Discover the best of a Southern Tanzania safari, from quieter wildlife destinations and scenic landscapes to unique safari experiences, with options from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
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Plan your Southern Circuit adventure with safari packages, routes and travel options across four distinctive destinations. Choose from game drives, Rufiji River boat safaris, walking experiences and rainforest hikes,. with itineraries ranging from short escapes to longer multi-park journeys..
A Southern Tanzania safari offers a quieter alternative to the Northern Circuit, with excellent wildlife viewing and more ways to explore beyond traditional game drives. Nyerere National Park is known for Rufiji River boat safaris and walking experiences, Ruaha for elephants, predators and remote landscapes, Mikumi for easy access from Dar es Salaam, and Udzungwa Mountains for rainforest hiking and waterfalls.
Choose a short safari, a multi-park Southern Circuit itinerary, a fly-in safari or a safari and Zanzibar beach combination. For wider Tanzania planning, see our Tanzania safari planning guide .
The main decisions are simple. First, choose your park and trip length; then choose your gateway and transport style.
Start with the route that matches your available time and the experience you want. We can then adjust the itinerary, accommodation and transport around your dates.
A strong overland combination for travellers starting in Dar es Salaam who want easy wildlife viewing first and deeper wilderness in Ruaha.
Combine game drives in two easy-to-reach parks with the distinctive Rufiji River boat-safari experience in Nyerere.
Fly from Zanzibar into Southern Tanzania for a safari extension, then return to the coast for a beach holiday.
Choose from short Mikumi trips, Nyerere boat-safari experiences, Ruaha fly-in safaris and longer Southern Tanzania combinations. Prices shown are the ranges currently presented on this page and can vary with dates, travellers, accommodation and transport.
A short Southern Tanzania safari using SGR train travel and a full-day Mikumi game drive, designed for travellers with very limited time.
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A budget-friendly Southern Tanzania safari combining SGR train travel with wildlife-rich game drives in Mikumi National Park.
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Combine classic wildlife viewing in Mikumi with rainforest hiking and the spectacular Sanje Waterfalls experience in Udzungwa Mountains.
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A classic short Nyerere safari with lodge or tented-camp accommodation, game drives and the opportunity to explore the Rufiji River.
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Go beyond traditional game drives with walking safari activities, Rufiji River boat excursions and cultural experiences.
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Combine Mikumi wildlife viewing with Nyerere game drives and the unique Rufiji River safari experience.
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A short fly-in safari for travellers who want maximum wildlife time with minimum travel time, including Ruaha's elephants, predators and remote wilderness.
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A balanced Southern Tanzania safari combining accessible Mikumi with the more remote wilderness of Ruaha.
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A classic Southern Tanzania itinerary combining Mikumi and Ruaha, with diverse wildlife, scenic landscapes, elephants and predators.
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A Southern Tanzania safari from Zanzibar featuring Nyerere and Mikumi, wildlife viewing, boat and walking experiences and safari lodge accommodation.
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Experience Nyerere's Rufiji River boat safari before relaxing on Zanzibar's tropical beaches in one Southern Tanzania holiday.
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A complete Southern Tanzania escape combining wildlife, boat safaris, tented camps and Zanzibar beach relaxation.
View ItineraryEach park offers a different reason to visit. Use the destination pages for deeper wildlife, park and safari-planning information.
A strong choice for remote wilderness, elephants, predators and dramatic Southern Tanzania landscapes.
Explore Ruaha National Park
Formerly associated with the Selous name, Nyerere is especially suited to game drives, Rufiji River boat safaris and walking experiences.
Explore Nyerere National Park
One of the easiest Southern Tanzania parks to reach from Dar es Salaam, especially for one-day and short safari itineraries.
Explore Mikumi National Park
Add rainforest, hiking and waterfalls to a Southern Tanzania itinerary, especially when combining Udzungwa with Mikumi.
Explore Udzungwa MountainsSouthern Tanzania is especially attractive to travellers who want wildlife without building their trip around the busiest Northern Circuit routes.
The best period depends on your priorities. The page's current planning guide presents June–October as the main dry season, while November–March can offer greener scenery, birdlife and potentially better-value travel.
June–October generally provides easier wildlife viewing. November–March brings green
