Overview
Tanzania’s Southern Circuit is home to some of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets, offering vast national parks and game reserves that showcase the country’s unspoiled wilderness. These protected areas support an impressive abundance of wildlife, with thriving populations of elephants, lions, roan and sable antelopes, African wild dogs, and countless vibrant bird species. Their untouched landscapes and rich biodiversity make the Southern Circuit an exceptional destination for travelers seeking an authentic and less-crowded safari experience.
Trip Highlights
- Budget tour: This budget tour uses hotels and cottages.
- Private tour: This tour will be organized exclusively for you and won't be shared with others.
- Can start any day: If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
- Can be customized: You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour.
- Not for solo travelers: Solo travelers cannot book this private tour.
- Minimum age of 4 years: The minimum age for this tour is 4 years.
Itinerary
We will pick you up from your hotel or the ferry and drive you to the SGR station for your train to the Morogoro region, which will take approximately 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, our driver-guide will take you to Mikumi National Park for a late-morning game drive until lunch. After lunch, you will have time to relax before continuing with an afternoon to evening game drive. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Mikumi Bandaz inside Mikumi National Park.
Main Destination:
Mikumi National Park
Accommodation:
TANAPA Mikumi Cottages
Budget cottage located inside Mikumi NP
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Your day begins with an early morning game drive at 6:00 AM, offering a prime opportunity to spot wildlife at their most active.
After returning for breakfast, you will depart for Ruaha National Park, a scenic journey of approximately five hours. Upon arrival, lunch will be served, allowing you to relax and refuel before your next adventure.
In the afternoon, your exploration of Ruaha continues with an extended game drive that carries into the evening, giving you a chance to witness the park's unique transition from day to night. The park is named after the Great Ruaha River, a vital lifeline that draws an abundance of wildlife, including elephants, lions, and rare antelope species.
Despite being one of Tanzania's largest national parks, Ruaha remains remarkably uncrowded, offering a truly remote and exclusive safari experience.
Your day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay at Tanapa Ruaha Bandas, where you can unwind surrounded by the tranquil sounds of the African wilderness.
Main Destination:
Ruaha National Park
Accommodation:
TANAPA Ruaha Bandas
Budget banda located inside Ruaha NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
On this day, you will leave early at 6:30 am for a sunrise game drive, enjoying breakfast in the bush. After the breakfast break, the game drive will continue as you search for wildlife in various locations throughout the park. You'll be on the lookout for predators such as lions, cheetahs, and large packs of wild dogs, along with numerous other animals, until the lunch break.
You will have a picnic lunch in the park where you can take some time to rest. After lunch, the game drive will resume until the evening. As you drive along the Great Ruaha River, you can expect to see a variety of animals, including buffalo, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, impalas, warthogs, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelopes, as well as different species of birds, plants and reptiles.
After a full day of exploration, you will return to your hotel in Iringa for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination:
Iringa (City)
Accommodation:
Alexander Hotel
Budget hotel located in Iringa (City)
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
After breakfast, you will pack your luggage, and we will begin our 6.5-hour drive to Morogoro town for the train.
You will stop for lunch in Mikumi, giving you a chance to relax and enjoy a meal before continuing the journey.
The train departs at either 4:00 PM or 7:00 PM for Dar es Salaam.
Upon your arrival in Dar es Salaam, we will pick you up and take you to your hotel.
Main Destination:
Dar Es Salaam (City)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water(On all days)
Cost Excludes
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
FAQs
The 4-Day 3 Nights Budget Safari to Mikumi and Ruaha NP offers excellent opportunities to spot elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, and a wide variety of bird species. Ruaha is also one of the best places in Tanzania to see large elephant herds and predators in their natural habitat.
The 4-Day 3 Nights Budget Safari to Mikumi and Ruaha NP typically includes park entrance fees, accommodation, meals during the safari, transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle, professional driver-guide services, and scheduled game drives. Personal expenses, travel insurance, and optional activities are usually excluded.
Yes, the 4-Day 3 Nights Budget Safari to Mikumi and Ruaha NP is an excellent choice for first-time visitors. It combines two outstanding national parks with comfortable budget accommodations, giving travelers the chance to experience Tanzania’s incredible wildlife without exceeding their budget.
The 4-Day 3 Nights Budget Safari to Mikumi and Ruaha NP includes clean and comfortable budget lodges or tented camps with essential amenities. These accommodations offer a relaxing place to unwind after exciting game drives while keeping the safari affordable.
The 4-Day 3 Nights Budget Safari to Mikumi and Ruaha NP can be enjoyed throughout the year, but the dry season from June to October is ideal for wildlife viewing, as animals gather around rivers and waterholes, making them easier to spot.
For the 4-Day 3 Nights Budget Safari to Mikumi and Ruaha NP, it is recommended to pack lightweight neutral-colored clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, insect repellent, binoculars, a camera, and any personal medications to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable safari experience.
