9 Days Private Big Five Luxury Safari in Mikumi, Udzungwa, Ruaha and Iringa

Your luxury private safari starts at 07:30 AM with a comfortable morning road transfer from your location in Dar es Salaam straight to Mikumi National Park. You will travel in a plush, air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle for 5 hours, watching coastal landscapes shift into rural farmlands before arriving at your five-star bush camp for a premium lunch. At 03:00 PM, you will head out for a 3-hour introductory afternoon game drive across the golden savannah plains where you will spot your first large herds of elephants, giraffes, and zebras feeding peacefully in the cool afternoon air.

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Wellworth Mikumi Wildlife Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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Today features an immersive 8.5-hour full-day game drive starting at 06:30 AM to explore the expansive grasslands of the Mkata Floodplain. You will spend the morning tracking large prides of lions patrolling the plains and watching vast herds of buffalo gather near the watering holes. The midday hours include a luxury private bush picnic under a shady acacia tree, followed by a dedicated afternoon birdwatching session around the swamp areas where you can photograph colorful rollers, storks, and eagles before returning to the lodge at 05:00 PM.

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Wellworth Mikumi Wildlife Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After a relaxing breakfast at 08:00 AM, you will take a short 1.5-hour scenic road transfer from the savannah toward the towering green peaks of the Udzungwa Mountains. You will arrive at the park headquarters by 09:30 AM to begin a rewarding 4.5-hour guided rainforest walk and hike up to the spectacular Sanje Waterfalls. Your private park ranger will help you spot rare endemic primates like the Sanje mangabey swinging through the high canopy, and you will finish the trail by enjoying a swim in the crystal-clear mountain plunge pools before checking into your luxury eco-resort.

Destination:

Udzungwa Mountains

Overnight:

Udzungwa Falls Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your journey continues at 07:00 AM with a magnificent 6.5-hour long-distance road transfer that takes you deep into the rugged Southern Highlands. Your private vehicle will navigate beautiful mountain passes, stopping at 12:30 PM in the historic town of Iringa for an exceptional garden lunch at a private estate. The afternoon drive reveals stunning highland scenery as you descend into the dry Ruaha valley, arriving at your ultra-exclusive riverfront villa at 02:30 PM where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing on your private deck watching wildlife cross the dry riverbed below.

Destination:

Ruaha National Park

Overnight:

Kigelia Ruaha

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Wake up at dawn for a spectacular 8-hour full-day game drive starting at 06:30 AM along the banks of the Great Ruaha River. You will explore massive baobab woodlands and open river loops, watching giant elephant families dig for water in the sand and tracking leopards resting in the trees. After a premium lunch served back at the luxury camp during the hottest hours, you will head out for an afternoon tracking session to view massive prides of lions and elegant greater kudu before returning to your villa at 05:30 PM for a fine-dining experience.

Destination:

Ruaha National Park

Overnight:

Kigelia Ruaha

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your morning opens at 06:30 AM with a thrilling 2-hour guided walking safari through the rugged Ruaha terrain accompanied by an armed park ranger. Walking quietly allows you to study fresh animal tracks and learn about traditional plant medicines in the wild bush. You will return to the lodge for a rich midday rest and lunch, followed by a 3-hour afternoon game drive at 03:00 PM that concludes at an elevated viewpoint where you can sip premium drinks during a beautiful wilderness sundowner as the sun sets.

Destination:

Ruaha National Park

Overnight:

Kigelia Ruaha

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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You will bid farewell to the wild plains with an exciting 2-hour sunrise game drive starting at 06:00 AM to catch predators active in the cool morning light. After returning to the camp for a substantial breakfast, you will board your luxury vehicle at 09:30 AM for a comfortable 3.5-hour road transfer back up into the highlands of Iringa. At 02:00 PM, you will take a private 2-hour guided walk through the dramatic canyons of the Isimila Stone Age Site to view ancient sandstone pillars and prehistoric tools before checking into your boutique hotel.

Destination:

Iringa Attractions

Overnight:

Mount Royal Villa Hotel

  luxury 5 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your morning begins at 08:30 AM with a brief 1.5-hour cultural visit to the nearby Kalenga Museum to learn about the historical heritage of Chief Mkwawa and the brave Hehe tribe. At 10:00 AM, your driver will steer the luxury 4x4 down the spectacular mountain curves of the Kitonga Escarpment, offering breathtaking panoramic views over the vast river valleys below. This scenic 4.5-hour road trip brings you back down to the lowlands by mid-afternoon, allowing you to settle into a premium garden lodge near the Mikumi border for a relaxing evening

Destination:

Mikumi Natinal Park

Overnight:

Wellworth Mikumi Wildlife Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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On your final safari morning, you will head out at 06:30 AM for a brief 2-hour morning game drive through Mikumi National Park to catch your last photos of wildebeest and elands grazing in the early light. You will return to the lodge for a final gourmet brunch before starting the 5-hour return road transfer back to the coast at 10:00 AM. Your private vehicle will deliver you directly to the international airport or your oceanfront hotel in Dar es Salaam by 03:00 PM, bringing a perfect end to your luxury safari.