Southern Tanzanian Parks & Zanzibar

9 days
From US$0 per person
Nyere (formerly Selous), Africa's largest park, with a wide variety of landscapes: volcanic, sporadic lakes, canals of the great Rhaha and Rufiji rivers. Many animals live here, and observation is always interesting. Then you'll discover Mikumi Park, a small park where you can spot wild dogs. A tailor-made trip to Tanzania combining the tranquility of an off-the-beaten-track safari and Zanzibar.
  • Landscape of the Selous
    Hippos at Selous ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Lilac-breasted roller in Tanzania
    Lilac-breasted roller ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Zebras in Selous
    Zebras ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Caracal in Selous
    Caracal ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Sunset at Selous
    End of day at Selous ©Pajota Tanzania
  • Elephants in Tanzania
    Elephants ©Pajota Tanzania

Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Arrival at Dar ss Salaam International Airport

    On arrival in the morning in Dar es Salaam, you will be met by your guide. Dar es Salaam is a former fishing village in Tanzania that has become a major city and trading port on the Indian Ocean coast. The town doesn't have much charm. So you head straight for Nyere Park. The park is 230 km away, and after a hundred kilometers the access road becomes a red laterite track. You'll be able to take in the scenery in the various villages along the way. Arriving late afternoon, you settle into your lodge inside the park.

  • Day 2

    Nyerere National Park

    A great day's safari to discover this large park. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Nyere Reserve is the largest protected area in Africa, stretching over 55,000km² in south-east Tanzania. It adjoins Mikumi National Park to the northwest, and is part of the wider Selous-Niassa ecosystem, which extends 15,5000km² into Mozambique. Until 2019, only the northern part of the reserve was open to photo safaris. The 4/5ᵉ of the territory south of the Rufiji River, which crosses the reserve from east to west, were hunting reserves. Since 2019, the Selous Reserve has come under the administration of TANAPA, the Tanzanian organization in charge of managing national parks. The reserve is now called Nyerere National Park in tribute to the 1st president and “father” of independent Tanzania.

  • Day 3

    Nyerere National Park - Sable Mountain

    This morning, you leave Nyere Park after an early morning safari to Sable Mountain via the Matambwe North Gate. You head west. You cross banana plantations and coconut fields. Furthermore, you'll come across a few traditional villages along the way, set against a backdrop of silvery rock. At the end of the day, you return to your lodge, known for its warm and friendly atmosphere, which makes for a pleasant stopover after a day on the road.
    Optional: take a boat trip on the Rufiji River in the morning. This offers a different approach to animal observation (hippo, elephant, fish eagle...).

  • Day 4

    Sable Mountain - Mikumi National Park

    Departure for Morogoro in the north on the Tanzam Highway. Morogoro awaits you with its friendly air, dominated by the 2000 m high Mount Mzumbe. A quiet, restful resort, the town itself is not very interesting. This is also the region of the magnificent Uluguru Mountains. Continue south-west to Mikumi Park.

  • Day 5

    Mikumi National Park

    Spend the day on safari in Mikumi Park. Mikumi Park is an extension of Nyerere Park. It's a great little park with an abundance of wildlife that is often compared to that of the famous Serengeti. On your safari, you'll see populations of antelope, eland, greater kudu and black hippo. You'll also come across the usual African animals, such as lions, buffalo, hippos, wildebeest, elephants, giraffes, zebras, leopards, cheetahs, jackals and African mongooses. There's also a good chance of seeing wild dogs.

  • Day 6

    Mikumi National Park - Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar

    Last morning safari in Mikumi Park before heading back to Dar es Salaam. Long 7-hour drive to the city. Picnic lunch en route. Then take the ferry to Zanzibar. When the ferry arrives, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel on the coast. If the ferry schedule does not allow you to take the boat, you will be accommodated in Dar es Salaam.

  • Day 7

    Zanzibar

    A free stay on Spice Island. For greater freedom, we haven't planned any activities or meals apart from breakfast. You can choose on site according to your desires among the many possibilities especially turned to the sea: diving, snorkeling, boat trip with fishermen, kite surfing, but also, discovering the island and the city of Stone Town ... or simply lazing on the idyllic beach!

  • Day 8

    Zanzibar

    Day at leisure in Zanzibar. Suggested excursion: Safari Blu in Fumba (to be booked on site)
    Do you love snorkeling, sailing and seafood?
    Take a seat on a typical old Arab dhow, sail, enjoy several snorkeling sites, sunbathe on a sandbank, then enjoy an incredible seafood barbecue.

  • Day 9

    Zanzibar - Transfert to the airport

    Depending on your flight time, you'll enjoy a last day on the beach (you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception if your flight is late). You'll then be taken to the airport for your return flight. Departure from the hotel about 3 hours before your flight. End of your stay.

Prices

Price conditions for your safari in Tanzania

For prices, please contact us.

Price Per Person

Private 4x4
Based on 1 people : From US$
Based on 2 people : From US$
Based on 3 people : From US$
Based on 4 people : From US$
Based on 5 people : From US$

Children
4 to 12 years : US$ sharing with parents
13 to 15 years : US$

Single supplement : US$


Price Include

  • Transport in a private tour 4x4 with a pop-up roof
  • Unlimited kilometers
  • Services of our professional English speaking driver guide 
  • National parks entry fees
  • Drinking Water (refer below)
  • Hotel accommodation on Full Board basis sharing room (refer below)

Not Included in the Price

  • Visa fee
  • International flight
  • Transfers were not applicable 
  • Travel and cancellation/medical insurance cover
  • Single Room (under single Supplement terms)
  • Beverages, Alcohol, Spirits
  • Reusable Water Bottle for refilling (Very Important)
  • Photographic fee with the local people
  • Eventual tips
  • Any items or expenses of personal nature
  • Any other items not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Optional hot-air balloon flight available





Travel info

Here is some practical information for your safari in Tanzania


Accommodation during your safari in Tanzania

Accommodation is in either twin or double rooms at carefully selected safari lodges. The lodges we use are all set in spectacular locations and provide delicious meals and comfortable, airy bedrooms. Here's a list of the accommodations we use on our trips. If they are fully booked, we will offer you similar accommodation.



Transport in safari

You will be travelling in one of our comfortable safaris 4x4 vehicles.  Each vehicle has a "pop top" roof to provide excellent views of the incredible wildlife.

Other Useful Information to travel in Tanzania

  • No plastic bags in to Tanzania
  • No plastic bottles in the Game Parks and Reserves
  • Carry your COVID Vaccination Certificate

Entry requirements to travel in Tanzania

  • Mandatory passport valid 6 months after your return date
  • An E-visa is required for your entry into Tanzania, you can apply on the website : https://visa.immigration.go.tz/
  • To date, it is still possible to apply for a visa directly on arrival at Zanzibar airport or Kilimandjaro airport or Dar es Salaam airport.
  • New conditions for entry to the island of Zanzibar, Published on 13/09/2024
The Zanzibar authorities have announced the introduction of compulsory travel insurance for anyone visiting the island from October 1, 2024. This insurance will be sold by the Zanzibar Insurance Company at a cost of $44 per person, and will be valid for 92 days. Its purchase will be compulsory, even for travelers who already have travel insurance. This insurance applies to Zanzibar only. It will not be required, or even valid, for travellers to mainland Tanzania (notably Kilimandjaro and the wildlife reserves). This is a sovereign decision by the Tanzanian authorities. You can take out this insurance:  https: //visitzanzibar.go.tz
  • Depending on your nationality, you'll need to check the entry requirements.

Sanitary conditions in Tanzania

  • Yellow fever
In principle, vaccination against yellow fever is only required for people arriving from a country where this fever is endemic(1), or for people who have spent more than 12 hours in transit through one of these countries. To avoid any inconvenience, we strongly recommend that you are up-to-date with your yellow fever vaccination and in possession of an international vaccination booklet.
(1) In Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Congo (DRC), Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Uganda. South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. As you will be arriving from Kenya, vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory.
  • Malaria
Protection against mosquito and fly bites is essential wherever mosquitoes and flies are present (up to 1500 metres, beyond which they are inactive). The reserves and national parks in the south (Selous, Ruaha, Mikumi) are on the plains, where the risk of vector-borne diseases is present. Altitude in northern parks and reserves (Serengeti, Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro) varies between 1,000 and 3,500 metres, and preventive treatment should be adapted to the itinerary and duration of the safari in malaria-prone areas.
For stays in Zanzibar, the risk of malaria may be present in the town of Stonetown and throughout the island, although coastal hotel areas are regularly “de-mosquitoed” and the risk of vector-borne diseases is lower. Wherever malaria is likely to occur, preventive treatment should be prescribed: atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone or generic) or doxycycline. The absolute contraindication of mefloquine (Lariam) at altitude should be borne in mind, especially for travellers planning to climb Kilimanjaro. As other diseases can be transmitted by mosquitoes (yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya, zika) and, more exceptionally, by tsetse flies (sleeping sickness), taking preventive treatment for malaria does not exempt you from using skin and clothing repellents.
As far as prophylactic medication is concerned, you should contact your GP or a hospital specialising in travel medicine before you leave. During your stay, and for two months after your return, in the event of fever, medical advice should be sought systematically and rapidly, in order to start anti-malarial treatment as soon as possible.

Before you travel to Tanzania, it's important to :
  • Consult your GP or an International Vaccination Centre to assess your state of health and receive health recommendations, particularly concerning vaccinations
  • Set up a personal pharmacy

Climate

  • Main Land
Situated close to the equator, Tanzania has a pleasant climate, with temperatures that vary little and seasons that are the opposite of those in Europe.
Tanzania has two main seasons. The first, known as the dry season, which corresponds to winter, runs from June to October. After this dry period, summer runs from November to May, with a short rainy season in November and December and then the main rainy season from mid-March to May. This leaves an interesting travel window from late December to late February.
In Tanzania, temperatures are highest in December, January and February. Beware, however, of variations according to Tanzania's geographical zones. A distinction must be made between the coast, with its equatorial climate, and the plateaus and inland areas, except for Kilimanjaro. During this period, the southern and eastern slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater receive the most rainfall. During the austral winter, the crater gets cold, especially at night.
  • Zanzibar
Zanzibar has an equatorial climate, with prevailing winds coming from the Indian Ocean. The hottest month of the year in Zanzibar is February, while August sees the lowest temperatures. Heavy rains in Zanzibar are concentrated in April and May, with a few light showers from late October to late November. The driest period is therefore from June to October, but a few squalls are always possible.
  • Kilimandjaro
It's difficult to speak of a standard climate for Kilimanjaro, as climatic conditions vary according to the mountain's slopes. Temperatures are mildest at the foot of Kilimanjaro, with an average temperature of around 24°C. As altitude increases, the temperature drops to an average of 4/5°C at 4,000 m, and finally to -7/-9°C at the summit. It's in the zone between 4000 and 5000 m that temperatures can change dramatically, with variations of over 30°C between day and night. Kilimanjaro is exposed to a dry season, particularly pronounced from mid-June to mid-October, and another hot, dry period from early December to late February. The average temperatures below correspond to the Serengeti region during the day, with nighttime temperatures rarely below 12°.

What to Pack for your safari in Tanzania

  • Good quality sandals
  • Good quality light walking shoes
  • Casual shoes for evenings
  • Light boots for your own comfort in the evening
  • Practical safari jacket
  • Fleece jacket T-shirts
  • Short and long sleeve shirts or blouses
  • Shorts and long casual trousers
  • Enough underwear, socks and hankies
  • Bathing suit-Toiletries, lip balm and scarves
  • Swimsuit 
  • Miniature wet towel and Kleenex (enough)
  • Small backpack 
  • Small reusable water bottle
  • Small flashlight or headlamp
  • Good quality sunglasses
  • Safari hat or cap
  • Personal medication
  • Important Quality mosquito/insect repellent (for body)
  • Quality sun blocker cream/sunscreen
  • Binocular and Guidebooks
  • Camera with extra battery and memory card













Strengths

  • Exploring the wilder Nyere and Mikumi parks
  • Zanzibar Island
Book / Request a quote