THE SOUTHERN SAFARI CIRCUIT
This vast and untamed region offers an authentic, crowd-free safari experience, home to Tanzania’s largest protected areas. Discover the colossal Ruaha and Selous parks, characterized by dramatic rivers, varied landscapes, and high concentrations of wildlife far from the tourist throngs of the north.
Why Visit The Southern Safari Circuit?
Authentic Wilderness: Enjoy low visitor numbers, ensuring a remote and intimate safari experience away from crowded game drive routes.
Unique Activities: The Selous is ideal for exciting boat safaris, walking safaris, and fly-camping, offering diverse ways to view wildlife.
Ruaha’s Giants: Witness enormous herds of buffalo and elephant in Ruaha National Park, alongside a spectacular confluence of East and Southern African birdlife.
Smart Travel
Shoulder Season (June, November-Mid December): Excellent time for travel. Game viewing is still very good, and you will find better value on accommodation and fewer vehicles.
Deep Off-Season (March–May): This is the main rainy season. Game viewing is challenging, but birdwatching is exceptional, and it is the quietest time to visit. Many camps close.
Peak Season (July–October): The dry season is the best time for game viewing as animals congregate near permanent water sources like the Great Ruaha River. Booking essential.
Main Areas & Places to Explore
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest national park, a rugged, semi-arid wilderness where the Great Ruaha River is the lifeline for huge herds of elephant and buffalo. It’s renowned for its dramatic landscapes and a high number of Kudu.
Your Smart Tip: To truly appreciate the scale of the park, spend time exploring both the riverine areas and the more remote, drier zones. This gives you the best chance of spotting rare animals like the African wild dog.
Nyerere National Park
This massive park is famous for its vast, undeveloped plains and the Rufiji River, which allows for unique water-based safaris. It offers excellent chances to see hippos, crocodiles, and a significant population of African wild dogs.
Your Smart Tip: Combine traditional game drives with a boat safari on the Rufiji River. This offers a completely different perspective on the wildlife, particularly for birdlife and aquatic mammals.
Mikumi National Park
Easily accessible from Dar es Salaam, Mikumi offers a classic savannah experience with open plains, a beautiful backdrop of the Uluguru Mountains, and reliable wildlife sightings, making it a good introductory safari.
Your Smart Tip: If time is limited, Mikumi provides a very efficient safari experience. Focus your game drives on the Mkata Floodplain for the highest concentrations of giraffe, zebra, and lion.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
A haven for hikers and primates, this park is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. It’s known for its forest-cloaked mountains, numerous endemic plant species, and fantastic waterfalls, including the Sanje Waterfalls.
Your Smart Tip: This is a fantastic break from the typical game drive safari. Hire a local guide to take you on a forest walk to the Sanje Waterfalls, where you can often spot unique species like the Iringa Red Colobus Monkey.
Handy Tips
Weather & Climate
The climate is generally hot throughout the year. The dry season (June–October) is hot and dry, while the wet season (November–May) is hotter and more humid, with afternoon downpours.
Local Customs And Etiquette
Language: Swahili is the national language, and English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Learning a few basic Swahili phrases (“Jambo” (hello), “Asante” (thank you)) is greatly appreciated.
Tipping: Tipping is customary in the safari industry. A general guideline is $15–$25 per guest per day for your safari guide/driver.
Photography: Always ask permission before taking a photo of a local person. Avoid taking pictures of government buildings, police, or military personnel.
Budgeting For Your Trip
Accommodation: Basic tented camps ($150–$300), mid-range tented lodges ($400–$700), luxury/exclusive camps ($800+). Prices are per person, per night, often including all meals and park fees.
Food: Meals are usually included in the safari package. A simple meal outside the parks ($5–$15), high-end Dar es Salaam restaurant ($25–$50 per person).
Transport: Domestic flight from Dar to a camp ($180–$350 one-way), private charter (high variable cost), 4×4 vehicle and driver rental ($200–$300/day).
Activities: Park entry fees ($30–$70/day), boat safaris ($40–$60), guided walking safaris ($30–$50).
Daily Budget:
- Budget: $200–$350 (basic camp, shared transport, minimal extra activities).
- Mid-range: $450–$750 (comfortable tented lodge, shared flights and drives).
- Luxury: $800+ (exclusive camps, private safaris, charter flights).
Getting Around
By Air: Flying is the most common and efficient way to travel between the parks, using light aircraft to small airstrips.
By 4×4 Safari Vehicle: The only way to travel within the parks. Road conditions are poor, and self-driving is generally not recommended and often not permitted.
By Road: Long-distance bus travel is available to major towns but is slow and uncomfortable for reaching the remote park areas.
Must-Try Food
Ugali (oo-gah-lee): A staple food, a thick porridge made from corn flour, usually served with a side dish.
Nyama Choma: Roast meat (often goat, beef, or chicken) cooked over charcoal, a famous street food.
Pilau (pee-lau): A flavorful rice dish cooked in a spiced broth, often with meat or vegetables.
Mishkaki: Marinated skewers of meat (kebabs) grilled over a charcoal fire.
Samaki: Fresh grilled or fried fish, especially popular near the coast or Great Lakes.
Wali na Maharage: Rice served with a hearty red bean stew.
Kachumbari: A fresh salad of tomato, onion, and chili, used as a tangy condiment.
Ndizi Karanga: A common side dish of bananas cooked in a peanut sauce.
Mandazi: A slightly sweet, deep-fried donut or dough pocket, similar to a beignet.
Viazi Vya Karanga: Sweet potatoes cooked in a rich, savory peanut sauce.
Must-Try Drinks
Safari Lager: Tanzania’s most popular mainstream beer.
Konyagi (kohn-yah-gee): A locally produced spirit (sometimes called Tanzanian gin), often mixed with tonic or juice.
Dodoma Wine: Wine produced in the Dodoma region, typically a dry red or white.
Kilimanjaro Lager: Another very popular Tanzanian beer, named after the famous mountain.
Mbege: A traditional beer brewed from fermented bananas and millet flour, common in the northern regions but found elsewhere.
Chai Masala: Strong, sweet black tea boiled with milk and a blend of aromatic spices (cardamom, ginger, clove).
Tangawizi: A potent, spicy local ginger beer/soda.
Fresh Juice: Mango, pineapple, or passion fruit juice, always fresh and delicious.
Stoney Tangawizi: A popular, commercially available ginger ale soft drink.
Coffee: Tanzanian coffee (especially from the Kilimanjaro or southern highlands) is world-renowned and a must-try.