Itinerary

1. 15-Day Tanzania Grand Southern & Western Circuit Safari

   Day 1: Dar es Salaam –Nyerere National Park:

   Pick up from any point in Dar es Salaam at 0700am drive directly to Nyerere National Park by 4x4 safari Jeep for a scenic drive to Nyerere National Park. The journey passes through coastal landscapes, rural villages, and open countryside, offering glimpses of local life along the way. On arrival in the early afternoon, enjoy lunch before heading out for a guided boat safari along the Rufiji River. From the water, observe hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a wide variety of birdlife at close range, while enjoying the park’s tranquil scenery. This relaxing yet wildlife-rich experience offers a perfect introduction to Nyerere’s untouched wilderness. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp.

   • Main destination: Nyerere National Park
   • Accommodation: Rufiji River Camp. Luxury Tented Camp located in Nyerere NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 2: Nyerere National Park – Full Day Guided Game Drive:

   Enjoy a full day guided game drive in Nyerere National Park, exploring one of Africa’s largest and most unspoiled wilderness areas. Traverse vast open plains, dense miombo woodlands, riverine forests, and seasonal lakes that create ever-changing landscapes. The park is home to large herds of elephants and buffalo, prides of lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas, as well as giraffes, zebras, and numerous antelope species. Along the Rufiji River and its channels, you may spot hippos, crocodiles, and an exceptional variety of birdlife. Scenic viewpoints reveal sweeping savannahs, winding waterways, and dramatic skies, offering excellent photographic opportunities and a true sense of remote African wilderness. Dinner and overnight at Rufiji River Camp.

   • Main destination: Nyerere National Park
   • Accommodation: Rufiji River Camp. Luxury Tented Camp located in Nyerere NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 3: Nyerere National Park – Mikumi National Park:

   After breakfast, depart Nyerere National Park with a game drive en route to Mikumi National Park, passing through the scenic Uluguru Mountains and Morogoro Town. The journey offers changing landscapes from open floodplains and riverine forests to lush mountain slopes and fertile valleys. Wildlife sightings may include elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, antelopes, and diverse birdlife. As you approach Mikumi, the scenery opens into wide savannahs framed by distant mountains, creating beautiful photographic opportunities. Enjoy authentic countryside views and dramatic scenery before arriving in Mikumi in the afternoon for your onward safari experience. Dinner and overnight at Mikumi Widlife Lodge.

   • Main destination: Mikumi  National Park
   • Accommodation: Mikumi Wildlife Lodge. Luxury Lodge located in Mikumi NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 4: Mikumi National Park- Full Day Game Drive:

   Enjoy a full day game drive in Mikumi National Park, one of Tanzania’s most accessible yet rewarding wildlife destinations. Explore vast open savannahs, acacia woodlands, seasonal wetlands, and river systems that support a rich diversity of wildlife. Mikumi is home to large herds of elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and numerous antelope species, as well as predators such as lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas. Hippos are commonly seen in pools along the rivers, while the park’s varied habitats attract abundant birdlife. The open landscapes and distant mountain backdrops create classic safari scenery and excellent photographic opportunities throughout the day. Dinner and overnight at Mikumi Widlife Lodge.

   • Main destination: Mikumi  National Park
   • Accommodation: Mikumi Wildlife Lodge. Luxury Lodge located in Mikumi NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 5: Mikumi National Park- Udzungwa National Park (Hiking to Sanje Waterfalls):

   After breakfast, depart Mikumi National Park and travel to Udzungwa Mountains National Park for a guided hiking experience to the spectacular Sanje Waterfalls. The journey takes you through fertile plains and foothills before entering lush tropical forest. Accompanied by an experienced ranger, hike through dense vegetation rich in endemic plants, colorful butterflies, and birdlife, with chances of spotting colobus and Sykes’ monkeys. The trail leads to the impressive Sanje Waterfalls, cascading nearly 170 meters from the forested escarpment. Enjoy breathtaking views over the Kilombero Valley before returning to your lodge, completing a refreshing and scenic day of nature exploration. Dinner and overnight at Udzungwa Falls Lodge.

   • Main destination: Udzungwa  National Park
   • Accommodation: Udzungwa Falls Lodge. Luxury Lodge located in Ulduzungwa NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 6: Udzungwa National Park-Ruaha National Park:

   After an early breakfast, depart Udzungwa Mountains National Park and enjoy a scenic game drive en route to Ruaha National Park. Traverse rolling hills, open savannahs, and miombo woodlands, with opportunities to spot wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and various antelope species, while lions and leopards may also appear. On arrival in the afternoon, embark on a game drive in Ruaha, exploring vast plains, riverine forests, and baobab-studded landscapes. Expect to see large elephant herds, prides of lions, leopards, hippos along the Great Ruaha River, giraffes, zebras, and abundant birdlife, while enjoying stunning sunsets and classic safari scenery. Dinner and overnight at Ruaha River  Lodge.

   • Main destination: Ruaha  National Park
   • Accommodation: Ruaha River Lodge. Luxury Lodge located in Ruaha NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 7: Ruaha National Park - Full Guided Game Drives

   After breakfast, with your picnic lunch box you will have a full day game drive in Ruaha National Park. Almost as large as the Serengeti, with its untouched nature remains one of the most exciting game reserves. It is a birdwatchers’ paradise with 350 different species of birds. Wildlife is concentrated along the Great Ruaha River that is the heart of the wildlife in the park. Waterbuck, Impala and Grant Gazelle. The Shores of Great Ruaha River is the permanent hunting ground lion, leopard, Jackal, Hyenas and African wild Dog. Enjoy the fascinating beauty of the Ruaha national park late afternoon drive back to your lodge, dinner and overnight stay at Ruaha River Lodge.    

   • Main destination: Ruaha  National Park
   • Accommodation: Ruaha River Lodge. Luxury Lodge located in Ruaha NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 8: Ruaha National Park - Mbeya:

   After having breakfast, you have last game drive en-route to Mbeya having a chance to see more wildlife, then drive to Utengule Coffee Lodge where you will stay overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Mbeya City Council is one of seven councils in the Mbeya Region, the others being Chunya, Mbarali, Kyela, Rungwe, Busokel, and Mbeya District. The city is a hub for transportation in Tanzania, with both the Tanzania-Zambia Road and the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority connecting Tanzania to Southern African countries. This makes it a famous and vital entry and exit point in the country. The city also serves as the district and region headquarters. Furthermore, the city has a good environment for investments, both local and foreign, due to the availability of infrastructure, labor supply, land, reliable water supply and electricity, airport, good governance, and markets.

   • Main destination: Mbeya Town
   • Accommodation: Utengule Coffee Lodge. Luxury Lodge located in Mbeya.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 9: Mbeya – Kitulo National Park – Mbeya (Day Trip):

   After breakfast, we will embark on a day trip to Kitulo National Park, where tourists can visit various places of interest that offer natural or cultural value, historical significance, beauty and leisure, adventure, and amusement. The park is vast and has a breathtaking landscape, including rolling upland grassland, hills stretching away to the horizon, waterfalls, rivers, and a crater lake. The Kitulo Plateau has three main vegetation types: well-drained grassland on volcanic soils with species such as Aster transgenesis and Kniphofia Grantii, seasonally or permanently updated bogs with species such as Lobelia and Gladiolus, and rocky ridges and associated talus slopes on soil derived from metamorphic rocks with species such as Moraea Callista and Romulea companuloides. In the late afternoon, we will return to your overnight stay at Utengule Coffee Lodge.

   • Main destination: Mbeya Town
   • Accommodation: Utengule Coffee Lodge. Luxury Lodge located in Mbeya.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 10: Mbeya – Katavi National Park:

   Depart Early morning with breakfast box drive to Katavi National Park. Stop somewhere for hot lunch then proceed. Upon arrival at the park gate, we will go through some formalities before proceeding with the day's activities. During our drive, we will have the chance to spot some wildlife. There are various tourism activities that visitors can engage in while at the park, including nature walking safaris, picnicking, filming, camping, birding, bush meals, night game drives, hiking, and game viewing. Later in the day, we will head to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at Katavi Wildlife Camp.

   • Main destination: Katavi National Park
   • Accommodation: Katavi Wildlife Camp. Luxury Tented Camp located in Katavi NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 11:Discover Iconic Katavi National Park

   Katavi National Park, located in the western region of Tanzania, is an untouched wilderness paradise that is home to the largest herds of buffalo on the planet. The park has a diverse range of habitats, including dense waterways that are filled with hippos and crocodiles, flood plains of thick reeds, open grasslands, forests, and pristine seasonal lakes. Visitors can explore the area and search for the legendary tamarind tree, which is believed to house the spirit of the great huntsman, Katabi. They can offer a tribute at the base of the tree in memory of this exceptional hunter. Evening dinner and overnight at Katavi Wildlife Camp or similar.

   • Main destination: Katavi National Park
   • Accommodation: Katavi Wildlife Camp. Luxury Tented Camp located in Katavi NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 12: Katavi National Park – Kigoma Town

   After breakfast, after breakfast, depart Katavi National Park with a game drive en route to Kigoma Town. Travel through expansive plains, miombo woodlands, and riverine areas, keeping an eye out for wildlife such as elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and various antelope species. Predators like lions and leopards may also be sighted along the way. The landscapes gradually transition from Katavi’s remote wilderness and seasonal floodplains to rolling hills and cultivated countryside as you approach Kigoma. Enjoy scenic views, dramatic skies, and authentic bush encounters before arriving in Kigoma in the afternoon, concluding an unforgettable safari journey through western Tanzania. Evening dinner and overnight at Kigoma Hilltop Lodge.

   • Main destination: Kigoma Town.
   • Accommodation: Kigoma Hilltop Lodge Luxury Lodge located in Kigoma Town.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 13: Kigoma Town-Gombe National Park

   After breakfast, after breakfast, depart Katavi National Park with a game drive en route to Kigoma Town. Travel through expansive plains, miombo woodlands, and riverine areas, keeping an eye out for wildlife such as elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and various antelope species. Predators like lions and leopards may also be sighted along the way. The landscapes gradually transition from Katavi’s remote wilderness and seasonal floodplains to rolling hills and cultivated countryside as you approach Kigoma. Enjoy scenic views, dramatic skies, and authentic bush encounters before arriving in Kigoma in the afternoon, concluding an unforgettable safari journey through western Tanzania. Evening dinner and overnight at Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge.

   • Main destination: Gombe Ntoinal Park.
   • Accommodation: Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge Luxury Tented Lodge located in Gombe NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included)

   Day 14: Gombe Stream National Park – Chimpanzee Trekking
    After an early breakfast, set out with a park ranger for an in-depth chimpanzee trekking experience in the forested valleys of Gombe. The trek may take several hours, depending on the location of the chimpanzee families, and once found, you will spend time observing their fascinating social behavior in their natural habitat. Return to the lodge for lunch and some rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a second forest walk or visit nearby waterfalls, where you may encounter other primates such as red colobus and vervet monkeys, as well as rich birdlife. Dinner and overnight at the Mbali Mbali Gombe lodge.

   • Main destination: Gombe Stream National Park
   • Accommodation: Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge. Luxury Tented Lodge located in Gombe NP.
   • Meals & drinks: All meals included & drinking water (Other drinks not included).

   Day 15: Gombe National Park-Kigoma –Dar es salaam:

   After an early morning breakfast in Gombe National Park, embark on a scenic boat transfer back to Kigoma, enjoying views of Lake Tanganyika and the surrounding forested shoreline. The journey may reveal hippos, water birds, and other lakeside wildlife along the way. Upon arrival in Kigoma, transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight to Dar es Salaam. This marks the conclusion of your extraordinary safari through Tanzania’s southern and western parks, leaving you with unforgettable memories of diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and immersive experiences in some of the country’s most remote and pristine wilderness.