6 Day Great Safari in Southern Tanzania to Nyerere, Mikumi, and Udzungwa Mountain National Parks
Wonderful Safari Tanzania
This safari is a combination of three national parks. It will take you to Mikumi National Park, Udzungwa Mountain National Park, and Nyerere National Park.
Key information
- Group safari
- Group size: 2 - 35 persons
- Children from the age of 4 years old are allowed to participate under the supervision of a parent or guardian
- Starting and ending points: Dar es Salaam
- English-speaking guide
- All park fees are included
Meet the guides
Read more
Highlights
- 5 game drives
- 1 boat safari and 1 walking safari
- See buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, elands, leopards, crocodiles, and more
- Ride in a pop-up roof 4X4 vehicle
- Visit Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountain, and Nyerere National Parks
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Styles
Julius Nyerere International Airport (US$ 35 per person)
Accommodation
Mikumi Bastian Camp (2 nights)
The camp consists of six cottages and a campsite. Each cottage has a private veranda and is decorated with locally made furniture and fabrics to keep an authentic atmosphere in the rooms. All the cottages have a private bathroom attached. The rooms contain everything you will need during your stay, such as complimentary bottled water, towels and mosquito netting, hot water, and electricity for 24 hours.
- Accommodation level: Budget
Facilities
- Barbecue
- Bike rental
- Car rental
- Free private parking
- On-site restaurant
- Pet-friendly
- Private bathroom with a bath or shower and slippers
- Seating and dining area
- Towels
Udzungwa Falls Lodge (1 night)
Set up as an idyllic and romantic weekend escape and a truly magnificent family vacation getaway; with 40 en-suite rooms, the lodge has been carefully constructed to cause minimal impact on the surrounding Udzungwa forest which acts as a catchment area for water that is used domestically in the village and for irrigation in the sugarcane plantations.
Facilities
- Udzungwa FL coffee shop
- Bakery
- Standby generator
- Swimming pool
Selous Wilderness Camp (2 nights)
Situated on the banks of the mighty Rufiji River, the Camp provides guests with tranquil lounging and dining areas, five authentic safari tents, and one family tent offering spacious and unexpected refined accommodation. Designed to mirror the natural surroundings of the Rufiji River.
Facilities
- Jungle plunge pool
- Bar
- Lounge area
Program
Day 1: Dar es Salaam - Mikumi National Park
Your driver will pick you up at 7:00 a.m. and drive you to Mikumi National Park. It will take about five hours. You will arrive for a hot lunch in the park. After lunch, you will continue your safari until sunset. Then, you will have dinner and overnight will be at Mikumi Bastian Camp.
- Meals: Lunch and dinner
Day 2: Safari in Mikumi National Park, then drive to Udzungwa Mountain National Park
After breakfast, head to Mikumi National Park for a half-day safari until lunchtime. You will have lunch in one of the camps inside the park. After lunch, drive to Mount Udzungwa National Park. Then, you will have dinner and overnight will be at Udzungwa Falls Lodge.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Trekking in Udzungwa Mountain National Park
Wake up for breakfast, then go to the park’s headquarters to complete the formalities. Then head to the starting point of a beautiful mountain park and enjoy the natural beauty of the park. You will have a picnic lunch in the bush, then explore the region. You will have access to the magnificent Sanje Waterfall, which extends for 170 meters.
There, you will see different species of monkeys, including the endemic species of the colobus monkey, and beautiful landscapes. You will have the chance to swim in one of the waterfall pools. Do not forget to take your swimsuit and towel. After trekking, you will return to Mikumi Bastian Camp for dinner and overnight.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Mikumi National Park - Nyerere National Park
After breakfast, you will begin your journey to the Selous Game Reserve. This trip is one of the most amazing and untouched areas of Tanzania. The road will take you to the Uluguru Mountains, crossing the rivers and passing through small villages and farms in the area. The driving is the most rewarding, as are the adventures of the southern circuit. Arrive at the Nyerere National Park for an afternoon safari. Overnight will be at Selous Wilderness Camp.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Full-day game drive in Nyerere National Park followed by boat safari
A one-day safari in Nyerere National Park by 4x4. This will allow you to have good photographic opportunities and the opportunity to explore different sections of the reserve. Nyerere National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania, covering an area of 30,800 square kilometers. Selous is famous for its elephants. Lions, wild dogs, buffaloes, impalas, elands, baboons, zebras, wildebeests, and greater kudu are usually seen. You will continue your safari until 4:00 p.m. Then return to camp for a boat safari along the mighty Great Rufiji River until sunset.
The boat safari puts you in close contact with hippos, crocodiles, and fantastic birds. The animals will drink at the river, and the boat can approach elephants, antelopes, and others on the banks of the river a few meters. The crocodile slips into the water as you approach your boat, and the hippo appears in a frightening, grunting, and blowing proximity. Then, you will have dinner and overnight will be at Selous Wilderness Camp.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Walking Safari in the wild and drive to Dar es Salaam
Wake up early in the morning and grab a cup of coffee or tea, then go on a nature safari with an armed escort. It will take about two and a half hours. The walking safari will give you a special feeling for African nature. You will have the chance to touch nature, to see the different footprints and the droppings of various wild animals and small creatures that you will not be able to see during the game drive. After walking safari, you will return to the camp for breakfast. After breakfast, you will head to Dar es Salaam. Lunch will be on the way. Your driver will drop you off at your hotel or airport for your next destination.
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Guides
Yunus Mohamed
Yunus will guide you during the trip.
Mansoor Mohamed
Mansoor will guide you during the trip.
Location
This safari will take you through Mikumi National Park, Udzungwa Mountain National Park, and Selous Game Reserve.
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park was established in 1964, covering an area of 1070 square kilometers; it was later extended in 1975 to cover the current area of 3,230 square kilometers. Mikumi National Park is located to the north of the famous Selous Game Reserve. The park is the fifth-largest national park in Tanzania and the most accessible from Dar es Salaam throughout the year. The park shares a common border and ecosystem with Selous Game Reserve to the south, lying astride the main highway to Zambia and en route to the National Parks of Udzungwa Mountains, Ruaha, and Kitulo.
The landscape of Mikumi is often compared to that of the Serengeti. The road that crosses the park divides it into two areas with partially distinct environments. The area northwest is characterized by the alluvial plain of the river basin Mkata, eventually merging with the Miombo woodland covering the lower hills. The vegetation of this area consists of savannah dotted with acacia, baobab, tamarinds, and some rare palm. In this area, at the furthest from the road, there are spectacular rock formations of the mountains Rubeho and Uluguru.
The southeast part of the park is less rich in wildlife and not very accessible. Mikumi National Park hosts buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, lions, pythons, zebras, Elands, leopards, crocodiles, warthogs, bushbuck, waterbuck, reedbuck, greater kudu, wildebeest, impalas, and other residents. Over 300 species of birds have been observed in this park. The best time to visit Mikumi National Park is during the dry season, which is June to February. During the rainy season (March to May), some of the park roads are impassable. However, the park is accessible all year round.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a tropical rainforest mountain in Tanzania. Udzungwa Mountain is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains with a size of 1,990 square kilometers and was established as a national park in 1992. The highest peak of the mountain is 2576 meters above sea level (Rumemo Peak). There are more than 400 bird species, 2500 plant species (25% are endemic), and six primate species that have been recorded in this park. It has the second-largest biodiversity of a national park in Africa.
Six primate species have been recorded, five of which are endemic. The Iringa red colobus and Sanje crested mangabey are only found in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Its plateau contains populations of elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, antelopes, and several forest bird species. Hiking and trekking are popular tourism activities in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, as the park has no roads and is accessible only on foot.
The hiking trails range in difficulty, from the short one-hour Sonjo trek to the extremely challenging six-day camping trek, the Lumemo Trail. The most common walk is the Sanje waterfalls trail, which takes approximately four hours to complete and allows the visitor access to the stunning 170-meter waterfall and includes swimming in the waterfall plunge pools as part of the activity.
Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve is the largest game reserve in Africa, located in the south of Tanzania. It was named after Englishman Sir Frederick Selous, a famous big game hunter and early conservationist, who died at Behobeho in his territory in 1917 while fighting against the Germans during the First World War. Selous Game Reserve was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to the diversity of its wildlife and undisturbed nature. The reserve covers a total area of 54,600 square kilometers and has additional buffer zones.
Its wildlife is spectacular, with some of its mammal and reptile populations being the largest in Africa, namely buffaloes, elephants, hippos, wild dogs, and crocodiles. Other wildlife includes lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, wildebeests, impalas, waterbucks, zebras, eland, the greater kudu, sable antelopes, giraffes, baboons, vervet monkeys, blue colobus monkeys, and the black and white colobus monkeys, which can be seen in certain riverine forests moving from tree to tree in family groups.
There is a large population of predators, including about 440 species of birds in the Selous, both resident and migratory birds. The area was first designated a protected area in 1896 by the German Governor of Tanganyika Hermann von Wissmann and became a hunting reserve in 1905. A section of the northern part along the Rufiji River has been designated a photographic zone and is a popular tourist destination.
There are several low- to high-range lodges and camps mainly situated along the river and lake systems in this area. Walking safaris are permitted in the Selous through game-inhabited bushes in the company of an armed ranger. Also, boat safari on the Rufiji River is a popular activity. The reserve can be accessed by road from Morogoro or Dar es Salaam, or by small aircraft from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.
This is a good combination of both game drives in 4x4 motor vehicles with a boat and a walking safari, as it offers an exciting and richer game viewing itinerary unique to the Selous Game Reserve. The best time to visit the Selous Game Reserve is from June to October. During the long rains, between March and May, some parts of the Selous become impassable and are temporarily closed for game drives.
Food
All meals as per the itinerary are included in the price. African Pangolin Safaris serves local food like chicken, beef, fish, or vegetables with French fries, rice, spaghetti, or mashed potato. For any dietary request, please let them know. Drinking water during the safari will also be provided.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
- Village tour
- Visit some crops fields
What's included
- Unlimited game drives
- Walking safari in the wild
- Boat safari
- 5 nights accommodation as indicated in the safari itinerary
- Meals as indicated in the safari itinerary
- Drinking water during the safari
- Use of 4×4 safari vehicles with a pop-up roof for game viewing
- All game reserve and park fees
- All concession fees
- Transfer from the airport to the national park
What's not included
- Airfare
- Transportation between the airport and hotels
- Any personal items of nature
- Tips for driver and guide
- Anything not mentioned in inclusive
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Julius Nyerere International Airport
249 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 35 per person
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). Transfer from the airport to the hotel will be available at an additional cost of 35 USD. Pick up from the airport and start the safari directly will be free of charge.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.