Dar es Salaam → Mikumi → Udzungwa → Ruaha → Mikumi → Dar es Salaam
The Southern Circuit is the opposite of the Northern Circuit. Fewer tourists, bigger parks, and more wilderness. Mikumi is open savannah. Udzungwa is ancient rainforest. Ruaha is baobab-studded wilderness with the highest lion density in Tanzania. This is an overland adventure eight days of driving, game driving, and hiking. Private vehicle, private guide, full board. No middleman, no hidden fees.
The Southern Circuit is for travelers who want to escape the crowds. The Serengeti gets 90% of the tourist traffic. The Southern Circuit gets 5%. You'll share the roads with fewer vehicles. The parks are wilder and more remote. The wildlife is just as good Ruaha has the highest lion density in Tanzania, and Mikumi has elephants, buffalo, and tree-climbing lions.
This is an overland adventure. You drive from Dar es Salaam to Mikumi, then to Udzungwa, then to Ruaha, and back. The roads are long but the landscapes change dramatically. You'll see coastal plains, highland forests, and baobab-studded savannah. This is a private safari, so the vehicle and guide are yours.
Your guide picks you up from your Dar es Salaam hotel at 6:00 AM. Drive west on the A-7 highway toward Mikumi. The drive takes about four hours. Arrive at Mikumi around midday, check into your lodge, and have lunch. Afternoon game drive on the Mkata Floodplain open grassland where elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and zebras gather. Return to the lodge at sunset. Meals: Lunch & dinner.
Drive to Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Meet your park ranger and begin the guided trek to Sanje Waterfalls. The trail climbs through ancient rainforest, past towering canopy trees and streams. The waterfalls cascade 170 meters down the mountain face. Take a swim in the natural pools at the top. Descend and return to your lodge. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Drive west toward Ruaha National Park. The route climbs through the Kitonga Hills and passes through the highland town of Iringa. Stop for lunch in Iringa. Continue into the drier, baobab-studded plains surrounding Ruaha. Enter the park in the late afternoon and enjoy a short game drive on your way to the lodge. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Full day in Ruaha. The park is vast over 20,000 square kilometers. The Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the park, drawing wildlife from the surrounding areas. Look for elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, and the endangered African wild dogs. Picnic lunch in the bush. Return to the lodge for dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Another full day in Ruaha. The park is different every day the wildlife moves, the light changes, and the experience is never the same. Your guide will take you to remote water sources and riverine woodlands. Afternoon game drives offer excellent opportunities for predator sightings as the temperatures cool. Return to the lodge for dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Final sunrise game drive in Ruaha. Watch the light hit the baobab trees. Return to the lodge for breakfast, check out, and drive back to Mikumi. Stop for lunch along the way. Arrive in the Mikumi area in the late afternoon. Check into your lodge for dinner and rest. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Full day in Mikumi. Drive to the Hippo Pools a small waterhole packed with dozens of hippos and crocodiles. Continue through the open grasslands to track large buffalo herds, impalas, zebras, and elands. Picnic lunch in the bush. Afternoon game drive to find tree-climbing lions. Return to the lodge for your final evening dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Breakfast at the lodge. Check out and drive back to Dar es Salaam. Stop for lunch along the way. Arrive in Dar es Salaam in the late afternoon. Drop-off at your hotel, Julius Nyerere International Airport, or the Zanzibar ferry terminal. Meals: Breakfast & lunch.
The Southern Circuit is accessible year-round. The dry season is the best time for wildlife viewing.
Park fees, private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, professional guide, seven nights at lodges and tented camps, full board meals, Udzungwa ranger and hike, and unlimited bottled water. International flights and personal expenses are not included.
Yes. This is a private safari. You get your own Land Cruiser and guide. The vehicle is not shared with other travelers.
We use custom-built Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4s with pop-up roofs, upgraded suspension, fridges, and charging ports. The vehicle is designed for wildlife viewing and rough roads.
Ruaha is different. The Serengeti is vast and crowded. Ruaha is wilder and more remote. Ruaha has the highest lion density in Tanzania and fewer tourists. If you want to escape the crowds, Ruaha is the better choice.
Yes. Many travelers combine a Southern Circuit safari with a Zanzibar beach holiday. Contact us for a combined quote and itinerary.
Looking for a different style or a shorter trip? Check out these related safaris.
