6-Day Southern Circuit Grand Explorer

Your day begins with a prompt, early morning breakfast at Selous Kinga Lodge, ensuring you are ready to take full advantage of the cool, prime viewing hours. Immediately after the breakfast, you will board your specialized 4×4 safari vehicle and depart for an intensive full-day game drive across the vast and spectacular landscapes of Nyerere National Park (Selous), Africa’s largest protected area.

Your expert guide will lead the exploration through the park’s diverse ecosystems, ranging from open savannah to dense thickets, with a major focus on tracking large herds of Elephants, lions, baboons, water bugs, impalas, wildebeest, warthogs, buffaloes, and giraffes. Crucially, this park is the most important stronghold for the elusive African wild dog, and a dedicated effort will be made to locate this rare species, providing a significant competitive edge to your safari.

Midday offers a well-deserved break for a delightful picnic lunch at a scenic location inside the park, allowing you to truly feel immersed in the wilderness before the afternoon drive continues until the final, breathtaking moments of the golden hour. After the sun set, you will return to Selous Kinga Lodge in the evening for a delicious dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.

After a satisfying breakfast, you will depart for your second full-day game drive in Nyerere, allowing for deeper exploration into areas not yet covered, ensuring maximum exposure to the park’s immense biodiversity. The focus today shifts to the intricate riverine forests and hidden wetlands, where you will track stealthy predators such as Lions and Leopards, observing their hunting behaviors and territory marking in the dense bush.

You will continue to witness the massive populations of plains game, including zebras, impalas, and wildebeests, utilizing the entire day to capture incredible photographs and absorb the pristine, uncrowded nature of the Southern Circuit. A second picnic lunch break will be enjoyed in the bush, maximizing your time in the field.

The afternoon is dedicated to following any major sightings and returning to prime photographic locations as the light softens. In the late evening, you will conclude your drive and head back to Selous Kinga Lodge for a delicious dinner and a final peaceful overnight stay in the heart of the Selous.

Your adventure takes an intimate turn after an early breakfast, as you set off for an unforgettable guided nature walking safari, accompanied by a highly trained armed ranger. This intimate experience provides a profound, ground-level connection to the bush, lasting approximately two hours, where you will learn about animal tracks and spoor, identify various plant species, and focus on the smaller, intricate wonders of the ecosystem often missed from the vehicle.

Following your walk, you will return to Selous Kinga Lodge to collect your luggage and check out. You will then embark on the scenic transfer drive towards Mikumi National Park. This overland journey provides a wonderful contrast in landscapes as you head inland. Upon arrival at Mikumi in the late afternoon, you will check in at Camp Bastian Mikumi (or similar quality mid-range lodge), enjoying a hearty dinner and a comfortable overnight stay in preparation for your final days of game driving.

After a delicious early morning breakfast at Camp Bastian, you will depart for an exhilarating full-day game drive across the famous Mikumi National Park. The entire day is dedicated to exploring the magnificent Mkata Floodplain, known for its incredible density of visible wildlife. The morning game drive is the best time to see large herds of Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, and Wildebeests, with superb chances of spotting the park’s resident Lions often using the roadside lookouts.

A special highlight of the day includes a visit to the iconic Hippo Pool, where you will witness massive hippopotamuses wallowing alongside sun-basking crocodiles, offering excellent photographic opportunities. Lunch will be served at the park’s official restaurant, allowing you to savor your meal while enjoying the open savannah views. The afternoon drive continues, focusing on quieter corners and utilizing the changing light to capture magical sunset moments, before you return to the comfort of Camp Bastian Mikumi for a final delicious dinner and overnight stay.

Your final safari morning begins with an early breakfast followed by a concluding half-day game drive in Mikumi National Park, capitalizing on the crisp morning light for final photographic opportunities. This final drive focuses on any species that may have eluded you, ensuring a comprehensive safari experience.

You will then proceed to a designated park restaurant for a delicious lunch inside the conservation area, allowing you to reflect on your journey. After lunch, you will exit the park and begin the pleasant scenic transfer drive back to Dar es Salaam.

Your unforgettable Southern Tanzania safari concludes in the early evening with a safe drop-off by our representative at your final destination your hotel, residence, ferry terminal, or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) for your onward journey.