8-Day Tanzania Safari to Nyerere and Saadani National Parks

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Boat safari on the Rufiji River to watch hippos and crocodiles
• 02 Game drives in Nyerere National Park, Tanzania's largest national park
• 03 See Tanzania's greatest population of elephants in a vast protected wilderness
• 04 Explore Saadani National Park, where beach, bush, and river meet
• 05 Look out for lions, giraffes, zebra, antelopes, and rich birdlife

Embark on an 8-day journey through two of Tanzania's remarkable wildlife destinations, from the vast wilderness of Nyerere National Park to the extraordinary coastal ecosystems of Saadani National Park. Enjoy game drives in Nyerere, home to Tanzania's greatest population of elephants, and take a boat safari on the Rufiji River to spot hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife. Explore landscapes of rolling grassy woodlands, plains, rocky outcrops, lakes, lagoons, and channels before continuing to Saadani, where beach, bush, and river meet in a unique clash of ecosystems on the Eastern Coast of Africa.

Enjoy game drives in Nyerere, home to Tanzania's greatest population of elephants, and take a boat safari on the Rufiji River to spot hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Cities Dar es Salaam, Saadani National Park

Languages English, German, Italian, Spanish, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Dar es Salaam to Nyerere and Rufiji River Boat Safari

• After breakfast, leave for Nyerere National Park at 07:30hrs by 4x4 vehicle with packed lunch. Enter Africa's largest protected area, uninhabited by man, at 14:00hrs, where Tanzania's greatest population of elephants wanders in an area bigger than Switzerland. The park is considered important enough to be a World Heritage Site, where the lucky few can experience a safari in the absolutely wild and unspoiled bush.
• On arrival, go for a boat safari on the Rufiji River, which winds its way more than 250km from its source in the highlands through the park to the sea. The river is home to hippos and crocodiles. Overnight at Lodge / Tented Camp / Campsite on FB Basis.

2

Day 02

Full-Day Game Drive in Nyerere National Park

• After breakfast, enjoy a full-day game drive with packed lunch in Nyerere National Park. The park varies from rolling grassy woodlands and plains to rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River, the lifeblood of the park, whose tributaries form a network of lakes, lagoons, and channels. Volcanic hot springs even burst forth in places. The Rufiji offers a superb method of game viewing, especially during the dry season when animals congregate.
• Expect to see elephants, antelopes, zebra, hippos, lions, and giraffes, and if you're lucky, you will see hunting dogs and varieties of birds. Overnight at Lodge / Tented Camp / Campsite on an FB Basis.

3

Day 03

Walking Safari and Afternoon Game Drive

• The day starts with a walking safari, then returns for breakfast, followed by an afternoon game drive. Overnight at Lodge / Tented Camp / Campsite on FB Basis.

4

Day 04

Drive via Mlandizi to Saadani National Park

• Morning breakfast at 0600hrs. After breakfast, drive with packed lunch to Saadani National Park via Mlandizi. Overnight at Lodge / Tented Camp / Campsite on FB Basis.

5

Day 05

Game Drive in Saadani's Coastal Wilderness

• Early breakfast, then a game drive. Saadani is unique for its extraordinary diversity of scenery and wildlife. Beach, bush, and river have been thrown together in such a colourful clash of ecosystems; there is nothing to compare with it anywhere on the Eastern Coast of Africa. Saadani is the ultimate romantic venue for your honeymoon, combining fine food and unpretentious luxury with the surrounding natural environment of the national park and coastline, which represent the very essence of this beautiful part of the world. Overnight at Lodge / Tented Camp / Campsite on FB Basis.

6

Day 06

Leisure Day in Saadani National Park

• Day at leisure. Overnight at Lodge / Tented Camp / Campsite on FB Basis.

7

Day 07

Saadani National Park to Dar es Salaam

• After breakfast, relax. Drive back to Dar after hot lunch at the lodge, and transfer to the airport to return to the destination.

The route

Where you'll travel

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/French-speaking driver/guide
• Pick-up/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: USD 20 per day/guide/cook (highly recommended)
• Travel insurance

What to bring

• Travel documents
• Valid passport
• Yellow fever vaccination records/certificate
• Copy of flight itinerary
• Copy of travel and medical evacuation insurance
• Personal medical/dental insurance cards
• Credit cards (Visa and MasterCard are most widely accepted)
• Cash in U.S. Dollars
• Camera and memory cards
• Binoculars
• Sunscreen
• Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
• Insect repellent
• Personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, eye drops, etc.)
• Malaria tablets
• Basic first aid kit and prescription medicines
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Chargers and extra batteries for your camera, phone, etc.
• The power adapter to fit the UK-style electrical socket

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

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tour start

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.