Tanzania Southern Circuit Safari will take you to the Southern National Parks of Tanzania, Nyerere National Parks, Ruaha National Park, and Mikumi National Park are classic safaris in Southern Tanzania. They start from Dar es Salaam and end in Zanzibar. It allows guests an encounter with the rarest of African wildernesses and takes you to the Greater Selous ecosystem. Usually, the viewing is done from a vehicle so that guests can enjoy the most authentic experience possible.
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4x4 safari Landcruiser
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2 & 3 Stars Hotels
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Dar-es-Salaam
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All year round
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Eco-Tour, Wildlife Safari
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All meals during the safari
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English, Spanish, French, Italian
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Easy to Moderate
Overview
Highlights
- Zanzibar Beach Holiday.
- Visit Southern National Parks of Tanzania.
- Enjoy the most authentic experience possible.
- Visit Nyerere National Parks, Ruaha National Park, and Mikumi National Park.
- Encounter with the rarest of African wildernesses and takes you to the Greater Selous ecosystem.
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport
Upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar-es-Salaam, you will be picked up at the airport and head to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Relax, take a stroll, enjoy the sights and sounds. Get plenty of rest – tomorrow will be huge!
Dinner and overnight at Onomo Hotel.
Day 2 :
Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park & Maasai Culture
The journey will start early in the morning from Dar es Salaam when our professional driver will pick you up and drive to Mikumi National Park. On arrival at Mikumi NP, you will learn how to make fire with sticks and learn more about the Maasai culture. You'll also experience the places where most of them live, as well as their traditions and customs. After the safari, head back to your camp to prepare for your next scheduled activities.
Dinner and Overnight at Camp Bastian Mikumi.
Day 3 :
Full-day Game Drive in Mikumi National Park
After breakfast, head out to Mikumi National Park. You'll have a full-day game drive and will see wonderful animals like lion, eland, and buffalo found in the park. The Mikumi floodplain is the main feature of the park and borders the mountain ranges. In the afternoon, you will have lunch and rest before proceeding on a game drive until the evening when you will return to the camp to prepare for your next day's schedule.
Dinner and Overnight at Camp Bastian Mikumi.
Day 4 :
Mikumi to Ruaha National Park
You will have an early breakfast and prepare for your transfer at around 7:30 am from Mikumi National Park to Ruaha National Park. Here, you will get to view other tourist attractions and animals. Your accommodation is at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge located outside the park.
Dinner and Overnight at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge.
Day 5 :
Full day game Drive in Ruaha National Park
After breakfast, our driver will pick you up and take you to Ruaha National Park for a full-day game drive. In the afternoon, you will get a packed lunch and time to rest. Later, continue with the game drive until sunset when you will return to Ruaha Hilltop Lodge for dinner, sleep, and prepare for the next day's schedule.
Dinner and Overnight at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge.
Day 6 :
Full day Game Drive in Ruaha National Park
After breakfast, our driver will pick you up and go to Ruaha National Park for a second full-day game drive on different routes from the previous day. In the afternoon you will get a packed lunch and time to rest. Later, continue with the game drive until sunset when you will return to Ruaha Hilltop Lodge for dinner, sleep, and prepare for the next day's schedule.
Dinner and Overnight at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge.
Day 7 :
Ruaha National Park to Morogoro
After breakfast, our professional driver will pick you up and take you to Morogoro from Ruaha National Park. You will have lunch on the way and dinner at Camp Bastian. Morogoro is one of the largest cities in Tanzania, located about 200 kilometers west of Dar es Salaam, the capital of the Morogoro region.
Dinner and Overnight at Camp Bastian Mikumi.
Day 8 :
Udzungwa Waterfall for mountain hiking
After an early breakfast, you go to Udzungwa Mountains National Park to hike at the waterfalls. On arrival, you will receive instructions before starting your hike in the forest mountains. From the top of the waterfall, you have a great view of the enormous Kilombero Sugarcane Valley, one of the biggest sugarcane plantations in Tanzania. You will have a packed lunch in the afternoon.
Dinner and Overnight at Camp Bastian Mikumi.
Day 9 :
Morogoro to Nyerere National Park
Early in the morning, our driver will pick you up from your hotel in Morogoro and take you to Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve). On the way, you will get to see various villages. After arriving at Nyerere National Park, you will get to rest and prepare for the next day's schedule.
Dinner and Overnight at Africa Safari Selous (Banda Bungalow).
Day 10 :
Game Drive in Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
After breakfast, you will do a full-day game drive from 7:30 am until the evening in Nyerere National Park (formerly known as Selous Game Reserve). The journey will start from Africa Safari Selous with our professional drivers and guides. On this day, you will get to enjoy various tourist attractions like seeing animals including elephant, zebra, giraffe, antelope, and more. You will also see birds and other landscape scenery with varied topography including wetlands, dry grassland, light acacia forest, and higher ground with vast views of far-off mountains.
In the afternoon, you will get a packed lunch and some time to rest. You will then continue with the game drive until the evening when you will return to Africa Safari Selous for dinner and sleep and prepare for the next day.
Dinner and Overnight at Africa Safari Selous (Banda Bungalow).
Day 11 :
Full day in Nyerere National Park (Selous GR) & Visit Hot Spring
After breakfast, you will do another full-day game drive until the evening. Go on different routes from the previous day, starting from the Africa Safari Camp where you will be picked up by our professional drivers and guides. Today, you will get to see various animals including elephant, zebra, giraffe, antelope and more. You will also see birds, and landscape scenery with varied topography including wetlands, dry grassland, light acacia forest, and higher ground with vast views of far-off mountains.
You will also get a chance to visit a hot spring and can even go swimming, but it depends on the accessibility of the road, since during the rainy season, there will be mud on the road.
In the afternoon you will get a packed lunch and some time to rest, then continue with the game drive. In the evening, you will return to Africa Safari Selous for dinner and sleep and to prepare for tomorrow.
Dinner and Overnight at Africa Safari Selous (Banda Bungalow).
Day 12 :
Bushman Walking, Village Tour and Boat Safari
On this day, before breakfast, you will do a walking tour with our Bushman in the forest, accompanied by an armed ranger. Return to the camp for breakfast and then do a village tour at Mloka village. In the afternoon, you will have lunch at the camp. Later, at around 4:00 pm, you will go to the Rufiji River for a boat safari until sunset. Return to the camp for dinner, sleep, and to prepare for the next day's schedule.
Dinner and Overnight at Africa Safari Selous (Banda Bungalow).
Day 13 :
Flight to Zanzibar Island
After breakfast on your last day of the tour, our driver will pick you up and take you to the Mtemere Airstrip at 10:00 am for your flight to Zanzibar for two days of pure beach relaxation.
Half Board and overnight at Mnarani Beach Cottages.
Day 14 :
Full leisure day in Zanzibar
When in Zanzibar there is a lot of activities you can do in Stone town for full day Spice and prison Island tour. The full day tour will take you to the most scenic parts of the Old Town. This culturally rich town got it’s name from the use of coral stone as the main construction ingredient. Being the oldest town in East Africa, the historical roots and influences can be felt at every turn of the tour. Starting from the House of Wonders which is one of the prominent landmarks of Stone Town, you can proceed on to the Palace Museum which was a Sultan’s residence. The Arab Fort, the Dr Livingstone House, Fred Mercury’s home and the pub and Hamamni Persian baths are just a few of the many attractions in this relic of a town.
Half Board and overnight at Mnarani Beach Cottages.
Day 15 :
Full Day in ZanzibFull leisure day in Zanzibarar
Half Board and overnight at Mnarani Beach Cottages.
Day 16 :
Transfer from hotel to Zanzibar Airport
It’s the final day in Zanzibar and East Africa so be sure to grab any last minute souvenirs you may want and say one last goodbye to the tranquil blue waters before being transferred to Dar-es-salaam or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home.
Kwa heri ya kuonana – (Good bye and see you again).
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Local tourist taxes.
- Binoculars for game drive viewing.
- Bottled Water at all times while on safari.
- Park or reserve entry fees – where applicable.
- Driver’s salary and allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver.
- Game drives or sightseeing as detailed on the itinerary – where indicated.
- All meals at hotels as mentioned in the itinerary – ( Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner ).
- Ground transportation with an English-speaking driver/guide or naturalist guide.
- Pick up from airport of arrival and drop off to the airport of departure while on safari.
- Transport based on excellent 4X4 Vehicle (Landcruiser or Van) with open roof for game viewing.
- Full board Accommodation and If accommodation is fully booked we’ll suggest a comparable alternative.
The Cost Excludes
- International flights.
- Your travel and medical insurance.
- Tips and gratuities, which are optional.
- Airport customs entry visas (currently US$ 50 per person.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How fit do I need to be to do this trek?
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.
How long do we walk every day when doing Annapurna Base Camp trekking?
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
What is the highest altitude reached in this trek?
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
What about battery charging and hot shower facilities?
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.
Are there ATMs on the way to Annapurna Base Camp?
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
What about internet access?
Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Is it necessary to hire Guides/trekking agency for Annapurna Base Camp trekking?
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
How much do guides and porters cost?
For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
