Wild Southern Tanzania: Nyerere & Ruaha Safari

This morning you transfer to the airport for a scenic light-aircraft flight south-west into the Nyerere National Park, part of the vast former Selous Game Reserve and one of the largest protected areas in Africa. You are met on the airstrip and driven to your intimate bush camp, beautifully set along the palm-fringed Rufiji River, in time for lunch. In the afternoon you set out on your first game drive through this immense, wild landscape of open woodland, grassland, lakes and river channels, seeking out elephant, giraffe, buffalo, lion, and the herds of impala, wildebeest and zebra, with an excellent chance of the endangered African wild dog, for which the reserve is a stronghold. As the golden light softens over the river, you pause for a sundowner. This evening, dine beneath the stars at your bush camp, the sounds of hippo and the wild all around. Rest well in wild Nyerere.

Today you experience one of the great joys of the southern circuit, a boat safari along the Rufiji River, impossible on the northern plains. In the cool of the morning or the golden light of afternoon you glide along the palm-fringed river and its network of lakes and channels by boat, drifting past pods of grunting hippos, huge crocodiles basking on the sandbanks, and elephants coming down to drink, with a spectacular wealth of birdlife all around, from fish eagles and kingfishers to skimmers, storks and bee-eaters. Watching wildlife from the water, at eye level and in serene silence, is a completely different and intimate experience. You also enjoy a game drive through the wild landscape, seeking lion, giraffe and wild dog. As the day ends, you return to camp for a sundowner by the river. This evening, dine beneath the stars. Rest well in wild Nyerere.

Today you leave the vehicle behind for a walking safari on foot, a rare and exhilarating privilege in these vast wild reserves. Accompanied by an armed ranger and an expert guide, you set out in the cool of the morning to explore the bush at ground level, walking quietly through the woodland and along the river, learning to read tracks and signs, identifying plants and their traditional uses, examining dung, bones and termite mounds, and approaching wildlife on foot, from giraffe and antelope to, thrillingly, elephant and buffalo. Your senses come alive to the sounds, scents and small wonders of the bush, and you feel truly part of the wild. Later you might enjoy another boat trip or game drive, and a sundowner as the light fades. This evening, dine beneath the stars, reflecting on a day in the wilderness. Rest well in wild Nyerere.

This morning, after a final activity in Nyerere, you transfer to the airstrip for a light-aircraft flight west to Ruaha National Park, one of the largest and wildest parks in Africa and among the least-visited of the great parks. You are met and driven to your intimate bush camp, beautifully set along the Great Ruaha River amid ancient baobabs, in time for lunch. In the afternoon you set out on your first game drive through Ruaha's rugged, beautiful landscape of rolling hills, open plains and baobab-studded country, immediately struck by the sense of remote, untamed wilderness, where you may go the whole drive without seeing another vehicle. You seek out the park's huge elephant herds, among the largest in East Africa, along with lion, giraffe, zebra and both greater and lesser kudu. As the sun sets over the river, you pause for a sundowner. This evening, dine beneath the stars. Rest well in remote Ruaha.

Today is a full day exploring the remote wilderness of Ruaha, famous for its predators and its huge elephant population. You set out at dawn, when the big cats are active, seeking out Ruaha's enormous lion prides, some of the largest in Africa, along with leopard, cheetah and the endangered African wild dog, which the park protects in good numbers. You watch great herds of elephants moving among the ancient baobabs and down to the Great Ruaha River, and look for the park's distinctive greater and lesser kudu, found together here at the meeting of southern and eastern species, along with giraffe, zebra, buffalo and abundant birdlife. You might enjoy a picnic in the bush and drive through the rugged, beautiful landscape at your own pace, sharing it only with the wildlife. As the golden light floods the baobabs, you pause for a sundowner. Rest well in wild, remote Ruaha.

You have a final, full day to savour the untamed wilderness of Ruaha, going deeper in search of its wildlife and vast landscapes. On morning and afternoon game drives you continue to seek out the huge elephant herds, enormous lion prides, leopard, cheetah and wild dog, the greater and lesser kudu, and the abundant plains game, your expert guide sharing a deep knowledge and passion for this remote wilderness. You explore different areas of the immense park, from the baobab hills to the riverbanks where wildlife gathers, savouring the profound sense of solitude, space and untamed nature, so often with superb sightings entirely to yourself. You might enjoy a bush breakfast or a walking safari to end your time in the south on foot. As the sun sets over Ruaha one last time, you pause for a final sundowner among the baobabs. This evening, dine beneath the stars. Rest well in wild Ruaha.

After a final morning game drive in Ruaha, savouring a last look at the baobabs, elephants and wild country, you return to camp for breakfast and then transfer to the airstrip for your light-aircraft flight back to Dar es Salaam, in time for your onward international departure (a connection or a final night on the coast can be arranged). You leave having experienced the wild, uncrowded heart of southern Tanzania, the boat safaris and walking safaris of vast Nyerere along the Rufiji River, and the huge elephant herds, enormous lion prides and rugged baobab country of remote Ruaha. The images stay vivid long after you land, the hippos and crocodiles of the Rufiji, the wilderness on foot, and the lions among the baobabs. Southern Tanzania offers true, untamed wilderness far from the crowds, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this wild and beautiful land.