Southern
Circuit
★ Est. Safari ★
Circuit
★ Est. Safari ★
Sample itinerary · 7 days
Southern Tanzania, told in seven days
Price on request · Three national parks · Private guide
Price includes your wildlife guide, private safari vehicle, light-aircraft flights between parks, a boat safari on the Rufiji River, hotels and park entrance fees — excluding your international flight, based on 6 travellers.
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Planned in TanzaniaLocal guidance, clearly explained
The trip
7 days across Mikumi, Ruaha and the Rufiji River wilderness of Nyerere
This is the full southern circuit: the open plains of Mikumi National Park, the baobab-studded landscapes and Great Ruaha River of Ruaha National Park, and the river wilderness of Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous Game Reserve) — three very different parks, three very different rhythms.
You travel by private safari vehicle for the road sections and by light aircraft between the more remote parks, with your own experienced English-speaking guide throughout on the ground. It is the most complete way to experience the wildest side of southern Tanzania in a single trip.
This southern-circuit itinerary favors spacious landscapes and a quieter safari rhythm, with longer road sectors or internal flights explained clearly before booking.
Private game drives concentrate on behavior and habitat; boating or walking is included only when it appears in the confirmed proposal and current conditions allow it.
The park order is designed to avoid backtracking and to place the more remote wildlife areas where the group has enough time to appreciate them.
7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari · Tanzania
Low season · Apr 1 – May 19
2 persons
Price on request
4 persons
Price on request
6 persons
Price on request
Mid season · rest of year
2 persons
Price on request
4 persons
Price on request
6 persons
Price on request
High season · Jul–Sep, 20 Dec–10 Jan
2 persons
Price on request
4 persons
Price on request
6 persons
Price on request
Indicative costs per person, excluding international airline tickets.
See how your price comes together
Good to know
When is the best time to visit Tanzania? +
The best period for 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania depends on wildlife priorities, weather tolerance, visitor levels and budget. Seasonal patterns are useful probabilities, not guarantees.
- Dry season (Jun–Oct & Dec–Feb): ideal for safaris and beach visits, with excellent wildlife viewing but higher rates and busier parks.
- Mid season (Mar & Nov): moderate rates, fewer tourists, variable weather, still great sightings.
- Wet season (Apr & May): lowest rates, quietest parks, lush and vibrant scenery.
What can I expect from a private safari? +
For 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania, the private 4×4 serves your party and professional guide. Starts, stops and viewing time remain flexible within park rules, safety limits and the day's geography.
How can I personalize this trip? +
Big 7 uses 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania as a starting point. Dates, party, pace, rooming and priorities determine the final route, confirmed with current availability and written inclusions.
Can I see the Big Five in Tanzania? +
7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania may create opportunities for several Big Five species, but no complete checklist is guaranteed. Habitat, season, time and patient guiding shape what is actually seen.
Is it safe to travel to Tanzania? +
Travel on 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania still requires normal city awareness, guide and ranger instructions, suitable insurance and activity-specific preparation. Check current conditions and official travel advice close to departure.
Included
All accommodations
4 days, full board on safari
24/7 service
English speaking guide
Game drives & park fees
Private 4×4 safari jeep
Airport pickup & transfers
Rufiji River boat safari
Excluded
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- International flights (bookable on request)
Make it entirely yours.
Practical context — 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania. Every sample itinerary here is a starting point, not a fixed route. Our specialists shape the pace, the lodges, and the days around what you actually want from Tanzania.
At a glance
The route
- Day 1 — Arrival at Dar es Salaam & transfer to Mikumi National Park
- Day 2 — Mikumi National Park & flight to Ruaha National Park
- Day 3 — Ruaha National Park (full-day game drive)
- Day 4 — Ruaha National Park & the Great Ruaha River
- Day 5 — Fly to Nyerere National Park
- Day 6 — Nyerere National Park (Rufiji River boat safari)
- Day 7 — Nyerere National Park walking safari & departure via Dar es Salaam
7-day southern circuit
Accommodation along this route
The stays below name actual properties for each overnight. Compare Silver, Gold and Premium choices where available; ask us to tailor the final selection to your travel dates.
Silver
Accommodation context — 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania. Comfortable, well-run lodges and tented camps along the same route and wildlife areas, with private bathrooms, solid food, and attentive local staff — without the luxury price tag.
- En-suite rooms, hot water, mosquito nets
- Full board on safari days
- Great value without cutting corners
Gold
Accommodation context — 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania. Boutique lodges and camps with a step up in design, space, and personal attention — chosen as much for character and setting as for comfort.
- Larger rooms or tents, often with a view
- Higher staff-to-guest ratio
- Stronger sense of place at each stop
Premium
Accommodation context — 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania. Exclusive camps and carefully selected lodges in some of the best locations on the route, with elevated service and the kind of detail that makes a stay memorable.
- Standout architecture & locations
- Highly personalised service
- Extra touches: pools, spas, private decks
Day
1
1
Arrival & the road south
Dar es Salaam & Mikumi National Park
Private safari vehicle Meals as confirmed Flexible viewing pace Overnight: Mikumi
As you walk out of Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, your personal guide greets you with a big smile: “Karibu Tanzania — welcome to Tanzania!” From here it's a scenic drive inland to Mikumi National Park, with time for an afternoon game drive among the park's open grasslands before dark.
Route and landscape — Dar es Salaam & Mikumi National Park. Game driving concentrates on Mikumi's accessible plains and the Mkata River floodplain, framed by distant hills and woodland. The park's road network allows a full wildlife day without needing to chase every distant radio report.
Wildlife expectations — Dar es Salaam & Mikumi National Park. Zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, elephant and lion are possible, alongside hippo pools and productive bird habitat. Sightings vary naturally, and your guide uses landscape and animal behavior to build a fuller picture than a species checklist.
Meals and game-drive pace — Dar es Salaam & Mikumi National Park. A picnic or lodge lunch is coordinated with current conditions and the onward transfer. Heat and dust can be noticeable in drier months, while green periods change road texture and bring strong color for photography.
Evening and overnight — Dar es Salaam & Mikumi National Park. The final game-drive sector is chosen to place the vehicle sensibly for the exit, lodge or next park. This reduces unnecessary backtracking on a route that may already include a long road connection.
Accommodation options
Mikumi
Accommodation is subject to availability. A comparable property may be offered when necessary.
Day
2
2
Mikumi's open plains
Mikumi National Park & flight to Ruaha
Private safari vehicle Meals as confirmed Flexible viewing pace Overnight: Ruaha
A morning game drive across Mikumi's Mkata floodplain — often likened to a mini-Serengeti — in search of zebra, giraffe, buffalo and lion. In the afternoon a short light-aircraft flight carries you west to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's largest national park, in time for an evening game drive en route to camp.
Route and landscape — Mikumi National Park & flight to Ruaha. Game driving concentrates on Mikumi's accessible plains and the Mkata River floodplain, framed by distant hills and woodland. The park's road network allows a full wildlife day without needing to chase every distant radio report.
Wildlife expectations — Mikumi National Park & flight to Ruaha. Zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, elephant and lion are possible, alongside hippo pools and productive bird habitat. Sightings vary naturally, and your guide uses landscape and animal behavior to build a fuller picture than a species checklist.
Meals and game-drive pace — Mikumi National Park & flight to Ruaha. A picnic or lodge lunch is coordinated with current conditions and the onward transfer. Heat and dust can be noticeable in drier months, while green periods change road texture and bring strong color for photography.
Evening and overnight — Mikumi National Park & flight to Ruaha. The final game-drive sector is chosen to place the vehicle sensibly for the exit, lodge or next park. This reduces unnecessary backtracking on a route that may already include a long road connection.
Accommodation options
Ruaha
Day
3
3
Baobabs & the Great Ruaha River
Ruaha National Park
Private safari vehicle Meals as confirmed Flexible viewing pace Overnight: Ruaha
A full day exploring Ruaha's dramatic, baobab-studded landscape along the Great Ruaha River, where large prides of lion, sizeable elephant herds and rarer species such as greater kudu and African wild dog are regularly seen.
Route and landscape — Ruaha National Park. Ruaha's scale is felt in long views, sand rivers, baobab-studded slopes and stretches of miombo woodland. A private vehicle is especially valuable here because productive areas may be separated by meaningful driving distance.
Wildlife expectations — Ruaha National Park. Elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, lion and many birds can occur, while the Great Ruaha River and seasonal water influence where animals gather. The guide reads the less crowded landscape patiently and avoids manufacturing certainty around rare species.
Meals and game-drive pace — Ruaha National Park. Lunch may travel with the vehicle or be served at camp according to the day's range. Dust protection for cameras, drinking water and flexible layers help with changing temperature between early starts and warmer open country.
Evening and overnight — Ruaha National Park. The route back to camp uses late light without compromising gate, access or safety limits. Dinner and the evening briefing prepare guests for the next long game drive or onward southern-circuit connection.
Accommodation options
RuahaDay
4
4
Tanzania's largest national park
Ruaha National Park — further afield
Private safari vehicle Meals as confirmed Flexible viewing pace Overnight: Ruaha
A second day to explore Ruaha's remoter tracks around the Mwagusi and Mdonya sand rivers, with more time for photography and a slower pace among some of the least-visited wilderness in East Africa.
Route and landscape — Ruaha National Park — further afield. Ruaha's scale is felt in long views, sand rivers, baobab-studded slopes and stretches of miombo woodland. A private vehicle is especially valuable here because productive areas may be separated by meaningful driving distance.
Wildlife expectations — Ruaha National Park — further afield. Elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, lion and many birds can occur, while the Great Ruaha River and seasonal water influence where animals gather. The guide reads the less crowded landscape patiently and avoids manufacturing certainty around rare species.
Meals and game-drive pace — Ruaha National Park — further afield. Lunch may travel with the vehicle or be served at camp according to the day's range. Dust protection for cameras, drinking water and flexible layers help with changing temperature between early starts and warmer open country.
Evening and overnight — Ruaha National Park — further afield. The route back to camp uses late light without compromising gate, access or safety limits. Dinner and the evening briefing prepare guests for the next long game drive or onward southern-circuit connection.
Accommodation options
RuahaDay
5
5
Crossing into the Rufiji wilderness
Fly to Nyerere National Park
Private safari vehicle Meals as confirmed Flexible viewing pace Overnight: Nyerere
A morning flight from Ruaha carries you east to Nyerere National Park, Africa's largest protected wilderness, formerly known as the Selous Game Reserve. In the afternoon, settle into camp with a first game drive along the Rufiji River.
Route and landscape — Fly to Nyerere National Park. The day explores Nyerere's broad miombo woodland, open grass, lakes and channels associated with the Rufiji system. Distances inside the reserve can be substantial, so the guide selects an area with enough time for observation rather than trying to cover a map.
Wildlife expectations — Fly to Nyerere National Park. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, antelope, lion and African wild dog are among the possible sightings, with distribution changing across seasons and water sources. Game drives keep a respectful distance and use tracks and fresh signs to shape the search.
Meals and game-drive pace — Fly to Nyerere National Park. Meals and water stops follow the confirmed camp arrangement. If a boat safari or guided walk is listed, it is operated by the appropriate licensed team and adjusted to river, wildlife and weather conditions; it is not silently substituted for a game drive.
Evening and overnight — Fly to Nyerere National Park. The quieter southern-circuit atmosphere is strongest when there is time to pause at a waterway or watch an animal interaction develop. The return to camp is timed around safe access and the next day's onward route.
Accommodation options
Nyerere
Day
6
6
Africa's largest wilderness
Nyerere National Park — Rufiji River boat safari
Private safari vehicle Meals as confirmed Flexible viewing pace Overnight: Nyerere
A full day exploring Nyerere. A morning boat safari drifts along the Rufiji River past pods of hippo, basking crocodiles and a huge variety of water birds, before an afternoon game drive across the park's woodland and lake systems in search of wild dog, elephant and lion.
Route and landscape — Nyerere National Park — Rufiji River boat safari. The day explores Nyerere's broad miombo woodland, open grass, lakes and channels associated with the Rufiji system. Distances inside the reserve can be substantial, so the guide selects an area with enough time for observation rather than trying to cover a map.
Wildlife expectations — Nyerere National Park — Rufiji River boat safari. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, antelope, lion and African wild dog are among the possible sightings, with distribution changing across seasons and water sources. Game drives keep a respectful distance and use tracks and fresh signs to shape the search.
Meals and game-drive pace — Nyerere National Park — Rufiji River boat safari. Meals and water stops follow the confirmed camp arrangement. If a boat safari or guided walk is listed, it is operated by the appropriate licensed team and adjusted to river, wildlife and weather conditions; it is not silently substituted for a game drive.
Evening and overnight — Nyerere National Park — Rufiji River boat safari. The quieter southern-circuit atmosphere is strongest when there is time to pause at a waterway or watch an animal interaction develop. The return to camp is timed around safe access and the next day's onward route.
Accommodation options
NyerereDay
7
7
Walking with the wild & journey home
Nyerere National Park & departure via Dar es Salaam
Private transport Meals as confirmed Flexible daily pace Departure day
An early guided walking safari with an armed ranger, tracking fresh signs on foot before breakfast — a perspective no vehicle can match. Afterwards, transfer back to Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport for your onward flight home.
Departure preparation — Nyerere National Park & departure via Dar es Salaam. Breakfast and check-out are planned around the confirmed flight or onward connection, with time to reorganize luggage and keep passports, medication and fragile camera equipment accessible. The driver reconfirms the terminal rather than relying on an old schedule.
Transfer margin — Nyerere National Park & departure via Dar es Salaam. The transfer includes a sensible buffer for traffic, security and airline check-in requirements. If the day begins near a park, any final viewing is treated as a bonus and never allowed to create pressure around the departure.
Meals and onward handover — Nyerere National Park & departure via Dar es Salaam. Meals beyond the stated board basis and optional stops remain clear before leaving the lodge. Your guide helps coordinate domestic-flight baggage or the handover to a Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro or international service.
Final drop-off — Nyerere National Park & departure via Dar es Salaam. At the airport or agreed drop-off, the team remains available through the planned handover. This final day is intentionally practical, completing the route without inventing activities that the travel window cannot support.
Practical information
A few essentials to sort out before you fly — your specialist will walk you through the rest once you book.
Visa & entry
Visa rules for 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania depend on nationality, passport and purpose. Use the official Tanzania Immigration portal and verify the current process before travel; an arrival option should never be assumed for every passport.
Health & vaccinations
For 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania, yellow-fever certificate requirements depend on the countries and transit times in your route. Discuss malaria prevention, routine vaccines and personal health with a qualified travel-health clinician, then verify current official entry rules.
Currency & payments
Money needs for 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania depend on the written inclusions. Tanzanian shillings are useful for small purchases, cards may work at established properties, and remote areas require a secure backup; request current payment guidance.
What to pack
Pack 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania with neutral, quick-drying layers, a warm dawn layer, comfortable closed shoes, sun protection and binoculars. Add activity-specific items only when the confirmed route requires them.
Travel insurance
For 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania, obtain insurance whose wording covers the exact safari, mountain, flight or marine activities and relevant remoteness. Ask the insurer to clarify treatment, evacuation and exclusions in writing.
Getting there
Most travellers fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. Your airport pickup and transfer to Mikumi on day one are included, along with the light-aircraft flights between Mikumi, Ruaha and Nyerere later in the trip.
Optional activities along the way
The 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania route is complete on its own. Add the optional experiences below only when they support the party's interests and leave enough time for rest.
Nyerere
Extended Rufiji River boat safari
A longer version of the boat safari, drifting further downriver past hippo pods and fish eagles, with a sundowner stop on a sandbank.
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Nyerere
Full-day walking safari
A full day on foot with an armed ranger, reading tracks and signs across the miombo woodland at a pace no vehicle allows.
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Ruaha
Night game drive
An after-dark drive across Ruaha's baobab plains to find its nocturnal side — genets, civets and, with luck, hunting leopard, picked out by spotlight.
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Nyerere
Bush breakfast on the riverbank
A table laid out on the banks of the Rufiji, breakfast served to the sound of hippos grunting in the shallows as the morning mist lifts.
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Share dates and party details for 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania; Big 7 Safari Tours will prepare a current personal proposal. The enquiry itself creates no reservation, payment or obligation.
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Let's shape your 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania
Share the details that affect 7 Days Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere Safari Tanzania: dates, travelers, pace, rooms and priorities. A Tanzania-based planner can prepare a personal proposal without creating a booking obligation.
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Why us
Why Big 7 Safari Tours
- Planning grounded in local knowledge
- Clear, personal communication
- Focused on travel within Tanzania
- Tanzania-based trip planning
- Professional guides matched to the itinerary
- Written quotations with clear inclusions
- Practical support from arrival to departure
