12-Day Private Excellent Safari South Circuit

12 Days
Private Tour
Dar Es Salaam ➝ Mikumi NP➝ Ruaha NP➝ Morogoro➝ Udzungwa Mountains➝ Nyerere NP ➝ Zanzibar/Dar Es Salaam

Starting from

$3400

12-Day Private Excellent Safari South Circuit

Overview

The 12-Day Private Excellent Safari – South Circuit offers an exclusive journey through Tanzania’s untouched southern parks, including Selous (Nyerere), Ruaha, Mikumi, and Udzungwa Mountains. With private guides and tailored experiences, enjoy game drives, walking safaris, boat trips, and cultural encounters away from the crowds. This safari promises intimate wildlife encounters, scenic beauty, and a deep connection with nature.

Included/Excluded

Park Fees
Drinks And Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Park fees (For non-residents)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All flights during the tour
All Taxes/VAT
Hotel Transfer

International flights (From/to home)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)

Tanzania is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on what you want to experience:

🔹 June to October (Dry Season):

Best for Wildlife Viewing: This is the peak safari season. The dry weather makes animals easier to spot as they gather around water sources. Great Migration (Northern Serengeti): July to September is ideal for witnessing the famous river crossings.

🔹 November to March (Green Season):

Lush Landscapes & Bird Watching: The scenery is vibrant, and it’s an excellent time for birding. Calving Season (Southern Serengeti): January to March offers a chance to see thousands of wildebeest calves born on the plains.

🔹 April & May (Long Rains):

This is the off-season due to heavier rainfall, but it’s also when lodges offer discounted rates.

Uwanda Tours & Safaris offers tailored itineraries for each season so you can experience the best of Tanzania year-round.

With Uwanda Tours & Safaris, you can expect a seamless, immersive, and professionally guided experience from start to finish. Here's what you’ll enjoy:

🔹 Expert Local Guides: Passionate and knowledgeable about wildlife, ecosystems, and local cultures.
🔹 Custom Itineraries: Every safari is crafted based on your interests, travel style, and budget.
🔹 Top Wildlife Destinations: Explore iconic parks like Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara.
🔹 Authentic Cultural Encounters: Visit Maasai villages and experience Tanzania’s rich cultural diversity.
🔹 Comfortable Stays: Handpicked accommodations ranging from luxury lodges to eco-friendly camps.
🔹 Safe & Reliable Travel: From airport pickup to drop-off, you’ll be cared for every step of the way.

Expect unforgettable wildlife moments, expert service, and personalized attention throughout your journey.

At Uwanda Tours & Safaris, personalization is at the heart of everything we do. Here’s how you can customize your adventure:

🔹 Tailored Itineraries: Choose your preferred parks, activities, and travel duration.

🔹 Accommodation Choices: From luxury lodges to budget-friendly tented camps—we’ll match your comfort level.

🔹 Private Safaris: Enjoy a private vehicle and guide for a more intimate experience.

🔹 Special Interests: Whether it's photography, bird watching, honeymoon travel, or family-friendly safaris—we create experiences to match your goals.

🔹 Add-on Experiences: Include hot air balloon safaris, cultural tours, beach extensions in Zanzibar, or even a Kilimanjaro climb.

Just let us know your travel preferences and our team will design a journey that’s 100% yours.

Yes, Tanzania is one of the best countries in Africa to see the Big Five—Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, and Buffalo. With Uwanda Tours & Safaris, you have excellent chances of spotting them in the wild:

🔹 Serengeti National Park: Home to large lion prides, leopards, elephants, and buffalo.

🔹 Ngorongoro Crater: One of the best places to see all Big Five in a single day, including rare black rhinos.

🔹 Tarangire & Lake Manyara: Known for massive elephant herds and tree-climbing lions.

Our experienced guides know where and when to find them, giving you the best possible opportunities for sightings and photography.

Yes, Tanzania is a safe and welcoming country for travelers, and with Uwanda Tours & Safaris, your safety is our top priority. Here's how we ensure peace of mind:

🔹 Trusted Local Experts: Our guides and team are locally based and well-versed in every region we operate in.

🔹 Private Transport: Your safari vehicle is private, clean, and well-maintained for a safe experience.

🔹 Health & Hygiene: We follow up-to-date health protocols and provide support if any medical needs arise.

🔹 Secure Accommodations: We partner only with reputable and secure lodges and camps.

🔹 24/7 Support: You’ll have access to our support team throughout your trip.

As with any international destination, it’s good to follow general safety advice and consult your local travel advisory before traveling.

DAY 1

Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park & Maasai Culture

The journey will start early in the morning from Dar es Salaam when our professional driver will pick you up and drive to Mikumi National Park. On arrival at Mikumi NP, you will learn how to make fire with sticks and learn more about the Maasai culture. You'll also experience the places where most of them live, as well as their traditions and customs. After the safari, head back to your camp to prepare for your next scheduled activities.

Accommodation: Camp Bastiani Mikumi

Meals: Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Mikumi National Park

DAY 2

Full-day Game Drive in Mikumi National Park

After breakfast, head out to Mikumi National Park. You'll have a full-day game drive and will see wonderful animals like lion, eland, and buffalo found in the park. The Mikumi floodplain is the main feature of the park and borders the mountain ranges. In the afternoon, you will have lunch and rest before proceeding on a game drive until the evening when you will return to the camp to prepare for your next day's schedule.

Accommodation: Camp Bastiani Mikumi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Mikumi National Park

DAY 3

Transfer From Mikumi to Ruaha National Park

You will have an early breakfast and prepare for your transfer at around 7:30 am from Mikumi National Park to Ruaha National Park. Here, you will get to view other tourist attractions and animals. Your accommodation is at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge located outside the park.

Accommodation: Ruaha Hilltop Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Ruaha National Park

DAY 4

Game Drive in Ruaha National Park

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up and take you to Ruaha National Park for a full-day game drive. In the afternoon, you will get a packed lunch and time to rest. Later, continue with the game drive until sunset when you will return to Ruaha Hilltop Lodge for dinner, sleep, and prepare for the next day's schedule.

Accommodation: Ruaha Hilltop Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Ruaha National Park

DAY 5

Second Game Drive in Ruaha National Park

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up and go to Ruaha National Park for a second full-day game drive on different routes from the previous day. In the afternoon you will get a packed lunch and time to rest. Later, continue with the game drive until sunset when you will return to Ruaha Hilltop Lodge for dinner, sleep, and prepare for the next day's schedule.

Accommodation: Ruaha Hilltop Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Ruaha National Park

DAY 6

Transfer From Ruaha National Park to Morogoro

After breakfast, our professional driver will pick you up and take you to Morogoro from Ruaha National Park. You will have lunch on the way and dinner at Camp Bastian. Morogoro is one of the largest cities in Tanzania, located about 200 kilometers west of Dar es Salaam, the capital of the Morogoro region.

Accommodation: Camp Bastiani Mikumi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Mikumi National Park

DAY 7

Udzungwa Waterfall for mountain hiking

After an early breakfast, you go to Udzungwa Mountains National Park to hike at the waterfalls. On arrival, you will receive instructions before starting your hike in the forest mountains. From the top of the waterfall, you have a great view of the enormous Kilombero Sugarcane Valley, one of the biggest sugarcane plantations in Tanzania. You will have a packed lunch in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Camp Bastiani Mikumi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Udzungwa Mountains National Park

DAY 8

Transfer From Morogoro to Nyerere National Park

Early in the morning, our driver will pick you up from your hotel in Morogoro and take you to Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve). On the way, you will get to see various villages. After arriving at Nyerere National Park, you will get to rest and prepare for the next day's schedule.

Accommodation: Selous Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Nyerere National Park

DAY 9

Game Drive in Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)

After breakfast, you will do a full-day game drive from 7:30 am until the evening in Nyerere National Park (formerly known as Selous Game Reserve). The journey will start from Africa Safari Selous with our professional drivers and guides. On this day, you will get to enjoy various tourist attractions like seeing animals including elephant, zebra, giraffe, antelope, and more. You will also see birds and other landscape scenery with varied topography including wetlands, dry grassland, light acacia forest, and higher ground with vast views of far-off mountains. In the afternoon, you will get a packed lunch and some time to rest. You will then continue with the game drive until the evening when you will return to Africa Safari Selous for dinner and sleep and prepare for the next day.

Accommodation: Selous Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Nyerere National Park

DAY 10

Full-day Game Drive on Different Routes in Nyerere National Park (Selous GR) & Visit Hot Spring

After breakfast, you will do another full-day game drive until the evening. Go on different routes from the previous day, starting from the Africa Safari Camp where you will be picked up by our professional drivers and guides. Today, you will get to see various animals including elephant, zebra, giraffe, antelope and more. You will also see birds, and landscape scenery with varied topography including wetlands, dry grassland, light acacia forest, and higher ground with vast views of far-off mountains. You will also get a chance to visit a hot spring and can even go swimming, but it depends on the accessibility of the road, since during the rainy season, there will be mud on the road. In the afternoon you will get a packed lunch and some time to rest, then continue with the game drive. In the evening, you will return to Africa Safari Selous for dinner and sleep and to prepare for tomorrow.

Accommodation: Selous Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Nyerere National Park

DAY 11

Bushman Walking, Village Tour and Boat Safari

On this day, before breakfast, you will do a walking tour with our Bushman in the forest, accompanied by an armed ranger. Return to the camp for breakfast and then do a village tour at Mloka village. In the afternoon, you will have lunch at the camp. Later, at around 4:00 pm, you will go to the Rufiji River for a boat safari until sunset. Return to the camp for dinner, sleep, and to prepare for the next day's schedule.

Accommodation: Selous Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner And Drinking Water

Park Name: Nyerere National Park

DAY 12

Fly To Zanzibar or Drive Back Dar Es Salaam

After breakfast on your last day of the tour, our driver will pick you up and take you to the Mtemere Airstrip for flying by 07am flight or drive back Dar Es Salaam

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch And Drinking Water

Park Name: Nyerere National Park