You might not get the Great Migration in Tanzania’s southern parks, but what you do get is acres of wildlife-strewn landscapes with barely another vehicle in sight. This 8-day luxury safari settles into East Africa with a night in Dar es Salaam before flying straight to Nyerere National Park for boat trips and game drives along the Rufiji River. Ruaha National Park follows, home to roughly a tenth of the world’s lion population and enormous herds of elephant, explored on foot and by 4x4 with some of the best safari guides on the continent.
This itinerary pairs naturally with a Zanzibar beach extension on either end, since both flights route through Dar es Salaam. Travellers who want a longer version of this same route with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater added in should look at our 19-Day Tanzania Luxury Grand Circuit Safari, while those wanting Ruaha on its own can choose from our shorter Ruaha-only safaris.
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| Start dates | Solo1 room | 2+ peopleSharing rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $12,520 | $9,130 |
| High Season | $13,180 | $10,340 |
For a more accurate estimate, contact us with your specific requirements and budget. We'll send a detailed quote based on your itinerary, group size, and preferred level of comfort.
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You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in Dar es Salaam, a coastal base with ocean views and a relaxed pace before the safari begins. Use the afternoon to explore the city or simply settle in and rest.
Distance: Airport transfer, approx. 30 minutes
Activity: Arrival and city orientation
Accommodation: Hotel in Dar es Salaam
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A scheduled flight takes you to Nyerere National Park, formerly the Selous Game Reserve, where your camp sits on the banks of the Rufiji River. An afternoon boat safari brings close encounters with hippo and crocodile along the riverbanks.
Distance: Flight Dar es Salaam to Nyerere, then transfer to camp
Activity: Afternoon boat safari on the Rufiji River
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Nyerere
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Nyerere offers an unusual mix of activities for one park. Spend the morning on a guided walking safari through the surrounding bush, then head out by vehicle in the afternoon to explore further afield, with strong chances of spotting lion, elephant and the park’s sizeable wild dog population.
Distance: Morning walking safari, afternoon game drive
Activity: Walking safari and game drive
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Nyerere (second night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A final day in Nyerere brings a further boat safari along the Rufiji, with optional fishing, alongside a game drive to round out your time in the park before tomorrow’s flight south.
Distance: Morning boat safari, afternoon game drive
Activity: Boat safari and game drive
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Nyerere (third night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Fly on to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest national park, roughly the size of New Jersey but visited by a fraction of the travellers who pass through the Serengeti. An arrival game drive along the Mwagusi Sand River sets the tone for the days ahead.
Distance: Flight Nyerere to Ruaha, then transfer to camp
Activity: Arrival game drive
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Ruaha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set out on foot with an armed ranger to track game across baobab-studded landscapes, an intimate way to experience the bush that a vehicle cannot match. The afternoon brings a further game drive with a bush picnic, or a pop-up lunch arranged by your guides.
Distance: Morning walking safari, afternoon game drive
Activity: Walking safari and game drive
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Ruaha (second night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A final full day in Ruaha includes the option of a night game drive after dinner, revealing nocturnal species and predators on the hunt that daytime drives rarely encounter. Daytime activity continues with further game drives across the park’s plains and rocky kopjes.
Distance: Full day in Ruaha, optional night drive after dinner
Activity: Game drive and optional night drive
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Ruaha (third night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Fly back from Ruaha to Dar es Salaam in time for your onward or international flight, bringing the safari to a close.
Distance: Flight Ruaha to Dar es Salaam
Activity: Travel day and departure
Accommodation: N/A, end of safari
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Most game viewing is vehicle- or boat-based, but the itinerary includes walking safaris in both Nyerere and Ruaha, which involve walking on uneven ground for an hour or two at a time. Reasonable fitness and comfortable closed shoes are recommended.
The dry season from June to October offers the strongest game viewing in both Nyerere and Ruaha, with animals concentrated around remaining water sources. The wet season from November to May brings lush green scenery and excellent birdwatching but can make some areas harder to access.
There is no direct road link between the two parks, and a road transfer would involve a long detour back through Dar es Salaam. A scheduled flight keeps the journey short and maximises the time spent on safari rather than in transit.
Nyerere is known for its boating safaris along the Rufiji River, with strong hippo, crocodile and waterbird sightings alongside lion, elephant and African wild dog. Ruaha is famous for very large elephant herds and sizeable lion prides, set against a backdrop of baobab trees and rocky kopjes.
Yes, easily. Since this safari starts and ends in Dar es Salaam, a short flight to Zanzibar before or after the safari is a simple add-on for travellers who want to combine wildlife with beach time. Let us know if you would like this built into your itinerary.
The price covers park fees for non-residents, all activities unless labelled as optional, all accommodation unless listed as an upgrade, a professional driver-guide, all transportation and flights during the tour, all taxes and VAT, roundtrip airport transfers, and the meals and drinks specified in the day-by-day itinerary. International flights, additional accommodation before or after the tour, tips and personal items such as souvenirs, travel insurance and visa fees are not included.
No. The Great Migration moves through the northern Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystem, far from Nyerere and Ruaha in the south. What this route offers instead is far fewer vehicles and a more exclusive, intimate safari experience in two of Tanzania's least-crowded parks.
Most nationalities can obtain a Tanzania tourist visa online via the eTA system before travel or on arrival at major airports. Travel insurance covering medical evacuation is strongly recommended for any safari involving internal flights to remote parks.
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