Tanzania Wild South & Spice Island Tour - 10 Days
Four days across Nyerere and Mikumi in the Southern Circuit, then five nights on Zanzibar for Stone Town, spice farms, Mnemba Atoll snorkelling and pure Indian Ocean rest. The complete wild-south-to-beach journey.
Tanzania Wild South & Spice Island Tour - 10 Days Southern Tanzania & Zanzibar
Ten days that pair the full depth of Tanzania's Southern Circuit with five nights on the Spice Island. Two nights in Nyerere, Africa's largest protected area, with a Rufiji River boat safari, wild dog tracking and a dawn walking safari. Two nights in Mikumi's classic open plains. Then a short flight east to Zanzibar for Stone Town, spice farms, world-class snorkelling and two fully free days by the Indian Ocean.
Haven Trails operates the safari days in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a 360° pop-up roof and an expert Southern Circuit guide, with all accommodation, transfers, park fees, the domestic flight and meals as per the itinerary included throughout. It is the itinerary we recommend for travellers who want profound wilderness and genuine beach time in a single, unhurried journey.
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.
Mikumi National Park
Tanzania's most accessible major park from Dar es Salaam and one of its finest open-plains destinations. The Mkata flood plain delivers classic big game viewing across vast open grassland, with the hippo pool consistently productive year-round.
Zanzibar (Unguja Island)
The Spice Island. Stone Town's UNESCO-listed old city, ancient spice plantations, and world-class snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll off a coastline of white sand and warm turquoise water. Five nights here allow real exploration and real rest in equal measure.
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.
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 sundowner drive along the Rufiji closing out the day.
3
Dawn Walking Safari → Drive to Mikumi
The day starts before dawn with an armed ranger walking safari through the Selous Forest, tracking and reading the landscape at foot pace. Return to camp for breakfast, then the drive to Mikumi National Park with a packed lunch en route.
Arrive in Mikumi for the afternoon game drive, the open-plains contrast to the intimate forest world of Nyerere.
4
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 a classic Southern Circuit game-driving day.
5
En Route Game Drive → Dar es Salaam → Fly to Zanzibar
Early breakfast and a final en route game drive through Mikumi, catching the park's peak early morning wildlife activity one last time before the drive back to Dar es Salaam.
At Dar es Salaam, transfer directly to the airport for the short domestic flight to Zanzibar, arriving in time to settle into your beach hotel for your first Indian Ocean sunset.
6
Zanzibar Stone Town & Spice Farm
Zanzibar reveals itself through its history first. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a labyrinth of narrow streets, carved wooden doors, Arabic arches and Swahili balconies built at the crossroads of centuries of trade. Your guide leads you past the old slave market, the House of Wonders and the seafront where dhows once loaded with cloves.
In the afternoon, a spice farm visit through the island's fragrant interior, tasting fresh nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and cardamom, before returning to the beach for the evening.
7
Zanzibar Mnemba Snorkelling & Dolphin Encounter
Today belongs to the ocean. A boat trip to Mnemba Atoll, a protected marine reserve off Zanzibar's northeast coast, reveals coral gardens in extraordinary health, green turtles, hawksbill turtles and a density of reef fish that makes every moment underwater an event. A packed snorkelling lunch on the water.
In the afternoon, the option of Kizimkazi, Zanzibar's dolphin village, where resident pods of bottlenose and humpback dolphins are nearly always present, or a sunset dhow cruise to close the day.
8
Free Day: Prison Island, Jozani Forest or Beach
The first of two fully free Zanzibar days. Popular choices include Prison Island (Changuu Island), a short boat ride from Stone Town hosting a colony of giant Aldabra tortoises, some over a century old, that wander freely across the grounds.
Alternatively, Jozani Forest, the last remnant of ancient coral rag forest in Zanzibar and the only home of the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey. Or simply the beach, a book and the sound of the Indian Ocean. All are equally valid.
9
Free Day: Pure Beach
The second free Zanzibar day, and with five nights on the island, this one is designed for pure rest. Swim, read, walk the beach at low tide, or add an optional east coast kitesurfing lesson or a half-day deep sea fishing trip.
Whatever you choose, this is the day the whole journey has been building toward: no itinerary, no schedule, only the Indian Ocean.
10
Departure from Zanzibar
A relaxed final morning: a last swim, a last walk on the beach, breakfast overlooking the ocean. Your Haven Trails ground team transfers you to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward or homeward flight.
Ten days that will define your understanding of what a safari and beach journey, at its very best, can be. Haven Trails wishes you a safe onward journey and looks forward to welcoming you back to Tanzania.
Accommodation 9 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 well-run mid-range tented camp with excellent food, positioned for easy access to the Mkata plain's classic open grassland game drives.
A comfortable beachfront hotel with direct access to Zanzibar's white sand. Clean, welcoming rooms with the Indian Ocean outside your window for five nights.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Return 4x4 Land Cruiser (pop-up roof) from Dar es Salaam
- Expert English-speaking Southern Circuit guide (safari days)
- All national park entry and conservation fees
- Domestic flight, Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
- All accommodation (9 nights, as per itinerary)
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Stone Town guided tour and spice farm visit
- Mnemba Atoll snorkelling boat trip
- Zanzibar airport transfers
- International flights to/from Tanzania
- Tanzania tourist visa (required, approx. $50 USD)
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Optional dolphin swimming, kitesurfing or deep sea fishing
- Alcoholic beverages throughout
- Guide, driver and hotel staff gratuities (discretionary)
- Personal items and souvenirs
Why Haven Trails Adventures
Our southern circuit specialists have guided extensively in Nyerere and Mikumi and know the best routes and seasonal wildlife concentrations.
A signature Nyerere experience unavailable in most East African parks, included as standard on this itinerary.
Enough time for Stone Town, the spice farms, Mnemba Atoll and two entirely free days by the ocean.
We handle every transfer and the Dar es Salaam-Zanzibar flight, so the shift from wilderness to beach is effortless.
Extend with Ruaha, upgrade accommodation tiers, or adjust the balance of safari and beach days to suit your group.
Haven Trails operates in strict compliance with TANAPA and TAWIRI regulations and supports anti-poaching initiatives in Nyerere.