8-Day Deep South Tanzania
OVERVIEW
TWO WILDS. ALL THE TIME THEY DESERVE.
This journey isn’t about collecting national parks.
It’s about staying.
Begin with the waterways, woodland and immense wilderness of Nyerere before flying west to the rugged landscapes of Ruaha.
Four nights in Nyerere give you time to explore by vehicle, boat and, where available, on foot. Three nights in Ruaha take you into elephant country, where baobabs rise above dry riverbeds and predators roam enormous territories.
No marathon road transfers.
No new lodge every morning.
Just two extraordinary wildernesses and enough time to actually know them.
DAY 01 / DAR ES SALAAM → NYERERE - LEAVE THE CITY. LAND IN THE WILD.
Board a scheduled light aircraft from Dar es Salaam and fly south into Nyerere.
The city and coastline disappear beneath you as Tanzania becomes increasingly green, remote and wild.
Land at a bush airstrip and meet your camp guide.
Your transfer to camp becomes your first game drive, with the possibility of elephants, giraffes, buffalo and antelope appearing before you’ve even unpacked.
Settle into your luxury camp and spend the evening listening to a completely different Tanzania.
OVERNIGHT
Luxury Safari Camp, Nyerere
MEALS
Lunch · Dinner
DAY 02 / NYERERE - FOLLOW THE RUFIJI.
Head out early to explore Nyerere’s vast wilderness.
Woodlands, open grassland, lakes and river systems create a constantly changing safari landscape.
Search for elephants, buffalo, giraffes, lions and antelope as your guide follows tracks through the reserve.
Later, leave the vehicle behind.
Board a boat and explore the waterways connected to the Rufiji River system.
Hippos surface around you.
Crocodiles occupy the banks.
Fish eagles call overhead.
The sun drops toward the water.
And safari suddenly feels very different from the usual dusty road.
OVERNIGHT
Luxury Safari Camp, Nyerere
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 03 / NYERERE - THE WILD LOOKS DIFFERENT ON FOOT.
Today can begin differently.
Depending on your camp, season and operating conditions, join an experienced guide for a walking safari.
Without the vehicle, attention shifts.
Animal tracks become stories.
Bird calls become directions.
Tiny things suddenly matter.
Continue later by vehicle, exploring another section of the wilderness and searching for predators and larger herds.
Nyerere is enormous.
Three days in, it still has plenty of places you haven’t seen.
OVERNIGHT
Luxury Safari Camp, Nyerere
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 04 / NYERERE - NO NEED TO MOVE ON YET.
Spend another full day following whatever the wilderness is doing.
Return to a productive wildlife area, follow fresh predator tracks or explore quieter corners away from the main routes.
African wild dogs inhabit the wider Nyerere ecosystem and are among its most exciting potential encounters, although sightings can never be promised.
Choose another boat safari, a long game drive or simply return to camp earlier and let the wilderness come to you.
Sometimes the best safari afternoon involves doing very little.
OVERNIGHT
Luxury Safari Camp, Nyerere
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 05 / NYERERE → RUAHA - TAKE THE SKY WEST.
Enjoy breakfast before transferring to the airstrip.
Board your bush aircraft and fly toward Ruaha.
Watch the landscape change beneath you.
When you land, the south feels different again.
Ruaha is rugged and dramatic, shaped by river systems, rocky hills, woodland and magnificent baobabs.
Meet your guide and begin game driving toward camp.
Welcome to elephant country.
OVERNIGHT
Luxury Safari Camp, Ruaha
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 06 / RUAHA - WHERE BAOBABS MEET LIONS.
Wake early and head into the park.
The Great Ruaha River and surrounding water systems draw wildlife through an immense landscape, particularly during the drier months.
Look for large elephant groups moving through the woodland, giraffes between baobabs and buffalo gathering near water.
Ruaha also supports an impressive predator community, including lions, leopards, cheetahs and African wild dogs.
Spend the day following river systems and remote tracks with your guide.
No rush.
No checklist.
Just see where the road goes.
OVERNIGHT
Luxury Safari Camp, Ruaha
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 07 / RUAHA - GO WHERE QUIET GETS LOUD.
Your final full safari day begins with another early departure.
Head deeper into Ruaha, perhaps following yesterday’s tracks or exploring somewhere completely different.
If available through your camp, a guided walking safari can replace part of today’s vehicle-based exploration.
Otherwise, spend the day searching for elephants, predators and wildlife around the river systems.
As afternoon fades, stop somewhere beautiful for your final sundowner.
No engines for a moment.
Just wind through dry grass.
Bird calls.
Maybe elephants somewhere beyond the trees.
That’s the south.
OVERNIGHT
Luxury Safari Camp, Ruaha
MEALS
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
DAY 08 / RUAHA → DAR ES SALAAM - LEAVE THE WILD FROM ABOVE.
Wake for your final morning in Ruaha.
Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy breakfast and perhaps one last short game drive before heading to the airstrip.
Board your scheduled light aircraft back toward Dar es Salaam.
Below you, Ruaha gradually disappears into the enormous landscapes of southern Tanzania.
Land in Dar for your onward flight, overnight stay or connection to Zanzibar.
The south doesn’t make much noise about itself.
Perhaps that’s why it stays with you.
MEALS
Breakfast
END POINT
Dar es Salaam
$5,950
MAKE THIS JOURNEY YOURS
Safari Includes
- All Park Fees
- All transportation
- Professional private safari guide
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Government taxes and VAT
Safari Excludes
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Personal items
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some Meals