6-Day Southern Tanzania Safari from Dar es Salaam - Nyerere, Mikumi & Udzungwa

Pick-up from your hotel in Dar es Salaam and the drive to Nyerere (Selous) National Park (approximately 4 hours), with a lunch stop en route. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, check in at your camp before heading out for a sunset boat safari on the Rufiji River. The Rufiji is one of the most wildlife-rich rivers in East Africa, with hippo pods, Nile crocodiles, and an outstanding variety of waterbirds all reliably encountered at dusk.

Distance: Approximately 4 hours from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere

Activity: Rufiji River sunset boat safari

Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Nyerere National Park

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

A full day exploring Nyerere (Selous) National Park. One of Africa's largest protected areas, the park is famous for its Rufiji River ecosystem, exceptional elephant herds, lions, leopards, giraffes, and some of the most important populations of the endangered African wild dog in the world. The miombo woodland and open floodplains create a strikingly different landscape from the northern circuit, with excellent game drives throughout the day.

Distance: Game drives within Nyerere National Park

Activity: Full-day game drives

Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Nyerere National Park

Meals: Full Board

After breakfast, the drive heads toward Mikumi National Park (approximately 6 hours), with a picnic lunch on the way. Upon entering the park, a brief en route game drive gives the first opportunity to spot giraffes, zebras, elephants, and antelopes across Mikumi's open plains. You arrive in the evening and check in for dinner and overnight.

Distance: Approximately 6 hours from Nyerere to Mikumi

Activity: En route game drive on arrival in Mikumi

Accommodation: Lodge or camp near Mikumi National Park

Meals: Full Board

After an early breakfast, a full day of game drives in Mikumi National Park. The park's open savannah supports large herds of elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, and zebras, alongside predators including lions and leopards. Birdwatchers will find the diverse habitats particularly productive. A picnic lunch is served in the field before afternoon drives continue until evening.

Distance: Game drives within Mikumi National Park

Activity: Full-day game drives with picnic lunch

Accommodation: Lodge or camp near Mikumi National Park

Meals: Full Board

After breakfast, the drive heads to Udzungwa Mountains National Park (approximately 2 hours). A guided hike through tropical rainforest leads to the Sanje Waterfalls — a 170-metre cascade through forest that is home to the endemic Sanje Mangabey and Udzungwa Red Colobus primates, as well as rare birds, butterflies, and plant species. Lunch is taken at the falls before the hike back and the return to Mikumi for the evening.

Distance: Approximately 2 hours from Mikumi to Udzungwa trailhead

Activity: Guided hike to Sanje Waterfalls in Udzungwa Mountains

Accommodation: Lodge or camp near Mikumi National Park

Meals: Full Board

After an early breakfast, a visit to a nearby Maasai community for a cultural introduction to traditional pastoralist life. After the visit, the drive back to Dar es Salaam takes approximately 5 hours, with a lunch stop en route. You are dropped at your hotel or Dar es Salaam International Airport.

Distance: Approximately 5 hours by road from Mikumi to Dar es Salaam

Activity: Maasai community cultural visit; road return to Dar es Salaam

Accommodation: N/A – return to Dar es Salaam

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Extend your trip

For the same route with an SGR train return on the final day, see our 6-day southern Tanzania safari with SGR. For shorter Mikumi options by SGR, explore our 4-day, 3-day, and 1-day Mikumi SGR packages.