tented camp. Mikumi National Park is integrated within the expansive Selous Ecosystem, which includes the Nyerere National Park, and hosts a significant diversity of avian and terrestrial fauna. The fauna observable at Mikumi comprises giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, impalas, warthogs, zebras, wildebeests, elands, and various other antelopes. In addition to game drives in the park, one can partake in a guided walking safari led by an armed ranger for an additional fee.
Dietary Schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 8: Relocation to Dar Es Salaam
Following breakfast, we can embark on another game drive if you choose until it is time to Depart the park at midday and, following lunch, drive back to Dar es Salaam, concluding the safari. You will be dropped off at The Ferry or The Airport, contingent upon your itinerary. This 8-day Southern Tanzania safari itinerary can be effortlessly tailored with mid-range hotels and tented camps or standard deluxe accommodations if you want more opulent housing.
Dietary Schedule: Breakfast and Lunch
Price Includes
- Pick up / drop off at Dar es Salaam
- 08 days private safari for 02 – 06 persons
- Transport and wildlife drives in modified 4WD Land Cruiser with the photographic roof hatch
- Services of a professional English speaking safari guide
- All wildlife reserve entry fees
- Walking tours at Selous and Ruaha National Park
- Boat Safari at Rufiji River in Selous
- 07 x FB at safari lodges and tented camps as per itinerary
- Meals as per itinerary
- 3 x 0.5 l mineral water per person/day
- Tourist Development Levy
- Wildlife Management Area Fees
- VAT (18%) by Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Price Includes
- International Flights
- Airport transfers at Dar es Salaam
- All items of a personal nature
- Gratuities for safari guide
- Travel insurance
- Overnight at Dar es Salaam before/after safari
- Visa fee (50 US$ /100 US$ for Americans & Irish Passport Holders- to be paid upon arrival)
- drinks and beverages in lodges