6-Day Southern Tanzania Safari — Nyerere, Mikumi & Udzungwa Mountains

A full day exploring the vast landscapes of Nyerere (Selous) National Park. The park is home to exceptional biodiversity: elephant herds, prides of lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalo, and some of the best-known populations of the endangered African wild dog in the world. The Rufiji floodplains and surrounding miombo woodland create a dramatically different landscape from the northern circuit parks.

After breakfast, the drive heads toward Mikumi National Park. En route you choose between two optional activities: a guided walking safari in Nyerere for an up-close bush experience with a park ranger, or a Maasai cultural visit near Mikumi to learn about traditional pastoralist life. You arrive in Mikumi in the afternoon to settle in for the evening.

A full day exploring Mikumi National Park. The park open savannah plains support large populations of lions, zebras, wildebeest, elephants, hippos, giraffes, impalas, and buffalo. The landscape resembles the southern Serengeti in character, with wide plains offering excellent visibility for wildlife sightings and photography. Hippo pools along the Mkata River are a reliable highlight.

The morning drive takes you to Udzungwa Mountains National Park for a half-day guided hike through dense tropical rainforest to the Sanje Waterfalls, which plunge over 170 metres in a dramatic two-tier cascade. Udzungwa is home to several endemic primates including the Sanje Mangabey and the Udzungwa Red Colobus, found nowhere else on earth, alongside rare orchids and plant species. After the hike you return to Mikumi for the evening.

After breakfast, transfer to Morogoro Railway Station for your Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train journey back to Dar es Salaam — a scenic and comfortable two and a half hour ride through the eastern plains. The SGR is one of East Africa newest and most modern rail services, and the journey offers a pleasant and efficient conclusion to the safari.