Less frequented than the parks in the north, the southern circuit of Selous Game Reserve, Udzungwa Mountains, Mikumi and Ruaha national parks provide a sense of adventure which can be explored by plane, train or 4x4 out of Dar es Salaam.
For those with limited time and larger budget we organise tailor made itineraries for the southern circuit usually by air due to the long land journeys to Ruaha and Selous.
Mikumi National Park; The park situated less than 300 kilometres from Dar es Salaam, which makes it a very popular park due to its accessibility. The Mikumi flood plain dominates the park, where lion is commonly seen as are packs of wild dog, a rarity elsewhere in Africa. Leopard, Giraffe, elephant, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, eland, crocodiles, monitor lizard and python are some of the many inhabitants of Mikumi. (A 4 hour drive or 1 hour flight from Dar es Salaam)
Ruaha National Park; Inaccessibility in the past makes it one of Tanzania's best kept secrets and has ensured that it is virtually unchanged for centuries. Covering 10,300 sq km Ruaha is Tanzania's largest elephant sanctuary, deriving its name from the Great Ruaha River which flows through its eastern border, creating spectacular gorges.
The Great Ruaha is home to hippo and crocodile; waterbuck, reedbuck and buffalo venture to the river's edge to drink attracting the attention of lion, leopard, hyena, wild dog and jackal. (A 10 hour drive or 90 minute flight from Dar es Salaam)
Udzungwa National Park; Is the newest park, opened to the public only in 1992, and is one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in Tanzania. Covering an area of 1900 sq km., the uniqueness of this park lies in its' biodiversity in hosting a variety of animals and plant species not found anywhere else in the world. The red colobus and the Sanje crested manabrey, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and sable antelopes are some of the residents in this park. A good range of birdlife is present which includes Rufous winged sunbird, Iringa akalat, Lagden's bush shrike and Udzungwa partridge. (A 5 hour drive from Dar es Salaam)
Selous Game Reserve;Is the largest protected wildlife area in Africa. A UN World Heritage site, this uninhabited area is larger than Switzerland. Only in the Serengeti will visitors see a greater concentration of wildlife as Selous boast Tanzania's largest population of Elephant as well as large numbers of buffalo, hippo and wild dog. Other species commonly seen are lion, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, eland, baboon, zebra and greater kudu. (A 9 hour drive or 90 minute flight from Dar es Salaam)