8 Day Pure South Tanzania Safari
Countries: Tanzania
Destinations: Dar es Salaam , Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve) , Ruaha National Park
Group Size: 2
Duration (days): 8
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Children: 0
The national parks in the south of the country not only have far fewer visitors than their counterparts in the north, but they also are home to some of the largest wildlife populations in Tanzania and, arguably, some of the most stunning and dramatic scenery found anywhere in Africa.
This eight-day Pure South journey connects two of Southern Tanzania’s key areas into one seamless trip: Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park, formerly known as the Selous.
For the intrepid adventurer seeking a diversity of safari activities and habitats to explore, this combination offers a diverse and rewarding safari experience, with walking safaris and boating excursions on Nyerere’s lakes and unrivalled photographic opportunities in Ruaha.
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dar es Salaam | Dar es Salaam Serena |
| 2 | Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve) | Roho ya Selous |
| 3 | Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve) | Roho ya Selous |
| 4 | Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve) | Roho ya Selous |
| 5 | Ruaha National Park | Jabali Ridge |
| 6 | Ruaha National Park | Jabali Ridge |
| 7 | Ruaha National Park | Jabali Ridge |
| 8 | Day of Departure |
Day 1 : Dar es Salaam
Upon your arrival at Dar es Salaam Airport, you will be greeted by one of Asilia’s drivers, who will transfer you to your hotel. The hotel’s rooms are spacious and comfortable, providing all the amenities you would expect from an international hotel, making it an ideal place to rest after your flights before your safari begins tomorrow.
Tanzania
A land full of icons, with the names Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar immediately evoking images of exotic locations and abundant wildlife. A Tanzanian safari is an experience for all of the senses, and caters for every kind of traveller.
Tanzania is a country which was seemingly designed with the word "safari" in mind. There are enough national parks and different safari activities to keep travellers coming back year on year, with the added benefit of easily combining beautiful tropical beaches with the wildlife rich plains.
A Tanzanian safari is a journey in the true sense of the word, with each itinerary feeling like an exploration out into the wilderness. Moving from park to park, either by road or air, the countryside offers something new at each stop.
The plains of the Serengeti have become synonomous with an African safari, and by visiting the right areas and camps, you will be able to see the legendary wildebeest migration as it moves across the grasslands in constant search of fresh grazing and water.
To the south of the country are the remote reserves of Selous and Ruaha, while in the west you can trek into the mountains to witness chimpanzees along the shores of the mystical Lake Tanganyika.
Dar es Salaam
Founded by the Sultan of Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam remained only a small port until the German East Africa Company established a station there in 1887. During the German occupation in the early 20th century, Dar was the centre of colonial administration and the main contact point between the agricultural mainland and the world of trade and commerce in the Indian Ocean and the Swahili Coast. It served as the capital of German East Africa (1891 to 1916), Tanganyika (1961 to 1964) and Tanzania (1964 to 1974,) when Dodoma was designated Tanzania’s national capital.
Buildings in Dar often reflect the city’s colonial past and display a rich mix of architectural styles incorporating Swahili, British, German and Asian traditions. Post World War II modernisation and expansion brought contemporary multistoried buildings including a hospital complex, a technical institute and a high court. Educational facilities comprise the University of Dar es Salaam (1961), several libraries and research institutes as well as the National Museum. Other historical landmarks include St Joseph’s Cathedral, the White Father’s Mission House, the Botanical Gardens and the old State House, which make for an interesting walking tour around the waterfront and city centre.
Dar’s natural, nearly landlocked harbour is the outlet for most of mainland Tanzania’s agricultural and mineral exports and is also a transit port for the Congo River. The city is the terminus of a rail line west to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika, north to Mwanza on Lake Victoria and south to Zambia.
Dar es Salaam Serena
Experience urban living at its most cosmopolitan at Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, located at the heart of the city centre business district, just moments from sandy Indian Ocean beaches, a bustling fish market and eclectic crafts markets, boutiques and restaurants. A garden oasis of tranquillity and charm, our five-star Dar es Salaam hotel promises the warmest of welcomes, vibrant experiences and vivid memories of your stay.
For discerning business and leisure travellers with a taste for the very finest, our distinctive five-star hotel is a place to call home. Exceptional security and impeccable service as well as world-class amenities and cuisine create the perfect retreat within a thriving metropolis.
Acclaimed as one of Tanzania’s most prestigious hotels, Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel offers a perspective that is the essence of the city itself: diverse and stylish yet exceedingly relaxed and down-to-earth.
Day 2 - 4 : Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
Today, you will head to the international airport for a light aircraft flight to Nyerere National Park. This is one of Africa’s most exceptional game reserves, and you’re in for a treat! Your destination is Roho ya Selous, located in the heart of Nyerere’s core game viewing area.
Once you settle into your comfortable canvas tent, you can enjoy a delicious lunch with breathtaking views of Lake Nzerakera. After that, you’ll have time to relax before afternoon tea and an exhilarating game drive. The national park is home to a wide variety and high density of wildlife, including abundant giraffe and hippo, herds of elephant and if you’re lucky, wild dog.
Your safari experience is entirely flexible, with various activities to choose from each morning and afternoon. You can embark on a walking safari to explore the Miombo woodland environment with your guide. The boating safaris are equally fantastic and offer an excellent opportunity to witness wildlife come to the water’s edge to drink, as well as get up close to bird colonies, hippo, and crocodile. If you’re a fishing enthusiast, you can also enjoy catch-and-release fishing.
Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
Originally named after the legendary hunter and explorer Sir Frederick Selous, the Selous Game Reserve, now known as Nyerere National Park, is one of the largest in the world, at over 50 000 square kilometers. Being on the less touristed southern circuit of Tanzania, Nyerere allows you to get off the beaten path, and enjoy an active and exclusive safari.
With the Rufiji River delta flowing through Nyerere and out into the Indian Ocean, the park offers activities on the river, including boat cruises and fishing trips, and another plus is that it is well located to take a short flight to one of Tanzania's tropical islands.
Visiting the less-touristed southern circuit of Tanzania offers you a very different experience to the northern parks of the country, and the Nyerere National Park is an exciting and activity laden destination.
Being about an hour flight from Dar es Salaam, or a 3 hour flight from Arusha, Nyerere is far removed from the main Tanzanian parks, and for this reason is a great place to wander away from the tourist track and enjoy a Tanzanian safari with a difference. While not being able to offer the same volume of wildlife sightings, and also being quite seasonal, Nyerere works on a basis of quality over quantity, and offers some of the higher ranges of safari experiences in Tanzania.
Roho ya Selous
On a small peninsula overlooking Lake Nzerakera, Roho ya Selous is in the heart of Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), the largest reserve in Africa and home to one of the biggest populations of wild dogs on the continent.
It is a wildlife hotspot, with giraffes and elephants regularly sauntering through camp during the day and the sounds of nearby hippos and lions punctuating the night. With its network of lakes and rivers, this area is known for its water-based activities.
Our eight-tent camp is simple and stylish, with evening-breeze cooling systems above the beds making even the hottest nights more comfortable. During the day, cool off in the pool or spot wildlife making its way to the water from an armchair in our shaded dining tent or lounge area. Out and about, explore by vehicle, on foot or even in a boat, with fishing excursions available.
Day 5 - 7 : Ruaha National Park
Your adventure continues after breakfast as you board a light aircraft for a flight to Ruaha National Park. As you arrive, your guide will game drive you to Jabali Ridge, located on a rocky kopje overlooking a beautiful valley of baobab trees. Your day will then be yours to spend at leisure, with the option to embark on an afternoon game drive or unwind and soak up the breathtaking surroundings from the pool.
At Jabali Ridge, you’ll have the option to tailor your days to your preferences. Start your mornings with a walking safari, allowing you to explore the wilderness on equal footing with the wildlife. Alternatively, opt for a morning or full-day game drive with a picnic lunch or a relaxed lunch in camp followed by an afternoon game drive. If you need rejuvenation, spend your day lounging by the pool or indulging in the spa.
As night falls, you can look forward to your favourite drinks and a delicious dinner or combine your afternoon with a nocturnal game drive to discover the park’s rare and secretive night creatures. At Jabali Ridge, the options are endless, and our team will do everything possible to ensure that your stay is nothing short of extraordinary.
Ruaha National Park
Also on the southern circuit, but even further removed than the Selous, Ruaha National Park provides a wild and game rich safari experience, with an incredible dry season concentration of animals.
With its variety of landscapes, and excellent sightings, as well as the remote location far from any major human habitation, Ruaha has made a name for itself as one of Africa's great game reserves.
A unique mix of species is found in Ruaha, with the park being located in the transitional zone between the acacia savannah of East Africa and the miombo woodland belt of Southern Africa.
Flowing along the eastern border of the park, the great Ruaha River is the lifeblood of the area, being the only source of water during the dry season, and therefore attracting an enormous concentration of wildlife.
Jabali Ridge
Jabali Ridge is a stylish camp in the wildlife-rich Ruaha National Park, set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Mwagusi River and Ikuka escarpment. A landscape of sun-bleached plains, mighty baobabs and hardy shrubs, Ruaha is home to large numbers of lion, elephant, buffalo and even endangered African wild dogs. During the rainy season, visitors can hear the incredible thundering of the Ikuka waterfalls and even witness the Mwagusi beginning to flow after being dry for seven months. The dry season is equally exciting, with opportunities to spot buffalo herds in the riverbed and elephants digging in the sand for water.
Day 8 - Day of Departure
After breakfast, with your bags packed, say goodbye as you depart on your light aircraft flight to Dar es Salaam International Airport. Bid farewell to the magnificent landscapes and wildlife of Ruaha National Park as you soar above the giant baobab trees dotting the plains and enjoy the delicious, packed lunch from Jabali Ridge.