5 Days Big Five and Birding Adventure – Luxury Drive-in Drive-out Mikumi and Ruaha

Depart Dar es Salaam in the morning for Mikumi National Park. The journey introduces you to the landscapes of Tanzania's Southern Circuit before reaching the wildlife-rich environment of Mikumi.

After lunch, begin your afternoon game drive. The open plains and surrounding woodland provide opportunities to search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, hippos, warthogs, and lions.

Birding is also an important part of the experience. Your guide can help identify birds by their calls, colors, flight patterns, feeding behavior, and habitats. Depending on the season, you may encounter kingfishers, rollers, hornbills, eagles, storks, herons, egrets, bee-eaters, and other species.

Continue exploring through the afternoon before returning to your luxury accommodation.

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Vuma Hills Tented Camp

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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The safari focuses on both large mammals and birdlife, allowing you to spend meaningful time observing different species and their behaviors. Your guide will search for predators and large herbivores while also paying attention to bird activity around water sources, woodland, and open grasslands.

You may encounter elephant herds, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, lions, hippos, and crocodiles. Leopards can sometimes be difficult to locate and require patience, careful observation, and favorable conditions.

For birders, different habitats offer different opportunities. Water areas can attract herons, egrets, storks, kingfishers, and other water-associated birds, while woodland and open plains may produce birds of prey, rollers, hornbills, and colorful smaller species.

After lunch, continue the afternoon safari before returning to your accommodation.

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Vuma Hills Tented Camp

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast, leave Mikumi and travel toward Ruaha National Park.

The scenery becomes increasingly remote as you move deeper into the Southern Circuit. Along the way, you will see rural landscapes, agricultural areas, changing vegetation, and communities.

Upon arrival in Ruaha, enjoy lunch and settle into your luxury accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an introductory game drive.

Ruaha offers diverse habitats that support large mammals and an impressive variety of birdlife. Its baobab trees, river systems, grasslands, and woodland create an excellent setting for both wildlife observation and birding.

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Kichaka Safari Camp

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Begin early and head into Ruaha National Park for a full day of wildlife exploration.

Ruaha is especially well known for elephants and large carnivores. Your guide will search for elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, kudu, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife.

African wild dogs may also be encountered depending on location and conditions.

Throughout the day, dedicate time to birding in different habitats. Birds of prey may be seen soaring above the plains, while smaller species can be found around woodland, riverine areas, and trees.

The combination of wildlife and dramatic landscapes makes Ruaha an exciting destination for both photographers and birders. Continue exploring after lunch before returning to your luxury accommodation.

Destination:

Ruaha National Park

Overnight:

Kichaka Safari Camp

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Begin your final day with an early morning game drive in Ruaha.

This final safari provides another chance to search for wildlife and birds while enjoying the cooler morning conditions. Your guide can focus on species you have not yet seen or spend more time with particular animals and bird habitats.

After breakfast, begin your return journey toward Dar es Salaam.

Your 5-day luxury drive-in drive-out Mikumi and Ruaha Big Five and birding safari concludes upon arrival in Dar es Salaam.