Southern Tanzania Safaris | Complete Guide to Tanzania’s Southern Safari Circuit (2024)

What Makes Southern Tanzania Safaris Some Of The Best In Africa

Embarking on a southern Tanzania safari is akin to unearthing a hidden gem. This region, the epitome of uncharted territory, offers an exclusive and authentic wilderness experience that is a privilege to encounter. Unlike the bustling northern parks, it remains less crowded, allowing for intimate, truly unique wildlife encounters. With its vast scenic landscapes, Ruaha National Park is a haven for lion, leopard, African wild dog, and diverse antelope species. The Great Ruaha River is a hub of activity with its teeming population of hippo and crocodile. To the southeast lies Nyerere National Park, carved from the Selous Game Reserve and home to the mighty Rufiji River. Here, you’ll find Africa’s largest population of wild dog, along with lion, elephant, giraffe, hippo and more, amidst breathtaking and alluring terrain.

Immerse yourself in these magnificent wilderness areas by boat, on foot, or from a hot-air balloon. Southern Tanzania safaris offer a plethora of raw, remote, untamed beauty, serenity and thrilling safari adventures that will leave you exhilarated. All these exciting destinations are easily accessible by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

Reasons To Go To Southern Tanzania

Ruaha National Park
Raw Untamed Landscape

Ruaha National Park is a remote wildlife oasis, beckoning adventurers with its untamed beauty. This enormous wilderness is a refuge for breathtaking wildlife sightings that will leave you in awe. Large predators roam freely here; the park is home to 10% of the world’s lion population. Cheetah, leopard, wild dog, and hyena abound, and their primal presence electrifies the air. But Ruaha isn’t just about the fierce and mighty. It’s a symphony of life where elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, sable and roan antelope, and gazelles create a mosaic on the sun-kissed plains. Bird enthusiasts will be thrilled to search for over 570 resident species.

Ruaha is a time capsule that preserves an ancient and wild landscape. The grasslands stretch endlessly, punctuated by stately baobab trees. Here, you can treasure the serenity and expanses of hills and rocky escarpments on walking adventures, feeling the pulse of the earth beneath your feet, and embark on boating expeditions along winding Usangu wetland waterways, surrounded by a vibrant array of birdlife, elephant, hippo, and crocodile. As the sun dips low, casting a golden hue across the savannahs, enjoy night safaris to relish the wonders of elusive and shy nocturnal wildlife before sleeping under the vast African skies, cradled by the canopy of stars.

Nyerere National Park
Rufiji River Wonders

Nyerere National Park, formerly Selous Game Reserve, is a hidden gem in Tanzania that offers an exceptional southern Tanzania safari experience. Spread over 30,000 square kilometres (11,580 square miles), this vast wilderness ensures exclusivity, something often challenging to find in the more visited northern parks. Here, you can enjoy intimate wildlife encounters with elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, and wild dog roaming freely.

What sets Nyerere apart is its substantial and diverse wildlife and landscapes. The park boasts remarkable animal populations of lion, leopard, and giraffe, thriving alongside large herds of elephant. The extensive waterways, including the Rufiji River, offer a unique opportunity to observe hippo wallowing and crocodile lurking, making water safaris exceptional.

In addition to wildlife, Nyerere showcases breathtaking landscapes, from open grasslands to dense woodlands. Ancient baobab trees and sprawling acacia forests provide a scenic backdrop for wildlife encounters. Nyerere National Park is also committed to preserving biodiversity and combating poaching. You can explore the rivers by embarking on catch-and-release fishing expeditions, in search of tiger and catfish.

Nyerere National Park’s remote wilderness, abundant wildlife, exceptional water-based safaris, varied ecosystems, astonishing topographies, and conservation efforts make it a must-visit safari destination in Tanzania.

Best Safari Destinations In Southern Tanzania

Southern Tanzania is home to some of the region’s most remote and picturesque landscapes. Ruaha National Park, the second largest in Tanzania, boasts rolling hills, baobab trees, and the Great Ruaha River, offering exciting river safaris. The park is a wildlife sanctuary with elephant, cheetah, lion, and various bird species. Similarly, Nyerere National Park, through which the mighty Rufiji River flows, is another hidden gem supporting large herds of elephant, crocodile, hippo, big cats, and an impressive variety of bird species.

Ruaha National Park

The remote and wild Ruaha National Park spans over 20,200 square kilometres (7,800 square miles). Its diverse and magnificent landscapes showcase savannahs, the Great Ruaha River system, seasonal riverbeds, wetlands, floodplains, and mountains. Rare species like wild dog, cheetah, and leopard call Ruaha home, making it a perfect destination for dedicated safari-goers seeking untamed Africa. With only a handful of safari camps, Ruaha offers an exclusive wilderness adventure.

Enjoy walking safaris, day and night game drives, and hot-air balloon safaris from our boutique, award-winning, and stylish camps in Ruaha: Jabali Ridge, Jabali Private House, Usangu Expedition Camp, and Kokoko Camp.

Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park, formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, is one of East Africa’s largest parks. Its remoteness and wildness offer a unique safari experience. See large herds of giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, and impala. The area is a stronghold for endangered wild dog, as well as a powerful lion population and a variety of smaller predators and scavengers, adding drama to exciting safaris.

The Rufiji River teems with basking hippo and is frequently visited by herds of elephant, cooling themselves in its waters. Bird lovers will rejoice in seeing some 440 species frequenting this riverine-rich region. Unforgettable and educational walking safaris can be experienced, coupled with boating safaris across the lakes and game drives in open-sided safari vehicles for spectacular wildlife views. We provide an intimate and exclusive wilderness adventure at Roho ya Selous on a tributary of the famed Rufiji River.

Best Safari Tours In Southern Tanzania

Welcome to Tanzania’s hidden gems! Ruaha and Nyerere national parks provide unique and unforgettable safari experiences that are guaranteed to awe you. Witness majestic elephant, lion, and elusive leopard in Ruaha, and combine this with Nyerere National Park, where you may spot packs of African wild dog, hippo, and enormous crocodile. These parks offer thrilling land and water safari adventures that will leave you breathless.

Our safari camps present an authentic wilderness environment for special celebrations and off-the-beaten-path expeditions. Whether you’re an adventurous traveller searching for a remote and wild experience or a honeymoon couple seeking a romantic getaway, these parks will deliver. Both destinations afford the ultimate bonding experiences for families, free from outside world distractions.

How To Get Around On A Southern Safari Circuit In Tanzania

Considering that these two magnificent wildlife areas, when combined, are Tanzania’s most extensive protected area, there is a considerable amount of ground to cover to embrace the finest expeditions and experiences it offers. Safari adventurers can best navigate the vast landscapes and distances on pre-arranged light aircraft flights, swiftly connecting the parks. Asilia enhances the adventure with our All Asilia offer, ensuring complimentary inter-camp flights and streamlining travel for our guests, from Dar es Salaam or northern Tanzania.

Choosing Between Tanzania’s Northern vs Southern Safari Circuits

The differences between southern and northern safaris in Tanzania require some consideration. Southern Tanzania offers the secluded Ruaha and Nyerere national parks, which are easily accessed through direct flights from Dar es Salaam. These parks offer Asilia Africa’s intimate camps, fewer tourists, sensational wildlife densities, and spectacular variety.

Activities include:

Walking safaris
Boating adventures
Fishing
Fly camping under the African night skies
Daily safaris in open-sided vehicles for exceptional viewing visibility
Night game drives
Exhilarating hot-air balloon trips

Your wilderness experiences in both southern regions come at a more affordable cost than the northern Tanzania circuit.

In contrast, the extensively travelled northern Tanzanian safari circuit can often feel crowded due to its fame, resulting in more vehicles at wildlife sightings and an awareness of the number of tourists. However, our boutique camps have been strategically located for a blend of exclusivity, access to key wildlife areas, and additional activity choices wherever possible. In these northern parks, you can witness the Big Five, the unique and remarkable wildebeest migration, and open plains brimming with big cats.

Activities may not be available from all locations, but can include:

Walking safaris
Daily safaris in open-sided vehicles for exceptional viewing visibility
Night game drives
Exhilarating hot-air balloon trips.

Best Time For Southern Tanzania Safaris

The best time to visit southern Tanzania is from June to October when the dry season peaks. Vegetation thins and the daily patterns of wildlife become more predictable as they depend on the few remaining permanent water sources, creating perfect game viewing conditions. From August to October, Ruaha National Park offers some of the best conditions for walking safaris in Africa. Our southern Tanzania safari circuit is a true wildlife wonderland.

The southern Tanzania safari circuit is a wildlife paradise, home to lion, elephant, cheetah, wild dog, and more. Whether you prefer the dry season for easier sightings around waterholes and rivers, or the wet season for lush scenery and abundant migratory birds, take advantage of free inter-camp flights with All Asilia.

Southern Tanzania Itineraries

Let Asilia Africa plan your dream safari adventures in southern Tanzania, tailored to your preferences. Our team of experts will provide personalised advice and support throughout your trip-planning process. Here are a few excellent examples to help inspire you and get you started.