Southern Tanzania Luxury Safari – Nyerere & Ruaha
Duration
7 Days
Destination
Tanzania
Style
Southern Circuit
Best For
Wildlife & Adventure
Women-Led · Custom-Made Luxury Safaris · Exclusive African Wilderness Escapes
Overview
Tanzania's Southern Circuit is where the northern parks looked forty years ago: vast, uncrowded, and run by a handful of exceptional camps rather than hundreds of vehicles. This is the itinerary for repeat safari travellers and anyone who wants exclusivity without compromising on comfort.
Trip Highlights
Rufiji River boat safaris: hippo pods, Nile crocodile, and prolific birdlife
Walking safaris in both Nyerere and Ruaha, rarely offered on the northern circuit
African wild dog territory in one of Tanzania's last strongholds
Greater kudu, sable and roan antelope: species absent from northern Tanzania
Exclusive camps with a fraction of the vehicle numbers in the Serengeti
Optional Zanzibar extension on departure from Dar es Salaam
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1Dar es Salaam – Arrival
Arrive into Dar es Salaam and transfer to a private harbour-view hotel. Rest before the light-aircraft flight into the bush tomorrow morning. Dar es Salaam's waterfront and Swahili coast cuisine are worth exploring if you arrive with time.
Day 2Fly into Nyerere National Park
A light-aircraft transfer into the heart of Nyerere, Africa's largest protected wilderness at 50,000 km². Check in at your camp on the Rufiji River, then an afternoon game drive or boat safari to introduce the ecosystem. The Rufiji's banks support resident hippo, crocodile, elephant, and an extraordinary diversity of waterbirds.
Day 3Nyerere National Park – Full Day
A full day alternating game drives with boat safaris past hippo pods and crocodile banks. Guided walking safaris are available from most Nyerere camps and are an experience rarely offered on the northern circuit: tracking lion on foot through riverine forest, with an expert guide reading the landscape in real time.
Day 4Nyerere National Park – Full Day
A third day in Nyerere allows you to experience both the main Rufiji ecosystem and the more remote lake channels of the park's southern section, where wild dog packs hunt and the wildlife pressure is close to zero. Evening sundowner on the river before your last night in Nyerere.
Day 5Fly to Ruaha National Park
Fly on to Ruaha, Tanzania's largest national park and the country's best-kept safari secret. Ruaha holds one of Africa's largest lion populations and is one of the last strongholds of the African wild dog. Baobab-studded escarpments, the Great Ruaha River, and species you won't see up north: greater kudu, sable, roan antelope. Afternoon game drive on arrival.
Day 6Ruaha National Park – Full Day
Game drives and walking safaris continue through Ruaha's extraordinary landscape. The dry-season concentrations of elephant at the river, combined with the park's exceptional predator density and the near-absence of other vehicles, create the kind of undiluted safari experience that the northern circuit can no longer deliver at scale.
Day 7Ruaha – Fly to Dar es Salaam, Departure
A final morning game drive before the light-aircraft flight back to Dar es Salaam for your onward or international connection. Optional Zanzibar extension available from Dar es Salaam for 3–5 beach nights. End of Saringi Tours services.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- All accommodation on a Full Board basis (as specified)
- All game drives in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Expert English-speaking guide and driver
- All national park and reserve entry fees
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- Mineral water during all game drives
- Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
Not Included
- International flights and any domestic or regional flights not expressly listed as included in your confirmed quote
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tanzania visa or entry-permission fees, where required for your passport
- Tips and gratuities for guides and lodge staff
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Personal items (laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs)
- Optional activities, extra excursions and upgrades not listed as included in your confirmed itinerary
- Any costs arising from flight delays or itinerary changes
- Meals outside the meal plan stated for each day of this itinerary
- Mainland Tanzania government inbound travel insurance, where required: US$44 per adult, US$22 per child aged 3–17, with ages 0–2 free. Purchase separately before travel; not included in the safari price.
Good to Know
Your route covers Nyerere National Park (Selous) & Ruaha National Park. The arrival arrangements on Day 1 and the final-day transfer form part of this itinerary; share your flight times with us before booking so we can check the connections.
Entry documents: check the passport, visa and entry-permission requirements for Tanzania before travel. Requirements depend on your passport and can change. We confirm the planned crossings and arrival points with your itinerary.
The proposed route includes flight transfers on Day 2, Day 5 and Day 7. Ask us to confirm the exact flight legs, fares and baggage allowance in your quote; an itinerary reference alone is not confirmation that an airfare is included.
Allow time for the road journeys shown in the daily plan. Driving times are estimates, with stops, road conditions affecting the day. Tell us about mobility needs or a preference for shorter travel days while we plan the route.
Ask us to confirm the scope and validity of any operator-arranged emergency evacuation cover for this route. Keep your own comprehensive medical and travel insurance suitable for the countries and activities in your itinerary.
Last checked 9 October 2026: mainland Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance began on 1 October 2026. Eligible travellers must arrange the applicable NIC policy before travel; your usual private travel insurance does not replace this entry requirement.
Your first Tanzanian arrival on this route is in mainland Tanzania. Use the official NIC portal to arrange the applicable policy before travel.
Standard insurance rates are US$44 per adult aged 18 or over, US$22 per child aged 3–17, and free for ages 0–2, subject to the insurer's eligibility rules and checkout. Insurance age bands may differ from lodge child rates. Cover is for up to 92 days, with the actual dates shown on your certificate. Keep the certificate and QR code accessible throughout the trip.
Residents of EAC and SADC member states qualify for the mainland exemption under NIC's published rules. This is residence-based, not simply a passport exemption. Confirm eligibility with NIC before departure.
The government policy is purchased separately and excluded from this safari price. Keep comprehensive personal travel insurance suitable for your activities, medical needs, cancellation risks and other countries visited. Government cover has limits and exclusions; any separately arranged evacuation service does not replace it. Rules and rates can change, so recheck the official portals before travel.
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What Our Clients Say
Rated 5 stars on TripAdvisor by travellers from across the world.
An excellent trip to parts of Kenya that are not on the main tourist routes, northern Kenya. Everything went smoothly Victor and Abdi, took care of everything. The choice of accommodation provided a great range of experiences. I would recommend Saringi to anyone.
read moreGot to see lots of animals and the experience was out of this world .
read moreI had an absolutely wonderful time in Kenya, all thanks to Millcent / Saringi Travel. From the incredibly friendly and reliable communication, to the flexible and thoughtful travel planning, all the way to the outstanding care on the ground, everything was simply perfect. I always felt well taken care of and in the best hands. What impressed me most was not only their professionalism, but also the sheer beauty of the entire experience. I'm still completely in awe! Thank you Millcent and thank you Letaloi!!!
read moreI booked my birthday trip to Diani with Saringi Tours, and it was an unforgettable experience for my friends and me. From start to finish, Saringi Tours impressed us with their professionalism and warmth.
read more8 days of fun and fantastic experiences. The whole trip was amazing. Mike was an excellent driver and guide with great knowledge of the area. Highly recommend Saringi Tours.
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