Tanzania is a great safari destination destination as it has various wildlife, scenic landscapes, and even rich cultural heritage. Although the southern circuit of Tanzania generally takes the back seat to the much-larger, more famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater to the north, the southern circuit is just as spectacular but perhaps even more pristine as a safari experience. In case you are in need of a guided safari that is not packed with people, then the best southern circuit safaris in Tanzania must really be in your list.
The southern circuit has a reputation of primeval nature, wilderness reserves, and a variety of wildlife. It contains some of the most fascinating safari adventures in Africa, including a large area of wetlands that are full of wildlife and thick forests where wild animals are found. The southern circuit has the best with it whether you are enthusiastic about viewing the largest population of the elephants in Tanzania or other rare animals such as the wild dog and the black rhino.
We are going to discuss some of the most excellent southern circuit safaris in Tanzania in this guide, illustrating the amazing destinations, attractions, and activities that give this region of the country its soft power.
1. Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere National Park).
The best of the south circuit, Selous- Game Reserve (retrenamed Nyerere National Park) is technically the largest northern continent reserve in Africa. The park is home to wildlife and one of the minimal places in Tanzania where you can find a variety of safari experiences other than the recurring game drives; walking safari, boat safari and so on with a coverage of over 30,000 square kilometres.
Great landscapes comprising of wetlands, savanna, and dense woodlands are the characteristics of Selous Game Reserve that make the area a rich ecosystem, which is the home of diverse wildlife. It hosts great numbers of elephants, lions, buffalo and hippos. Probably, the most remarkable thing about Selous is the fact that it is one of the few survivors of the endangered wild dog that makes this place a unique destination of those willing to see the rare and popular predator.
Going to Selous Game Reserve may provide one with a chance to experience an off-road safari in the wild. Luxury camps, e.g. Beho Beho or Siwandu Camp will enable one to experience a high degree of comfort and live in unspoiled nature. Guests will have the excitement of the thrill of walking safari, boat safari along the Rufiji River as well as the traditional game drive which will lead a visitor on the various habitats of the reserve.
2. Ruinsori National Park
As one seeks something better than simple game drives, an adventure, nature, and wildlife experience can be had in the Ruinsori National Park in the southern part of the Tanzanian circuit. Ruinsori is where the wild Africa collides with the dramatic mountainous scenery with great cliffs, rivers and valleys that form a dramatic setting to your safari adventure.
The park hosts magnificent Ruinsori Mountains which is a UNESCO world heritage site, and the site is characterized by biodiversity. It is here that you have spotted the endangered black rhino, among other creatures like elephants, giraffes and lions. Also available is the in the park is a special chance to hike up the mountain, Ruinsori, which is part of the most scenic and challenging mountain walks in Africa.
Safari visitors who would like to visit the Ruinsori National Park can opt to include walking safaris and wildlife viewing and this makes the park an outstanding destination to adventure-loving travellers. By remaining in luxury lodges like the Ruinsori Safari Lodge, you will be convinced that you are having the comforts of home and are at the same time enjoying the marvels of the park.
3. Katavi National Park
Katavi National Park is an off-the-radar safari attraction in the southern circuit that can give an adventurous journey to those who want a rugged and more exotic safari experience. Katavi is the third largest national park in Tanzania, which is a mix of wildlife-rich savannah and seasonal floodplains that harbour huge number of gamers.
Katavi boasts of herds of elephants, large quantities of buffalo, and healthy lion prides. It is among the most favorable places to view African wild dogs and cheetahs hence classifying the place as a great destination to wildlife lovers. The thick vegetation of the park and the seasonal rains usually result in some of the most thrilling predator prey interactions particularly during the dry season when the animals are clustered around the waterholes within the park.
Katavi National Park should not be visited by those who are looking to enjoy luxury and a large amount of visitors, but an adventure traveler who needs to be in solitude and be in the wild nature needs to visit. Rustic, but still comfortable, the Katavi Wildlife Camp and Chada Katavi Camp provide close-up shots of wildlife in a pristine environment that is without interference.
4. Mahale Mountains National Park.
Mahale Mountains national park presents a very special safari experience that includes adventure of wildlife watching and nature of Lake Tanganyika. The park is known as one of the few habitually left of the wild chimpanzee and is provided with some of the best chimpanzee tracking opportunities in Africa.
Mahale is situated on the lake of Tanganyika, and the beautiful forests and the spectacular mountain landscapes make an amazing landscape to any safari activities. Other than the renowned chimpanzees, the park has numerous other animals including the elephants, the lion, and the leopard. The region also has a bird life with more than 400 bird species being spotted in the park.
The Mahale visitors have a chance to see chimpanzees through chimpanzee trekking, boat safaris and walking safaris in the beautiful forested mountain. To make it more unique, it is more than possible to spend your time at Greystoke Mahale, an eco-luxury camp on the banks of the lake, and experience this secluded wilderness in maximum comfort. Mahale is something one cannot afford not to visit as far as the need to have an exclusive and intimate wildlife adventure in Tanzania is concerned.
5. Ruinsori National Park
Ruinsori National Park, a part of the southern circuit in Tanzania, produces an adventure, nature and wildlife experience, although not just of game drives, one would need. Ruinsori is a site where the vast African wilderness collides with the dramatic mountainous background where there are giant cliffs, rivers, and valleys that make the safari experience awe-inspiring.
The park harbors the grandiose Ruinsori mountains which is a UNESCO World Heritage site with rich biodiversity. It is here you may view the endangered black rhino, as well as, the other animals like elephants, giraffes, and lions. Another special service to be found here is the possibility to hike in the Ruinsori Mountains, the most picturesque yet difficult mountain walk in Africa.
Safari-goers who want to venture in the Ruinsori national park can have a combination of walking with wildlife viewing and this may make it an excellent option to animalists. A stay at the luxurious lodges like Ruinsori Safari Lodge will help keep you at home enjoying all the comfort of being at home besides being at the park to enjoy all its wonders.
6. Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park is a unique place that is situated at the shore of the Indian Ocean and it provides both a beach and a safari experience. Being the sole national park in Tanzania to have a coastline on the ocean, Saadani is familiar with numerous wildlife; some of which are elephants, lions, giraffes, and zebras.
The park is not very large yet has an exciting combination of various ecosystems, such as savannah, wetlands, and coastal forest, which harbor a great variety of the birds and wildlife. The location of Saadani is considered one of the most intriguing features as the pristine beaches combine with the wilderness and visitors have a chance to explore the wilderness on a game drive and have a relaxing moment on the beach at the same time.
In the spirit of traveling to Saadani, Saadani Safari Lodge is a luxurious and exclusive experience, where you can both have an adventure on land and sea. Besides these conventional game drives, the visitors can also have boat safaris along the river of Wami where they can find hippos, crocodiles and a number of different birds.
7. Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Udzungwa Mountains National Park is another hidden gem in Tanzania in the event that you are a passionate hiker and wild animal safarer. The park boasts of its amazing biodiversity and steep and forested terrain that is ideal in trekking as well as exploration of wildlife.
With several endemic plant and animal species, Udzungwa is the best place to visit when one is a pram enthusiast, and some of its species are the Udzungwa red colobus monkey and the Sanje crested mangabey. Birdwatching is also one of the best activities in the park, which is also home to a variety of birds and butterflies.
A walk into the rainforests of the park takes one through beautiful waterfalls, such as the Sanje falls, one of the largest in East Africa. It also has its fair share of scenic trails which lead to panoramic view of forests and mountains around. Udzungwa Mountains national park gives a memorable experience to anyone interested in hiking and sighting wildlife at the same time.
Conclusion: Why Next Safari Destination Should Be Southern Circuit.
Southern circuit safari tours in Tanzania are the best and unique safari tourism activities that most tourists forget about visiting the northern circuit parks that attract visitors. Offering the best alternative to the congested areas of Big 5 in the Maasai Mara, there is the Selous Game reserve which is expansive and wonderful where one gets the primary experience of wildlife and breathes in the scenic elephant tracks in the Mahale mountains on the chimpanzee trekking safaris would be a more focused experience, where the wildlife can be viewed at a distance of the jungles without the dense crowd that lingers on the savanna of Maasai.
The southern circuit promises an experience of lifetime whether you are an adventure seeker, a wildlife lover or a luxury traveler just wanting to avoid the crowds. Then, grab your luggage and start a safari trip to the unspoiled wonders of Tanzania. The southern circuit is before thee!
