Overview
Tanzania’s Southern Circuit is home to some of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets, offering vast, unspoiled national parks and game reserves rich in wildlife and natural beauty. These remote wilderness areas support impressive populations of animals, including lions, elephants, roan and sable antelopes, the endangered African wild dog, and an incredible variety of birdlife. With fewer crowds and spectacular landscapes, the Southern Circuit provides an authentic safari experience in one of the continent’s most wildlife-rich regions.
Trip Highlights
- Mid-range tour: This mid-range tour uses lodges and tented camps.
- 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.
- Suitable for solo travelers: Solo travelers can book this private tour.
- Minimum age of 6 years: The minimum age for this tour is 6 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. Dinner and an overnight stay will be at Camp lilac Mikumi
Main Destination:
Mikumi National Park
Accommodation:
Camp Lilac
Mid-range tented camp located just outside Mikumi NP
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Non-alcoholic drinks
You will be picked up from the hotel at 6:30am. After breakfast, you will drive to Ruaha National Park, which will take approximately five hours. Lunch will be provided upon your arrival. You will begin your game drive in the afternoon, which will continue into the evening. The Great Ruaha River, the park's namesake, is essential for supporting its diverse wildlife. Although Ruaha is one of the largest national parks in Tanzania and boasts a rich variety of animals, it is also one of the least crowded destinations, making your safari experience feel remote and exclusive.
Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Tanapa Ruaha Bandas.
Main Destination:
Ruaha National Park
Accommodation:
TANAPA Ruaha Bandas
Budget banda located inside Ruaha NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
On this day, you will leave early at 6:30am 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. 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 lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination:
Ruaha National Park
Accommodation:
Ruaha Hilltop Lodge
Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Ruaha NP
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast, you will pack your luggage, and we will begin our 6.5-hour drive to Morogoro town for the train. The train departs at either 4:00pm or 7:00pm for Dar es Salaam.
Upon your arrival in Dar es Salaam, we will pick you up and take you to your hotel or the airport for your flight to Zanzibar or back home.
Main Destination:
Dar Es Salaam (City)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
Non-alcoholic drinks
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)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
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 Astonish Mikumi NP and Ruaha National Park safari includes accommodation, full-board meals during the safari, private or shared 4×4 game drives, park entrance fees, bottled drinking water, airport or hotel transfers, and the services of a professional English-speaking safari guide.
The 4-Day Astonish Mikumi NP and Ruaha National Park safari explores two of Tanzania’s renowned Southern Circuit destinations: Mikumi National Park and Ruaha National Park. Each park offers unique landscapes, abundant wildlife, and exceptional game-viewing opportunities.
During the 4-Day Astonish Mikumi NP and Ruaha National Park safari, you may encounter elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, African wild dogs (if you’re fortunate), and a rich variety of bird species.
The 4-Day Astonish Mikumi NP and Ruaha National Park safari can be enjoyed year-round. The dry season from June to October is ideal for wildlife viewing, while the green season offers lush scenery, excellent birdwatching, and fewer visitors.
Yes. The 4-Day Astonish Mikumi NP and Ruaha National Park safari is perfect for first-time safari-goers, couples, families, solo travelers, and photographers seeking a more authentic and less crowded wildlife experience.
For the 4-Day Astonish Mikumi NP and Ruaha National Park safari, pack lightweight neutral-colored clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, insect repellent, binoculars, a camera, and any personal medications for a comfortable safari adventure.
