Tanzania · Safari

5-Day Ruaha and Mikumi Safari with Big Game Drives

5 Days Round trip from Dar es Salaam Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Tanzania's largest national park and its biggest elephant sanctuary
02 Spot elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, crocodiles, and hippos in Ruaha National Park
03 Enjoy full-day game drives through Ruaha River valley and wildlife-rich landscapes
04 Look out for endangered wild dogs and visit the hippo pool in Mikumi National Park
05 Encounter diverse wildlife including giraffes, zebras, buffalos, wildebeests, and antelopes

Embark on a 5-day adventure through Ruaha National Park and Mikumi National Park. Explore Tanzania's largest national park and encounter elephants, predators, and a wide variety of wildlife along the Great Ruaha River and across Mikumi's open plains. Enjoy exhilarating game drives, beautiful landscapes, and a memorable safari experience in the heart of East Africa.

If you're lucky, you will see a pride of lions walking around or relaxing under a tree.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Cities Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Uluguru Mountains

Languages English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Drive from Dar es Salaam to Iringa Town

Depart from Dar es Salaam early in the morning and drive to Iringa Town. Lunch will be served en route at Kitonga Mountain.

Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge, tented camp, or campsite.

Day 02

Ruaha National Park Full-Day Game Drive

After breakfast, drive to Ruaha National Park for a full-day game drive with lunch boxes. Occupying 20,200 sq. km, it is Tanzania's largest national park and its biggest elephant sanctuary. Home to many crocodiles and hippos, the Great Ruaha draws many thirsty waterbuck, leopard, buffalo, reedbuck, wild dogs, lions, and hyenas to its banks. This full-day game drive will take us on about 8 hours of driving through the national park. Ruaha is good for hippos, crocodiles, lions, cheetahs, leopards, ostriches, zebras, and many more.

Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge, tented camp, or campsite.

Day 03

Wildlife Viewing in Ruaha National Park

After breakfast, we continue with a full-day game drive for more wildlife viewing, with our packed lunch provided. Enjoy a nice view of the Ruaha River valley and great animal sightings such as kudu, wildebeests, elephants, zebras, lions, hippos, hartebeests, impalas, antelopes, giraffes, buffalos, and many more.

Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge, tented camp, or campsite.

Day 04

Transfer from Ruaha to Mikumi National Park

After breakfast at 8:00 am, we depart for Mikumi National Park for a day at leisure.

Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge, tented camp, or campsite.

Day 05

Half-Day Game Drive in Mikumi and Return to Dar es Salaam

Enjoy an early breakfast followed by a half-day game drive in Mikumi National Park with a packed lunch. Mikumi National Park carries a variety of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, zebras, buffalos, wildebeests, hartebeests, and elands. Wild dogs, considered an endangered carnivore species, are sometimes found here. Other resident animals are crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards. If you're lucky, you will see a pride of lions walking around or relaxing under a tree. Also, visit the hippo pool and other attractions found there. After 4-5 hours of game drive, return to Dar es Salaam.

Where this trip takes you

Great Ruaha River, Ruaha River valley, Mikumi National Park

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Dar es Salaam 5 cities · 5 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Transport in a strong 4x4 Land Cruiser/Rover (7 seats) with a roof hatch that pops up to enable easy game viewing and photography
Knowledgeable English, Spanish, Italian, or French-speaking driver/guide
Pick-up and drop-off at the airport, seaport, or hotel before and after the trip
Safari accommodation
Entrance fees
Guiding fees
Game drives
Driver's allowance
Safe drinking water
+ 18% VAT

What's Not Included

Beverages and items of a personal nature
Visa
Recommended tipping per day for the guide/cook (highly recommended)
Travel insurance

What to bring

Favourite shoes. Sturdy shoes are important for a safari, but don't sacrifice comfort just because you think overbuilt commando boots are necessary. They're not. Your favorite hiking shoes or active footwear will work just fine.
Clothing: colors, wind, and warmth. For clothing, choose lightweight, moisture-wicking materials, and think natural colors (olive, tan, etc.) that won't distract wildlife or attract tsetse flies (bugs love bright colors!). Also, you may be imagining safari like this: hot and dry, from dawn until dusk. This isn't the case. Early morning and late afternoon game drives are some of the best times for wildlife viewing, and it's not uncommon for these times to be a little chilly. Don't forget to pack a warm, lightweight jacket, raincoat, and windbreaker (think open-air 4WD safari vehicle!).
Binoculars. Ruaha, Mikumi, Mkomazi, Saadani, Katavi, Nyerere, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire-these are vast landscapes teeming with more world-class wildlife than you can imagine, and its drama can sometimes unfold at a distance. Even when that pride of lions is disemboweling a wildebeest next to your safari vehicle, a pair of binoculars can really heighten the experience-to witness those razor-sharp teeth, the eyes, and the texture. Not every tour operator supplies binoculars, so pick up a modest pair before you go.
Camera extras. Batteries, memory cards, plug converters, lens cleaners-better to gather these before you arrive, as they might be hard to find in the country. Who wants to spend precious safari time trying to find the right plug-in adapter, anyway?
Sunscreen. This is the thing about safaris: once you've become immersed in this landscape, you'll want to seize every waking moment-it's just too big and beautiful not to. But that means long days, and long days mean several hours in the elements at a time. Strong sunscreen is an absolute must.
Polarized sunglasses. After sunscreen, the most utilized item for sun protection is sunglasses (polarized if possible, to help with reflection). Beyond the vehicles, there is little shade, and the Tanzanian sun can be intense. Don't leave home without a pair (or two).
First aid kit. Bites, scrapes, and dehydration aren't uncommon, so the more you can prepare for and respond to these minor annoyances, the better. You don't have to bring the entire pharmacy along, but a simple baggie filled with anti-diarrheal tablets, headache medicine, small bandages, antiseptic wipes, and antihistamines will do. Oh, and hand sanitizer. Pure gold.

Know before you go

Any increase in park entry fees, taxes, and concession fees will be charged even if the booking has been previously confirmed and invoiced. Note that these current rates, as published by the Government, are subject to change without prior notice.

Logistics