8 Days Luxury Big Five Wildlife Safari in Nyerere, Mikumi and Udzungwa, Tanzania

Your luxury safari begins with a scenic road transfer from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park, taking you away from the busy city and into the changing landscapes of southern Tanzania. Along the journey, you will pass rural settlements, cultivated areas, open countryside, and natural scenery that provide an introduction to the character of the region. Depending on the route and road conditions, suitable rest stops can be arranged along the way. After arriving in the Nyerere area and completing the necessary arrangements, enjoy a boat safari along the Rufiji River. From the water, your guide will help you look for hippos, crocodiles, waterbirds, and other wildlife gathering around the riverbanks. The changing river scenery, channels, vegetation, and wildlife activity provide a relaxing and memorable introduction to Nyerere National Park while offering a perspective that differs from a traditional vehicle safari.

Time: Morning departure; afternoon boat safari, subject to arrival and local conditions.
Main Activities: Road transfer, Rufiji River boat safari, wildlife and bird observation.
Distance: Long road transfer; exact distance depends on route and accommodation location.
Attractions: Nyerere National Park, Rufiji River, riverine scenery, aquatic wildlife.

Destination:

Nyerere National Park

Overnight:

Roho ya Selous

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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Spend a full day exploring Nyerere National Park on a guided game drive through its varied landscapes and wildlife habitats. Your guide will select suitable tracks and lake circuits according to current conditions and recent wildlife activity, giving you opportunities to search for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, predators, and other animals that may be present in the area. As you move between open plains, woodland, lakes, and water-rich environments, the scenery changes throughout the day and creates different opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. Birdwatching adds another dimension to the experience, particularly around lakes and other water sources. Regular pauses allow you to enjoy the surroundings, take photographs, and learn more about the behaviour of animals and the ecosystem that supports them.

Time: Full day.
Main Activities: Game drive, lake circuits, wildlife observation, birdwatching.
Distance: Varies according to selected game-viewing routes.
Attractions: Nyerere National Park, lakes, woodland, open habitats, wildlife.

Destination:

Nyerere National Park

Overnight:

Roho ya Selous

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Experience Nyerere National Park from a different perspective during a guided walking safari led by an authorized professional guide. Moving on foot allows you to slow down and appreciate details that can easily be missed from a safari vehicle, including animal tracks, plants, insects, birds, signs of wildlife activity, and the sounds of the surrounding bush. Your guide will explain how animals interact with their environment and how different elements of the ecosystem are connected. After the walking experience, return to the vehicle for an afternoon game drive through additional areas of the park. The later part of the day provides further opportunities to observe wildlife as the landscape changes with the afternoon light and animal activity.

Time: Morning walking safari; afternoon game drive.
Main Activities: Guided walking safari, nature interpretation, afternoon game drive.
Distance: Depends on walking route and game-drive tracks.
Attractions: Nyerere wilderness, animal tracks, vegetation, natural habitats.

Destination:

Nyerere National Park

Overnight:

Roho ya Selous

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast, leave the Nyerere area and travel by road towards Mikumi National Park. This inter-park journey provides an opportunity to experience the changing countryside of southern Tanzania, passing rural communities, agricultural areas, open landscapes, and roadside scenery along the way. The transfer connects two distinctive wildlife destinations, each with its own landscape and safari atmosphere. Upon reaching the Mikumi area, settle into your accommodation and take time to relax after the journey. This also gives you an opportunity to prepare for the following day’s full-day exploration of Mikumi National Park.

Time: Morning departure.
Main Activities: Inter-park road transfer, countryside viewing, arrival and relaxation.
Distance: Long road transfer.
Attractions: Southern Tanzania countryside, rural communities, Mikumi surroundings.

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Wellworth Mikumi Wildlife Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Enjoy a full-day game drive in Mikumi National Park, with particular attention to the well-known Mkata Floodplain and other suitable wildlife-viewing areas. The open grasslands, scattered trees, and surrounding woodland create a varied landscape where elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes, and other wildlife may be encountered. Your guide will select routes according to weather, road conditions, and recent wildlife movements, helping you understand how animals use the floodplain and surrounding habitats. There will also be opportunities for wildlife photography, bird observation, and scenic viewing as you explore Mikumi at a comfortable safari pace.

Time: Full day.
Main Activities: Game drive, wildlife photography, bird observation, ecological interpretation.
Distance: Varies according to game-viewing routes.
Attractions: Mikumi National Park, Mkata Floodplain, grasslands, woodland, wildlife.

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Wellworth Mikumi Wildlife Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Travel from Mikumi to the Udzungwa Mountains, where the scenery changes from open savannah landscapes to forested mountain terrain. After reaching the Udzungwa area, set out with a local or authorized guide for the Sanje Waterfalls hike, following a trail through rainforest vegetation and natural viewpoints towards the waterfall area. Along the trail, you can appreciate the forest ecosystem while looking for birds, butterflies, native plants, and other signs of biodiversity. The hike includes uneven terrain and may involve physically demanding sections, so the pace and suitability of the route should be discussed with your guide based on fitness, weather, and trail conditions. The changing forest scenery and waterfall environment provide a strong contrast to the savannah landscapes visited earlier.

Time: Transfer and guided hike.
Main Activities: Road transfer, Sanje Waterfalls hike, rainforest birdwatching, nature interpretation.
Distance: Trail dependent.
Attractions: Udzungwa Mountains, Sanje Waterfalls, rainforest, mountain scenery.

Destination:

Udzungwa Mountains

Overnight:

Udzungwa Falls Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Spend the day discovering more of the Udzungwa Mountains through an alternative guided hiking trail selected according to your interests and local conditions. The forest environment provides opportunities to appreciate mountain scenery, native vegetation, birdlife, and the peaceful atmosphere of this distinctive landscape. Depending on availability and preference, you may instead enjoy cycling around Mang’ula or take part in a cultural visit arranged with local providers. These options provide a different way of experiencing the area beyond the main waterfall hike and allow the day to be adapted to your interests while maintaining a relaxed and engaging safari experience.

Time: Full day.
Main Activities: Alternative hike or Mang’ula cycling or cultural visit.
Distance: Depends on selected activity.
Attractions: Udzungwa Mountains, forest trails, Mang’ula, local culture.

Destination:

Udzungwa Mountains

Overnight:

Udzungwa Falls Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast, begin the return journey from the Udzungwa area to Dar es Salaam. The drive takes you through the landscapes of southern Tanzania, with views of rural settlements, cultivated land, villages, and changing countryside along the route. Your safari team will coordinate the transfer according to your onward travel plans while allowing for road conditions and suitable rest stops. Arriving in Dar es Salaam, you conclude a safari that has combined river landscapes, wildlife-rich savannahs, guided nature experiences, and the forested mountains of Udzungwa.

Time: Morning.
Main Activities: Return road transfer, countryside viewing, rest stops.
Distance: Long road transfer.
Attractions: Udzungwa surroundings, southern Tanzania countryside, Dar es Salaam.