9 Day Tanzania Southern Parks Safari – Drive-in-Fly-out to Zanzibar

Your safari begins in Dar es Salaam with an early morning departure by road toward Nyerere National Park, Africa’s largest protected wildlife area. The drive passes through rural villages, palm groves, and open countryside before arriving at your lodge in time for lunch.

 

In the late afternoon, enjoy a sunset boat safari along the Rufiji River. This unique experience allows you to observe hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of waterbirds from a different perspective. Elephants and buffalo frequently gather along the riverbanks to drink as the sun sets in golden hues across the water.

 

Accommodation: Nyerere Tented Camp

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

Today is dedicated to exploring Nyerere’s vast wilderness. The park’s landscapes include river channels, lagoons, open plains, and miombo woodlands. Game drives offer opportunities to see elephants in large family herds, giraffes browsing on acacias, buffalo gatherings, and predators such as lions and leopards. Nyerere is also one of the best places in Tanzania to spot endangered African wild dogs. The sense of scale here is immense — wildlife roams freely across enormous untouched terrain, creating a true wilderness atmosphere.

 

Accommodation: Nyerere Tented Camp

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

After breakfast, depart by road for an 8 to 9-hour drive to Mikumi National Park. The journey offers scenic views of southern Tanzania’s varied landscapes. Mikumi is often compared to the Serengeti due to its wide open plains and excellent visibility. Upon arrival, enjoy an afternoon game drive across the Mkata Floodplain, where zebras, wildebeests, impalas, and buffalo graze in large numbers. Predators such as lions are commonly sighted, often resting on termite mounds, scanning the plains.

 

Accommodation: Camp Bastian

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

A full day of exploration allows you to discover more of Mikumi’s ecosystems, including woodland areas and seasonal waterholes. Elephants move between forest patches, giraffes stride gracefully across the plains, and hippos gather in muddy pools. The park is also rich in birdlife, with eagles, hornbills, and colorful rollers frequently spotted. With fewer vehicles than in northern parks, wildlife sightings here feel intimate and unhurried. Return to your lodge for relaxation and overnight.

 

Accommodation: Camp Bastian

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

After breakfast, drive to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, part of the Eastern Arc Mountain range. Unlike traditional safari parks, Udzungwa is best explored on foot. Upon arrival, embark on a guided hike through tropical rainforest trails. The park is home to endemic primates such as the Iringa red colobus monkey and Sanje mangabey. The highlight of the hike is the spectacular Sanje Waterfalls, cascading dramatically from the forest canopy. The panoramic views from the upper falls are breathtaking. Overnight at a lodge near the park.

 

Accommodation: Udzungwa Forest Lodge

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

Today’s journey takes you west toward Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s second-largest national park and one of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets. As you enter Ruaha, the landscape shifts to rugged terrain, baobab-studded hills, and the life-sustaining Great Ruaha River. Afternoon game drives begin immediately upon arrival. Ruaha is known for its high concentration of predators, particularly lions, and large elephant populations. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

 

Accommodation: Ruaha River Lodge

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

Spend the day exploring Ruaha’s dramatic and varied landscapes. The Great Ruaha River attracts abundant wildlife, especially during the dry season. You may encounter large prides of lions, leopards in riverine trees, cheetahs on open plains, and substantial herds of buffalo. Ruaha is also home to rare antelope species such as sable and roan. The park’s remote nature ensures an authentic safari atmosphere with minimal vehicle traffic.

 

Accommodation: Ruaha River Lodge

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

A second full day allows deeper exploration into more remote sections of Ruaha. Early morning and late afternoon game drives maximize predator activity. The park’s baobab-dotted scenery provides exceptional photographic opportunities. Elephant herds often dig in dry riverbeds for water, and crocodiles bask along riverbanks. With its combination of raw wilderness and wildlife density, Ruaha delivers one of Tanzania’s most rewarding safari experiences. Overnight at your lodge.

 

Accommodation: Ruaha River Lodge

Meals & Drinks

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for a scheduled bush flight to Zanzibar. As you soar above Tanzania’s landscapes, reflect on the diverse ecosystems experienced — river safaris, open plains, mountain forests, and predator-rich wilderness. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, you will be transferred to your hotel and continue your journey with beach relaxation, historical and cultural exploration, or other tours. This marks the end of your Southern Parks drive-in-fly-out safari adventure.

 

Accommodation: No Accommodation

Meals & Drinks

• Breakfast
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included).