Southern Tanzania Grand Safari - 8 Days
Eight days across Tanzania's three great southern parks. Nyerere's Rufiji River and wild dog country, Ruaha's ancient baobabs and lion prides, and Mikumi's open plains, connected by a scenic light aircraft transfer. The complete Southern Circuit, done in full depth.
Southern Tanzania Grand Safari - 8 Days Southern Tanzania
Eight days across the three great parks of Tanzania's Southern Circuit. Two nights in Nyerere, Africa's largest protected area, with a Rufiji boat safari and wild dog tracking. Two nights in Ruaha, Tanzania's second-largest park and one of Africa's great predator strongholds. Two nights in Mikumi's open plains, the classic finale to a Southern Circuit journey.
Haven Trails operates this itinerary with a light aircraft transfer between Nyerere and Ruaha, saving a full day of driving and delivering an extraordinary aerial view of the Rufiji floodplain and the Kilombero Valley. A private 4x4 Land Cruiser, an expert Southern Circuit guide, and all accommodation, transfers, park fees and meals are included throughout.
Where You'll Go
Nyerere National Park
Africa's largest single protected area. 50,000 km² of miombo woodland, Rufiji River wetlands and remote grassland supporting Africa's greatest wild dog population and enormous elephant herds. Boat safaris and walking safaris are signature activities here.
Ruaha National Park
Tanzania's second-largest national park and one of Africa's finest predator destinations. Ancient baobabs preside over the Great Ruaha River, where enormous lion prides, over 570 recorded bird species and East Africa's greatest concentration of greater kudu can be found.
Mikumi National Park
Tanzania's most accessible major park from Dar es Salaam. The Mkata flood plain delivers classic open-plains game viewing: lions, elephants, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest across vast grassland, with the hippo pool consistently productive year-round.
The Itinerary
1
Dar es Salaam → Nyerere Evening Boat Safari
Morning pickup from your Dar es Salaam hotel or airport at 8:00 AM for the drive south to Nyerere National Park via Kibiti. You arrive in the early afternoon and head straight to the river for the evening boat safari on the Rufiji.
Hippo pods surfacing beside the boat, crocodiles on every sandbank and fish eagles calling from the riverine trees make this one of Africa's defining wildlife experiences, right from day one.
2
Full Day Nyerere Wild Dog Tracking
A full Nyerere day dedicated to wild dog tracking in the early morning when packs are most active, followed by a circuit through the lake systems, open grassland and miombo woodland.
Picnic lunch in the park, with a second boat segment or sundowner drive along the Rufiji closing out your final Nyerere evening.
3
Dawn Walking Safari → Fly to Ruaha
The day starts before dawn with an armed ranger walking safari through the Selous Forest, tracking and reading the bush at foot pace. Return to camp for breakfast and a mid-morning transfer to the airstrip.
A light aircraft flight carries you from Nyerere to Ruaha, with sweeping aerial views over the Rufiji floodplain and the Kilombero Valley below. Arrive in Ruaha in time for an afternoon game drive along the Great Ruaha River.
4
Full Day Ruaha: Lion Prides & Baobabs
A full day exploring Ruaha's dramatic landscape, where the miombo woodland of southern Tanzania meets the acacia savanna typical of the east, creating exceptional habitat diversity and some of Africa's largest lion prides.
Ancient baobab trees, some centuries old, punctuate the landscape as your guide tracks prides across the riverbed and open plains. Picnic lunch overlooking the Great Ruaha River.
5
Full Day Ruaha: Remote Circuits
Ruaha's remoteness is its reward. A second full day working the park's quieter circuits away from the main river, where wild dog packs, striped hyena and leopard sightings reward patient, unhurried game driving.
Fewer vehicles here than almost anywhere else on Tanzania's safari circuit, and a genuine sense of discovery on every drive.
6
Ruaha → Transfer to Mikumi
A final morning game drive in Ruaha before departing for Mikumi National Park, a journey through the changing landscapes of southern Tanzania with a packed lunch en route.
Arrive in Mikumi in the afternoon for your first game drive on the Mkata plain, the open-grassland contrast to the drama of Ruaha and the intimacy of Nyerere.
7
Full Day Mikumi Open Plains
A full day in Mikumi's open plains: the hippo pool, the Mwanambogo Dam, the flood plain grassland and the woodland edges. Mornings favour predators, afternoons favour the great herds of zebra, wildebeest and buffalo.
A picnic lunch at a scenic spot in the park rounds out the day before a final evening at camp.
8
En Route Game Drive → Return Dar es Salaam
Early breakfast and a final en route game drive through Mikumi as you depart, catching the park's peak early morning wildlife activity one last time.
The drive back to Dar es Salaam with a packed lunch, arriving at your hotel or Julius Nyerere Airport in the afternoon, eight days after this Grand Safari began.
Accommodation 7 Nights Across 3 Locations
Beautifully positioned on the Rufiji River, one of the most atmospherically located lodges in the southern circuit, with excellent food and boat safari access.
A classic safari lodge set among giant boulders and baobabs above the Great Ruaha River. Elephants and lion regularly pass beneath the rooms.
A well-run mid-range tented camp with excellent food, positioned for easy access to the Mkata plain's classic open grassland game drives.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Return 4x4 Land Cruiser (pop-up roof) from Dar es Salaam
- Expert English-speaking Southern Circuit guide
- All national park entry and conservation fees
- Light aircraft transfer, Nyerere to Ruaha
- All accommodation (7 nights, as per itinerary)
- All safari meals as per the itinerary
- Bottled water and soft drinks in the vehicle daily
- Hotel/airport pickup and drop-off in Dar es Salaam
- International flights to/from Tanzania
- Tanzania tourist visa (required, approx. $50 USD)
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Alcoholic beverages throughout
- Safari guide and crew gratuities (discretionary)
- Optional activities not listed in itinerary
- Personal items and souvenirs
Why Haven Trails Adventures
Our guides have worked extensively across Nyerere, Ruaha and Mikumi and know the wildlife concentrations, routes and hidden corners of all three.
The Nyerere-to-Ruaha flight saves a full day of driving and delivers an extraordinary aerial perspective over the Rufiji floodplain.
The Southern Circuit remains Tanzania's most undiscovered safari destination: wilder landscapes and far fewer vehicles than the Northern Circuit.
Haven Trails is based in Moshi, Tanzania, with a local team that knows road conditions, flight logistics and the best lodges throughout the south.
Extend with Udzungwa's hiking trails, add Zanzibar at the end, or upgrade any of the three lodges. Tell us your vision.
Haven Trails operates in strict compliance with TANAPA and TAWIRI regulations and supports anti-poaching initiatives across the Southern Circuit.